Southfield Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Injured in a Southfield Pedestrian Accident? Speak to an Experienced Metro Detroit Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Walking is good exercise, environmentally friendly, and a cost-effective means of transportation. However, walking can also be dangerous in Metro Detroit areas like Southfield. Pedestrians suffer injuries on Southfield streets every year because drivers don’t pay attention or are negligent on the roads.

If you’re injured in a pedestrian accident in Southfield, don’t wait. Talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer today. The team at Sommers Schwartz, P.C. can help.

Southfield and Oakland County Pedestrian Crash Statistics

From 2019 to 2023, 900 recorded crashes involved a pedestrian in Oakland County, according to the Michigan State Police (MSP) database. Eighty-eight people died in pedestrian collisions during that five-year period in Oakland County, the second-highest number of pedestrian deaths in Michigan. Only Wayne County recorded more pedestrian fatalities. Another 183 pedestrians suffered serious injuries, while hundreds more experienced mild or moderate injuries.

Overall, Michigan’s rate of pedestrian accidents increased between 2023 and 2024, although deaths dropped by 15 percent. There were 156 pedestrian fatalities across the state in 2024 and 1,809 pedestrian injuries.

Dangerous Places for Pedestrians in Southfield

Pedestrians are entitled to use Michigan’s public roads, provided they follow the rules of the road. However, pedestrians are especially vulnerable when drivers fail to exercise due care. Driver distraction, inebriation, and impatience are all factors that increase the risk of a pedestrian crash.

As Michigan crash data shows, some places in Southfield are more dangerous for pedestrians than others. These include areas where vehicles are likely to speed, such as high-traffic intersections and certain residential neighborhoods in Southfield.

High-Speed Areas

Pedestrians are prohibited from using freeways, such as I-696, and certain Michigan state highways. However, there are times when a driver or passenger has no choice but to exit their vehicle on these roadways, such as after a collision. This increases their risk of injury when drivers aren’t paying attention or driving recklessly. These factors contributed to a pedestrian injury in a pile-up crash in late 2024 that occurred on M-10 at the I-696 overpass.

While highways can be especially hazardous, any roadway can become a high-speed, potentially dangerous area if drivers are traveling too fast to prevent a collision with a pedestrian. In 2024, 22,473 Michigan traffic crashes involved drivers who were driving too fast for conditions, causing 172 deaths.

Southfield Neighborhoods

Although residential neighborhoods can feel safer for pedestrians, they can also be prone to collisions. Drivers may not be paying attention or looking out for pedestrians. They may be speeding through neighborhoods in a rush to get to work, get home, or avoid traffic on busier routes. Some may have chosen to use residential streets to avoid police patrols after deciding to drive drunk or impaired.

To mitigate these risks, some neighborhoods in and near Southfield have implemented measures such as installing signs, speed bumps, and other traffic control devices to slow down traffic. However, these measures can’t prevent all drivers from traveling too fast and failing to keep an appropriate lookout. Accidents may occur when pedestrians cross at a stop sign or crosswalk, wrongly assuming drivers will stop as required.

Recent pedestrian accidents in Southfield neighborhoods include a 2024 collision on Franklin Road near Maitrott Street, which resulted in injuries.

Intersections

Approximately 68 percent of pedestrians involved in a vehicle collision in Michigan in 2024 were crossing at an intersection when they were hit. Michigan crash location data shows that several Southfield intersections are particularly risky for pedestrians, including:

• Telegraph Rd and 12 Mile. This intersection was the site of three pedestrian collisions in the first ten months of 2024.
• Evergreen Rd and 12 Mile. A July 2024 accident here involved a pedestrian injured in an intersection.
• Greenfield and 12 Mile. An elderly person was injured in a pedestrian accident at this intersection in August 2024.
• Greenfield and 9 Mile. An accident in this intersection claimed a life in December 2024.
• Lahser and 8 Mile. A pedestrian suffered injuries in a multi-vehicle collision at this intersection in September 2024.

Intersections increase the risk of pedestrian accidents, especially when drivers aren’t paying attention.

Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Pedestrian crashes often result in more severe injuries and fatalities than other types of vehicle accidents. Between 2019 and 2023, only 0.5 percent of all roadway crashes in Oakland County involved a pedestrian, but these crashes caused 26.7 percent of all traffic fatalities in that county. Pedestrians are statistically more likely to suffer fatal and catastrophic injuries in crashes than drivers or passengers in motor vehicles.

