Common Injuries Pedestrians Suffer When Hit by a Car

One moment, you are crossing the street, the next, you are on the ground trying to figure out what hurts and what just changed in your life. A pedestrian crash can bring pain, missed work, and real worries about what comes next.

At The Leach Firm, P.A., we help people across Florida and Georgia with personal injury, workers’ compensation, and employment law, and we do it with a straight-talk approach. This article explains common pedestrian injuries and why having legal help can make a big difference in your recovery and compensation.

Head and Brain Injuries

Head and brain trauma are among the most serious risks when a car strikes a person on foot. Injuries range from concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries, and the symptoms are not always obvious right away. Quick medical care and careful follow-up are important for both health and any future claim.

Concussions

A concussion happens when the brain gets jolted inside the skull, which can cause temporary changes in how you think, feel, or move. Common concussion symptoms include:

• Headaches and dizziness.
• Confusion and memory problems.
• Nausea, plus sensitivity to light and sound.

Some concussions resolve in weeks, but others linger, especially if you do not rest or have had more than one.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

A TBI is more severe than a typical concussion and can alter daily life in lasting ways. People with TBIs may face:

• Cognitive problems, including slowed thinking or poor concentration.
• Speech, balance, and motor function difficulties.
• Personality or mood changes, depression, anxiety, and possible seizures.

Serious TBIs often require hospital care, rehab, and long-term support, which means high costs that should be factored into any claim.

Other Head Injuries

Other possible injuries include skull fractures, hematomas, and deep cuts to the face and scalp. These may require surgery and can cause infections or lasting scarring. Proper documentation and photos can be very helpful later.

When head injuries are in play, doctors may order imaging and follow you closely, and that record becomes part of your case history.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal trauma can change mobility forever. The impact can damage nerves, discs, and vertebrae, leading to partial or total paralysis in the worst cases.

Partial Paralysis

Paraplegia typically affects the lower half of the body. Common effects include:

• Loss of movement or sensation in the legs.
• Bladder, bowel, and sexual function issues.
• Need for a wheelchair and big lifestyle adjustments.

Early rehab and home modifications are often part of the plan for living with paraplegia.

Complete Paralysis

Quadriplegia impacts all four limbs and sometimes the torso. It may involve:

• Total loss of movement and feeling below the neck.
• Inability to breathe independently in some cases.
• Loss of bodily functions below the injury site.

People with quadriplegia often need round-the-clock care and equipment to maintain comfort and dignity.

Spinal injuries bring long-term costs, so it helps to project future care needs when pursuing compensation.

Broken Bones and Fractures

Vehicle-versus-pedestrian crashes commonly cause fractures. Bones in the legs, hips, arms, and ribs take heavy forces, leaving you with pain, limited mobility, and long recoveries.

Lower Extremity Fractures

Common lower body fractures include:

• Broken ankles.
• Fractures of the tibia and fibula.
• Broken femurs and pelvic fractures.

These injuries often need surgery, casting or external fixation, and months of physical therapy.

Upper Body Fractures

Upper body injuries are also common, especially when you try to brace during a fall. Typical fractures include:

• Broken arms and wrists.
• Fractured collarbones.
• Broken ribs.

Upper body fractures can make dressing, bathing, cooking, and desk work very hard during recovery.

Fractures are usually well documented by imaging, which helps support your claim and your timeline for returning to work.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Not every serious injury shows up on an X-ray. Damage to muscles, tendons, and ligaments can sideline you for weeks or months, and sometimes far longer.

Sprains and Strains

These injuries affect ligaments, muscles, and tendons. Common problem spots include:

• Ankles and knees.
• Wrists.
• Neck and upper back.

If you push too fast, these injuries can become chronic, so medical guidance and therapy matter.

Contusions and Lacerations

Bruises and cuts may seem simple at first, yet they can bring real complications. Possible issues include:

• Infections and nerve damage.
• Scarring and disfigurement.
• Need for reconstructive surgery.

Keep all wound care instructions, supply receipts, and scar photos since they support both medical and non-economic damages.

Soft tissue injuries can also explain pain and lost function when imaging looks normal, which is common after crashes.

Internal Injuries

Some of the most dangerous injuries are hidden. Internal bleeding and organ damage can turn life-threatening in a short time, even if you felt okay right after the crash.

