At one point or another, everyone is a pedestrian. As the expense of driving and insuring a vehicle rise, more and more people choose to walk to their destinations. As the number of pedestrians increases, so do the number of pedestrian accidents. To see where the Des Moines and Ames regions rank in terms of pedestrian collisions nationally, please go to this National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report.

Despite safety improvements, pedestrian accidents are common in the Des Moines and Ames regions

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2012 nationally:

• 69% of pedestrians killed in 2012 were males;
• 73% pedestrian fatalities occur in urban areas;
• 32% of all pedestrian fatalities occurred between 8:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.;
• 34% of pedestrians killed had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 g/dL or higher.

Pedestrian Laws in Iowa

Both motorists and pedestrians can engage in behaviors that cause collisions. According to state pedestrian law as described by the State of Iowa Department of Motor Vehicles -

Drivers must:

• exercise due care to avoid a collision with a pedestrian at all times.
• yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
• stop or slow down before passing another vehicle stopped in a travel lane until the driver has determined whether that vehicle has stopped for a pedestrian.
• in the presence of a school crossing guard, wait for all persons including the guard to completely clear the road before proceeding.

Pedestrians must:

• use the sidewalk and the nearest crosswalk, pedestrian bridge or tunnel when possible.
• obey official traffic control devices.
• walk on the left side of the street facing traffic if no sidewalk is available.
• not cross an intersection diagonally unless the intersection is specifically designed for this.

Get information on pedestrian crashes from Des Moines and Ames law enforcement

The Des Moines Police Department and the Ames Police Department offer information on accidents. The Polk County Sheriff's Department is also a useful resource for information.

The Iowa Department of Motor Vehicles provides information on traffic and safety laws.

These departments are good resources after a pedestrian accident.

Common causes of Des Moines and Ames pedestrian accidents include:

• a failure by drivers to check for pedestrians in crosswalks;
• drivers failing to stop at stop signs or lights;
• texting and other driver distractions;
• drivers choosing to make turns without paying attention to their surroundings;
• speeding;
• driving under the influence.

When someone is injured in a Des Moines or Ames pedestrian accident, what needs to happen next?

When a pedestrian is injured, it is crucial to get appropriate medical treatment, regardless of the financial cost. The major hospitals in the area include:

Iowa Methodist Medical Center;

Iowa Lutheran Hospital;

Mercy Medical Center;

Mary Greeley Medical Center.

As soon as possible, an injured person should contact their insurance company to find out how medical treatment is covered under their insurance policy. Since insurance policies often have unique provisions to deal with pedestrian-accident injuries, it is important to review the policy and speak with the insurance adjuster to get clarification on coverage.

When an accident results in a serious injury or a fatality, get help from an experienced Des Moines pedestrian accident attorney

When an injury is serious or a death occurs, the next step is to find an experienced Des Moines pedestrian accident attorney to start the financial recovery process by launching an insurance claim. Major injury or wrongful death claims are complicated and can be hard to manage without legal help. Since most personal injury lawyers offer a free initial consultation and work on a contingency basis, meaning that there are no up-front costs and all fees are paid when the claim is settled, there is no downside to speaking with a Des Moines personal injury lawyer right away, to get help for an injured pedestrian.