Two pedestrians were injured in two different Las Vegas crashes within hours of each other, according to police reports. One pedestrian was struck by a hit-and-run driver who was later apprehended, while another was hit by a driver who remained on the scene. In the first accident, a 53-year-old male pedestrian was crossing Lamb Boulevard when he was struck by a Chevrolet pickup. The pedestrian was not in the marked crosswalk at the time. The driver continued without stopping for several miles until a witness who followed the truck led police to it. An arrest was made and the driver, Jose Romero Avila, 37, failed field sobriety tests and was charged with felony hit-and-run and DUI. The pedestrian was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. There is no current update on his condition.
In the second crash, which took place on Boulder Highway south of Mayorga Street, a male pedestrian, 59, was crossing the highway when a Lincoln Navigator struck him. He was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. The driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. The pedestrian was not in a marked crosswalk at the time of the accident.
PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS: A LAS VEGAS PROBLEM
Pedestrian accidents happen at a higher rate in Las Vegas than in many other locations. According to reports from the Las Vegas Police Department, there were 11 pedestrian fatalities in 2012, 16 in 2013 and eight in the first four months of 2014. Pedestrian fatalities accounted for 29 percent of the total traffic deaths in 2012 and 43 percent in 2013. This is a much higher percentage than the national average of around 10 to 13 percent pedestrian traffic deaths. The reasons for the high percentages of traffic deaths for pedestrians in Las Vegas is unclear, but it is likely due to several factors. Alcohol use, street lighting, use of crosswalks and speed of vehicles are just a few of the factors that can influence the number of pedestrian deaths, along with the greater numbers of people walking in Las Vegas as opposed to other cities.
If you have been the victim of a pedestrian crash, contact High Stakes Injury Law, personal injury attorneys in Las Vegas. They have handled hundreds of pedestrian injury cases and may be able to help you recover compensation to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and other costs associated with your accident.