The severity of pedestrian accident injuries is often life-threatening. Unlike drivers on the road, pedestrians have no protection from the outside world. Pedestrians hit by cars are lucky to walk away with minor bone fractures. Many pedestrians have to live with lifelong disabilities. If you suffered injuries from a pedestrian accident in New York, talk to a New York City pedestrian accident attorney about compensation.

Common Types of Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Some of the most common types of pedestrian accident injuries involve specific areas. The head, neck, arms, legs, spine, and chest seem to be the most impacted areas. When a driver hits a pedestrian, the legs tend to be hit first. This violent force makes the pedestrian lunge forward onto the hood or over the car, impacting the chest, neck, and face.

Many pedestrians might instinctively put their arms up to soften the blow. This can easily lead to major bone fractures in the arms. Bone fractures are also common in the legs, ribs, pelvic regions, and spine. When spinal fractures are severe enough, this can result in spinal cord injuries. The same goes for skull fractures and the brain.

The legs and arms can also be affected by other types of injuries:

• Soft tissue injuries like sprains and strains
• Lacerations requiring stitches
• Scrapes at risk for infection
• Nerve damage that may lead to chronic pain

Injuries to the face vary depending on how the face is impacted by the car. Scraping may lead to disfigurement. Facial reconstruction surgeries alone can be expensive and may not be enough to restore everything. A person could be left with a lifelong deformity.

Spinal Cord and Brain Injuries

Some of the most severe and life-changing injuries caused by pedestrian accidents involve the central nervous system. This system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. Injuries to the brain are called traumatic brain injuries and can be caused by:

• The brain hitting the inside of the skull
• Skull fractures leading to brain exposure
• Brain swelling that leads to worsening brain damage

Traumatic brain injury symptoms vary depending on the severity. Some people may lose coordination, have slurred speech, blurry vision, loss of consciousness for hours, chronic headaches, and seizures. Others may also experience:

• Restlessness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Dilated pupils
• Serious mood changes

Spinal cord injuries happen when the spine is fractured and damages the spinal cord. Damage to the spinal cord is often irreversible and causes paralysis below the injury site. Consider contacting a New York City injury lawyer if you suffered severe injuries. You could be eligible for additional compensation if your injuries are severe enough.

New York City Pedestrian Accident Attorney

You may not always be offered the compensation you need. Contact the Sullivan and Brill Law Firm by dialing (212) 566-1000 to talk to a New York personal injury lawyer for a free consultation today. Our attorneys in Queens can help you seek compensation for lost income, pain and suffering, and medical expenses. We are located in New York City, Long Island, Kings, Bronx, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and Rockland Counties, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.