Pedestrians who survive a collision may experience serious injuries and lifelong disabilities. Common injuries in pedestrian collisions include:

• Head and neck injuries, including skull fractures, facial injuries, neck fractures, and whiplash injuries.
• Brain and spinal cord injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), bleeding in the brain, and spinal cord injuries leading to paralysis.
• Broken bones.
• Damaged organs, internal bleeding, and blunt force trauma injuries.
• Scarring, amputation, disfigurement, and “road rash.”

The physical injuries inflicted in a pedestrian crash can be catastrophic, but often an injured person suffers far more than physical injuries. Pedestrian injury survivors frequently sustain mental and emotional injuries, including post-traumatic stress symptoms. Brain injuries and severe physical trauma often lead to depression, anxiety, problems regulating mood, memory loss, and difficulty focusing.

Serious injuries deserve appropriate compensation. Speak to an experienced Southfield pedestrian injury lawyer to learn more about pursuing a claim.

What To Do if You’re Involved in a Pedestrian Crash in Southfield

If you or someone you love is injured in a Southfield pedestrian accident, prioritize safety first. Call 911 and take steps to prevent additional harm while you wait for help to arrive. Emergency responders can provide medical attention, secure the scene, and document what happened.

If you didn’t get medical care right after the accident, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Some serious injuries may not be immediately apparent, such as internal bleeding or organ damage. A doctor can document your injuries and perform diagnostic tests. They can inform you about symptoms that may indicate additional issues, so you don’t overlook a potentially serious problem in the days after an accident.

If possible, take photos or video at the scene of the accident. Speak with any witnesses and obtain their contact information to provide to the police. This information helps document what happened and how the accident caused your injuries. Keep any information you gather in one safe location.

As soon as you’re ready, contact an experienced Southfield pedestrian accident lawyer. They can help you gather information and begin building a case. An attorney will help you focus on your recovery while they fight for the compensation you and your family need.

How Sommers Schwartz, P.C. Handles Pedestrian Injury Cases

It’s important to act quickly after a pedestrian collision. Vital evidence can vanish or get lost in the shuffle in the days and weeks following an accident. At Sommers Schwartz, P.C., our team moves quickly to investigate each client’s claim and protect your legal rights.

Investigating Your Case

Police reports, dashcam video, local surveillance footage, photos, and notes taken during or immediately after the accident can play a crucial role in explaining what happened and proving that a driver was at fault. Medical records, vehicle repair records, pay stubs, and similar documents can help establish the extent of the harm they caused.

An attorney will gather this evidence and consult with experts who may help clarify and understand the circumstances of the accident and the scope of your damages. Experts in accident reconstruction, for example, can help show how the accident likely occurred and how it caused your injuries.

Meeting Deadlines and Requirements

Michigan courts give injury victims three years from the date of an accident to file a lawsuit in civil court. After that time, it may not be possible to pursue a personal injury or wrongful death suit. While there are exceptions that may extend or limit the time you have to begin a claim, you should act as quickly as possible to protect your rights.

You may have even less time to begin an insurance claim after an accident. Many insurance companies have deadlines of far less than three years. In some cases, an injured person only has a few months.

When you’re struggling to recover from serious injuries or facing the loss of a loved one, it can feel overwhelming to keep track of deadlines. A lawyer can help you understand what needs to be done and ensure you comply with all applicable deadlines so you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery.

Securing Compensation

The losses from a pedestrian accident can pile up quickly. A personal injury lawsuit can allow you to recover compensation for many types of costs, expenses, and non-economic damages caused by the collision. Common examples include:

• Medical bills.
• Future anticipated medical costs.
• Lost wages.
• Lost or reduced future earning capacity.
• Physical pain and suffering.
• Disability.
• Mental and emotional anguish.

When a pedestrian accident claims a life, the victim’s family can also seek compensation for losses like funeral expenses and the loss of their loved one’s care, companionship, and support. A personal injury or wrongful death claim can help secure the compensation injured pedestrians and their families need.

Speak to an Experienced Pedestrian Injury Lawyer in Southfield Today

Michigan courts permit individuals who have been injured to file a lawsuit without the assistance of a lawyer. However, the courts hold injured people to the same standard as attorneys. The court will expect you to know the law, follow the rules, and investigate your case as if you were a lawyer or law firm.

You don’t have to take on this burden. An experienced lawyer can:

• Investigate the accident thoroughly.
• Negotiate and communicate with insurance companies.
• Build and prove a convincing case for full, fair compensation.
• Protect your legal rights.
• Take your case to trial if necessary.

Talk to the team at Sommers Schwartz, P.C., today to learn more about your rights and options. Contact us to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation, confidential consultation with one of our experienced Southfield personal injury lawyers.