Stranded Motorists and Good Samaritans: In Danger on Roads

One of the most dangerous things to do when you are on the highway or busy road is to get out of your car. Every year, stranded motorists are injured or killed when they get out of their vehicles to walk for help or to repair a breakdown. Sadly, there are also many cases where a Good Samaritan stops to help or rescue stranded motorists only to be injured or killed by passing vehicles. Our Detroit personal injury attorneys have helped many victims of these types of accidents get the compensation and resolution they deserve, and we are here to help.

Know that when a motorist gets out of their car and is on foot, they are now pedestrians, and every person driving on a road or highway should be extra cautious and alert for them. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) considers pedestrians any “person on foot, walking, running, jogging, hiking, sitting or lying down who is involved in a motor vehicle traffic crash.” The Michigan Vehicle Code defines a pedestrian as “any person afoot.”

Most Common Causes

There are several reasons why stranded motorists or Good Samaritans are injured or killed. Here are some of the most common:

• Distracted driving—texting, talking on phone, drowsiness: Both drivers and pedestrians put themselves in danger if they text, talk, or don’t pay enough attention when driving or stepping out onto the road.

• Low visibility due to Weather: Whiteout conditions are a serious problem for drivers, making it difficult to see the road, other drivers, and pedestrians. For example, on February 24, an elderly man was hit and severely injured on the Mackinac bridge he stopped his car and exited to switch places with his wife. High winds and blowing snow, most extreme near water, had caused extremely low visibility.

• Nighttime conditions: The NHTSA reported that in 2012, thirty-two percent of pedestrian accidents resulting in fatalities happened between 8:29 pm and 11:59 PM, and roughly seventy percent happened at nighttime in general. 

• Non-intersection crossing: In the United States for 2011 and 2012, the NHTSA reported that seventy percent of pedestrian fatalities happened in non-intersections. Michigan Traffic Crash Facts (MTCF) reports that in 2013, although more crashes happened while crossing intersections (727) versus at non-intersections (599), more crashes at non-intersections resulted in fatalities. 

• Alcohol and Drug Use: MTCF reported that in 2013, 278 pedestrians were in crashes involving either alcohol or drugs.

• Walking With or Against the Flow of Traffic: According to MTCF, in 2013, 245 pedestrians were killed walking with traffic while 45 were in crashes when walking against the flow of traffic. Walking against traffic will better allow a pedestrian to see hazards before it is too late. While it is best to stay in your car to wait for help when possible, you should walk against the flow of traffic if leaving the car is absolutely necessary.

Common Pedestrian Injuries 

There are a number of factors that can affect the seriousness of injury. Obviously, the faster a car is moving, the more traumatic an injury a pedestrian will sustain. But pedestrians can be seriously injured by a car moving at even 10 mph. Age is also a factor. Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable, and drivers should be especially vigilant when they are present.

Some of the most common injuries are:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Broken or fractured bones
• Soft-tissue injuries
• Amputations

Injuries to pedestrians can be life-changing not only for themselves but for their families. Motorists should always remember that pedestrians are vulnerable near vehicles, and keep in mind the importance of sharing the road. Injuries to people stranded outside of their cars or to Good Samaritans who just want to lend a helping hand are completely preventable if drivers just stay watchful and alert on the road.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, call our Detroit personal injury law firm at (800) 638-6722 for a free consultation.