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 Green Bay and Appleton region ranks in terms of pedestrian collisions nationally, please go to this National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report.

Despite safety improvements, pedestrian accidents are common in Green Bay, Appleton, and across Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin

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

Drivers must:

• Yield to pedestrians when crossing a sidewalk or entering an alley or driveway
• Yield to pedestrians who have started crossing at an intersection or crosswalk on a "walk" signal or a green light, if there is no walk signal
• Yield to pedestrians who are crossing the highway within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection where there are no traffic lights or control signals
• Not overtake and pass any vehicle that stops at an intersection or crosswalk to permit a pedestrian or bicyclist to cross the roadway safely

Pedestrians must:

• Yield to drivers when crossing a road where there is no intersection or crosswalk or where the pedestrian does not have a green or "walk" signal and where vehicles have a green signal
• Not suddenly move into the path of a closely approaching vehicle that does not have sufficient time to yield for a pedestrian​
• Walk on and along the left side of a highway when not walking on a sidewalk. Note: This law does not apply to bicycles. Bicycles operate under the same laws as other legal vehicles on the road and should always stay on the right side of the road.

Get information on car crashes from the police departments in the region

The Green Bay Police Department offers information on accidents. Go here to get access to Green Bay crash reports. The Appleton Police Department can be contacted to get information on accidents as well. The Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles provides information on traffic and safety laws.

These departments are a good resource to get information after a pedestrian crash.

Common causes of Green Bay and Appleton 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 Green Bay or Appleton 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:

• St. Vincent Hospital - Green Bay;
• St. Mary's Hospital - Green Bay;
• Aurora BayCare Medical Center - Green Bay;
• Appleton Medical Center - Appleton;
• St. Elizabeth Hospital - Appleton.

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 a serious injury happens due to a pedestrian collision, there is usually some kind of vehicle involved, and the resulting legal claim can be complicated. Learn more at the links below about how pedestrian accidents can relate to:

• Green Bay and Appleton car accidents;
• Green Bay and Appleton motorcycle accidents;
• Green Bay and Appleton truck accidents;
• Green Bay and Appleton bicycle accidents;
• Green Bay and Appleton Wisconsin Uber/Lyft accidents;
• Green Bay and Appleton bus accidents;
• Green Bay and Appleton drunk driving accidents;
• Green Bay and Appleton distracted driving accidents;
• Green Bay and Appleton rear-end accidents;
• Green Bay and Appleton aggressive driving accidents;
• Green Bay and Appleton hit-and-run accidents;
• Green Bay and Appleton leased car accidents;
• Green Bay and Appleton uninsured driver accidents;
• Green Bay and Appleton reckless driving accidents;
• Green Bay and Appleton speeding driver accidents;
• Green Bay and Appleton head-on accidents;
• Green Bay and Appleton wrongful death claims;
• Green Bay and Appleton spinal cord injuries;
• Green Bay and Appleton brain injuries.

When a pedestrian accident results in a serious injury or a fatality, it is important to find an experienced Wisconsin pedestrian accident attorney

When an injury is serious or a death occurs, the next step is to find an experienced Green Bay - Appleton pedestrian injury lawyer 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 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 an injury attorney right away, to get help for an injured pedestrian.