Texas Accident & Injury News
Pedestrians can be seriously injured by a vehicle jumping the curb.
Car Loses Control, Hits Pedestrian Walking on Sidewalk Near Restaurant
According to a KSAT News report, a pedestrian was seriously injured by a vehicle that lost control and jumped the curb last night.
Police reported the incident occurred at around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday on the Highway 281 Southbound access road near Embassy Oaks. The vehicle lost control for unknown reasons and drove off the roadway. They crashed onto the sidewalk in front of the Hooters restaurant, injuring a pedestrian. The police report stated the pedestrian was in stable condition, and the driver remained at the scene and cooperated with police.
Did You Know?
46% of storefront crashes end in at least one injury.
What You Need to Know About Outdoor Dining Hazards in San Antonio
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor dining has been widely popularized. While it may keep you safer from the flu season, outdoor dining presents a unique hazard — motor vehicle accidents.
According to the Storefront Safety Council, 19.6% of all storefront (also known as vehicle-into-building) crashes happen at restaurants. Since 2020, There has been a rise in these types of accidents — increasing from 4 to 6 incidents per year to over 100 between March 2020 and August 2021.
Pedestrians can be seriously injured while dining at or walking around restaurants in San Antonio. While these accidents normally don’t occur at high speeds, they can still be deadly or result in permanent injuries to unsuspecting diners.
Why Do These Accidents Happen?
The unfortunate reality of pedestrian injury or fatality due to a vehicle crashing into an outdoor dining area or restaurant is that they are almost always preventable and foreseeable.
The most common reasons for cars jumping curbs and hitting pedestrians are:
- Operator Error — 21% are the result of drivers making too sharp of a turn, meaning to reverse but accidentally moving forward, and other careless mistakes.
- Pedal Error — 20% are the result of drivers hitting the gas instead of the brake.
- Drunk Drivers — 15% are the result of intoxicated drivers.
Careless mistakes and reckless behavior are the most common reasons why innocent pedestrians have their lives changed forever by auto accidents.
Injuries from Outdoor Dining Crashes
Almost half of these vehicle accidents end in injury. Pedestrian injuries are almost always catastrophic, even at low speeds. Some of the most common injuries from vehicle accidents are:
- TBI — Traumatic brain injury is a common consequence of pedestrians being thrown to the ground by a vehicle and can easily happen even at low speeds.
- Spinal Cord Injury — Injuries to the spinal cord are common and can lead to permanent disability for the victim.
- Broken Bones — Fractured arms, legs, ribs, and pelvic bones are common in pedestrian accidents.
- Fatal Injury — 8% of storefront crashes end in fatal injuries.
The Storefront Safety Council estimates that they capture roughly 1 in 12 vehicle-into-building crashes that occur across the United States. That’s a frightening statistic when you consider that they capture at least 100 of these accidents daily.
Injured in a Pedestrian Accident in San Antonio? Call Carabin Shaw
It’s good that restaurants added outdoor dining to protect their patrons from COVID-19. But they are also responsible for protecting their customers from motor vehicles.
If a careless driver hurt you while you were dining in San Antonio, you could be entitled to compensation. Call the attorneys who have put their clients first for 30 years to find out at 800-862-1260. We look forward to serving you.
Contacting a Carabin Shaw attorney is free and does not obligate you to work with the firm.