Injury Type	Warning Signs	Typical Care	Urgency
Traumatic Brain Injury	Worsening headache, confusion, vomiting	Imaging, neuro checks, rehab	Immediate evaluation
Internal Bleeding	Abdominal pain, dizziness, fainting	Imaging, surgery if needed	Emergency
Lower Extremity Fracture	Deformity, severe pain, swelling	X-rays, reduction, surgery or casting	Urgent
Deep Laceration	Heavy bleeding, exposed tissue	Wound repair, antibiotics	Immediate care

 

This overview is general, but it shows why quick checks matter after any pedestrian crash.

Organ Damage

Blunt force can injure the liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs. Organ damage can trigger internal bleeding, organ failure, and breathing problems that need rapid treatment. Many people require monitoring in the hospital to catch changes quickly.

Internal Bleeding

Bleeding can occur in the brain, the chest, or the abdomen. The signs may be subtle at first, then get serious fast. If something feels off, it is safer to get checked than to wait it out.

Medical notes and imaging results for internal injuries are powerful proof when insurers question how serious your injuries really are.

Psychological Injuries

Pedestrian crashes affect the mind as much as the body. Emotional trauma can show up days later and can last for months if untreated.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD can follow a violent event like a car striking a person on foot. Common symptoms include:

• Flashbacks or nightmares.
• Anxiety, panic, and jumpiness.
• Avoiding places or activities that remind you of the crash.

Therapy and consistent support help, and these care costs should be included in your claim.

Depression and Anxiety

After a serious injury, mood disorders are common. Signs may include:

• Persistent sadness, loss of interest, or fatigue.
• Sleep or appetite changes.
• Constant worry, especially near traffic.

Mental health matters. Keep records from therapists and doctors to show how the crash changed daily life.

Emotional injuries can be as disabling as physical ones, and that is recognized in damages.

Long-term Consequences of Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Some injuries never fully go away. Pain, mobility limits, and career changes can follow well after the casts come off.

Chronic Pain

Crash injuries can lead to long-lasting pain conditions, such as:

• Low back pain from spine or disc issues.
• Joint pain from poorly healed fractures.
• Nerve pain from damaged tissue.

Chronic pain can limit recreation, parenting, and work, and it often requires medications or injections over time.

Disability and Lifestyle Changes

Severe injuries may require lasting changes, including:

• Home modifications and ramps for wheelchairs.
• Adaptive devices for dressing, bathing, or driving.
• Career shifts or early retirement, with ongoing medical care.

These changes carry real costs, and a fair case value needs to include them.

Planning for the future, even if it feels early, helps protect you and your family.

What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident

Immediate Steps

Your health and safety come first. If you can, take these steps right away:

1. Call 9-1-1 to report the crash and request medical help.
2. Get medical care even if you feel okay.
3. Exchange information with the driver, including insurance details.
4. Take photos or video of the scene, your injuries, and any debris if it is safe.
5. Contact a personal injury attorney to discuss your options.

Small details captured early can make a big difference later.

Documenting the Incident and Injuries

Good records help prove your losses and protect your claim. Keep:

• All medical bills, therapy notes, and mileage for appointments.
• A journal tracking pain levels, sleep, and how injuries affect your day.
• Witness names, statements, and the police report number.

Save everything in one place, and back it up if you can.

When you are focused on healing, organization can feel tough, but it pays off.

Seeking Compensation for Your Injuries

Pedestrian accident claims can include both financial losses and the human impact of pain and life changes. Common compensation categories include:

• Medical expenses, past and future.
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity.
• Pain and suffering.
• Emotional distress.
• Loss of enjoyment of life.

An attorney can calculate future costs and document how the crash changed your work and home life.

Getting the full picture on paper helps you avoid settling for less than what you need to move forward.

The Benefits of Legal Representation

A personal injury attorney does the heavy lifting while you focus on recovery. This includes both the legal work and coordinating the information that supports your case.

• Investigating the crash and gathering evidence.
• Communicating and negotiating with insurers.
• Calculating damages, including long-term care and lost earning power.
• Filing a lawsuit and representing you in court if needed.
• Tracking deadlines and keeping your case on time.

A fair recovery helps pay for care, cover lost income, and bring stability back to your life.

Our team works cases across Florida and Georgia, and we know how local rules can affect value and timing.

Contact The Leach Firm, P.A., for Assistance

If a vehicle hits you while walking, you do not have to figure it out alone. The Leach Firm, P.A., helps injured pedestrians pursue the compensation they deserve, and we are available 24/7 across Florida and Georgia.

Reach out to us with your questions, and we will talk through your options in plain language. We welcome your questions, and we are here to help you focus on healing while we handle the legal work.