Higher speeds generally correlate to catastrophic pedestrian crashes. Many pedestrian collisions are fatal because of the speed of the vehicles involved. However, pedestrian crashes are still dangerous, even at lower speeds.
A driver backing out of their driveway or pulling forward out of a parking space could strike a pedestrian at low speeds and still cause significant injuries. Any time a motor vehicle strikes a person, the potential for severe injury exists.
What injuries are possible in low-speed pedestrian collisions?
Catastrophic injuries could occur even at low speeds
Some low-speed pedestrian crashes might not even knock the pedestrian down. Those incidents may not cause any injuries beyond bruising. Other times, broken bones, brain injuries and spinal cord injuries are possible.
Several factors influence the severity of low-speed pedestrian collision injuries. The age of the person struck is a concern, as children are especially vulnerable to low-speed frontover collisions that can prove deadly. Older adults, on the other hand, are more vulnerable to severe fractures.
Underlying medical conditions are another factor. Finally, the design of the vehicle can influence the severity of injuries. When a vehicle has a more vertical front end, it may knock a person abruptly backward.
They may then hit their head when they fall. Vehicles with vertical front ends can potentially cause devastating brain injuries, even at low speeds. Even if a person can react to their fall, they may end up fracturing an arm or their collarbone because of the force of impact.
Pedestrians with serious injuries caused by preventable collisions may have grounds to request compensation from the driver who hit them. Reviewing the circumstances of a pedestrian crash and the injuries it generated with a skilled legal team can help people explore their options for justice after a wreck.