Pedestrian Severely Injured in Utah Car Accident

McKenzie, a 17 year-old Woods Cross High School student, was severely injured in a Utah pedestrian verses automobile accident in September of 2008. It was already dark when McKenzie began walking home from a friend’s house. A motorist failed to stop before turning right and struck McKenzie while she was walking across a marked crosswalk. McKenzie hit the windshield of the car, flew 20 feet in the air and landed on the asphalt. She sustained a large whole on the back of her head, torn meniscus, and large cuts on her knees, hips, elbows and many abrasions and bruises all over her body. She lost consciousness at the scene of the accident. Witnesses reported that the motorist didn’t even slow down for the red light or to check to see if anyone was crossing the street! The driver was cited as failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

As McKenzie’s Salt Lake personal injury attorney and friend, my heart goes out to her for the trauma and challenges she has had to face over the past year and a half due to the reckless driving of a motorist. She missed months of her senior year and endured several invasive procedures. In fact, McKenzie has just undergone her second knee surgery this year. McKenzie is a strong and patient young women and I believe she will recover from her injuries.

Liability Issues

The at-fault driver argued that since it was dark and that McKenzie was talking on the phone, it was not his fault for hitting her. He felt that she was the distracted one who should have seen his car coming. McKenzie couldn’t remember the accident since she sustained head trauma and loss of consciousness. Fortuneately, McKenzie’s parents had been quick to hire the services of Attorney Ken Christensen. Mr. Christensen acted immediately to preserve several key pieces of evidence and witness testimony that demonstrate that McKenzie was the victim and the motorist was clearly at fault.

Utah Cross Walk Laws

Utah law requires motorist to yield to the right-of-way to pedestrians walking in crosswalks. Utah Traffic Code states:

Section 41-6a-1002: The operator of a vehicle approaching school crosswalk shall come to a
complete stop at the school crosswalk if:

(a) A school speed limit sign has the warning lights operating; and
(b) The crosswalk is occupied by a person

Section 41-6a-1008: The operator of a vehicle crossing a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to
any pedestrian and all other traffic on the sidewalk.

For McKenzie, witness testimony further collaborated that the traffic light was red, and the pedestrian walk signal was on at the time of McKenzie’s accident. The at-fault driver failed to come to a complete stop at a red light before turning right and caused the tragic car verses automobile car crash!

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

Walkinginfo.org, a pedestrian and bicycle information and advocacy group, reports that 4,378 pedestrian deaths occurred in 2008 due to pedestrian verses automobile accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 64,000 pedestrians were injured and nearly 5,000 killed in auto accidents in 2005. Of that number, children under the age of 15 accounted for more than a quarter of these victims. The very nature of pedestrian accidents accounts for why they are so serious, and very often, fatal. Pedestrians and bike riders have very little if any protection in a collision. The automobiles that they collide with can weigh upwards of a ton and when you add the velocity at which the vehicles travel, it is easy to see why so many pedestrians die in serious accidents. If they are fortunate enough to survive a serious Salt Lake City pedestrian accident, their injuries can include broken bones, brain injuries, spine injuries, paralysis, and coma.

Experienced Salt Lake Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

If you or someone you love has suffered through a Salt Lake City Utah pedestrian injury and you feel it is the result of the negligence of another we urge you to contact us online or call us at 801-506-0800 (Main number), 801-224-2999 (Utah County) or 801-294-9500 (Davis County) to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal rights.