Road Traffic Accident*

Zebra Crossing Accident Claims*

Zebra and pedestrian crossings are in place to ensure the safety of pedestrians when crossing a road. Although even if there are precautions in place, accidents on zebra crossings can still happen. These types of road accidents can occur as a result of either a pedestrian or driver negligence. It is up to all road users to obey the rules of the road and to take other road users into consideration while on their journey.

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Liability

The most common of these accidents occur between a pedestrian and a car at a zebra crossing. If you have been involved in an accident and investigating a personal injury claim, you must be able to prove that the accident was caused by another party. If you were liable for the accident then you may not have a successful case.

Zebra Crossing Rules for Road Users

For Drivers

  • A zebra crossing is intended to provide a safe place for pedestrians to cross a road. A pedestrian and road user can recognise these crossings by the yellow flashing beacons at either end of the crossing and its distinctive black and white ‘zebra stripes’ on the road.
  • Upon approaching a zebra crossing, drivers should slow down their vehicle and prepare to stop to let pedestrians cross. There is usually a stop line which indicates where the driver must stop so that the pedestrians can safely cross without the obstruction of a vehicle.
  • Drivers are forbidden from overtaking or parking in the areas that are marked with zigzag lines in the space before and after the crossing.

For Pedestrians

  • A pedestrian does not have the right of way until they have stepped foot on the crossing. It is also important to note that a pedestrian must not step foot onto a crossing if a car is close enough that it would cause the car to brake suddenly or swerve, increasing the chances of hitting somebody on a zebra crossing.
  • A pedestrian must not cross the road outside of the zebra crossing i.e. must not cross the road over the zig-zag lines on its approach. If there are no zigzag lines, then a pedestrian must not cross the road in the 50 feet either side of the crossing.
  • In cases where there is an island in the middle of the road, a pedestrian must treat the next zebra crossing as separate from the first and exercise caution before stepping onto it.
  • Waiting until the cars have stopped before stepping onto the crossing is the safest way to use these crossings.

Types of injuries

The type of injury sustained in such an accident will depend on factors such as the speed of the vehicle or actions of the pedestrian. As in any road traffic accident, a collision can give rise to a number of different injuries, some of which include:

  • Injury to upper and lower limbs (fractures, brakes, soft tissue injuries)
  • Head Injuries
  • Brain Injuries 
  • Back and Neck Injuries
  • Injuries to Internal Organs
  • In extreme cases, paralysis or fatal injury

Causes of Pedestrian Crossing Accidents*

Zebra crossing accidents can happen for a number of reasons and can be caused by both drivers and pedestrians.

Drivers

  • Failing to stop at zebra crossings
  • Failing to slow down when approaching crossings
  • Speeding
  • Not giving consideration to road and weather conditions
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol

Pedestrians

  • Not following the rules of the road
  • Not using the crossing with care or failing to wait at a red light
  • Stepping out in front of cars
  • Not paying attention to other road users

What to do after a road traffic accident?

Following a road traffic accident, whether as a driver, passenger, pedestrian or cyclist, there are a number of steps you should follow:

  1. Seek medical attention

    Your health is your wealth and should be your first priority. Immediately after a road traffic accident, take a second to assess yourself to determine if you have any injuries. Then check if any passengers or anybody else involved in the accident need medical attention. If you or anyone else involved has sustained a serious injury ensure that you contact an ambulance to attend the scene.

    For minor injuries, you must remember that minor injuries where you ‘feel fine’ could progress to a more serious injury in the future. In this case it is always better to be safe than sorry and advisable that you go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) or local GP to be checked out.

  2. Gather all relevant information at the scene

    It is important that you gather all the relevant information in connection with your accident:

    • Details of another driver(s)/people involved: name, address, contact information, vehicle registration number and vehicle insurance information. You can also offer your own information to the others involved in the accident.
    • Name and contact details of any emergency service workers at the scene – paramedic/Gardaí.
    • Take a picture of the scene and damage to all vehicles involved from different angles; this will help your solicitor understand how the accident happened.
    • If there are any CCTV recordings of the accident, such as CCTV cameras in a nearby shop, for example, you should try to obtain this footage.
    • Dash Cam footage – if you have any.
    • Record the time and date of the accident.
    • Weather conditions at the time.
    • Receipt for repairs of damage to your vehicle.
    • If possible, try to collect the contact details of anybody that witnessed the accident. This may be of use if you do decide to pursue a road traffic accident claim.
  3. Report the incident to the Gardaí

    Regardless of how minor or serious the road traffic accident was, it is important that you call the Gardaí to report the accident immediately.

    For minor accidents, the Gardaí may tell you that they will not be attending the scene. In this scenario, the appropriate information should be exchanged. In these cases, it is also important that you visit your nearest Garda station to request that they take details of the accident and to take your statement about the accident.

    For more serious road traffic accidents, where an ambulance has been called, the Gardaí may arrive at the scene to assess, take statements from the people involved and any witnesses.

  4. Contact your insurance company

    If you are the driver of the vehicle involved in a road traffic accident it is important to inform your own insurance company so they have a record of the accident.

  5. Speak to a road traffic accident solicitor

    If you are considering moving forward with a road traffic accident claim for any personal injuries sustained it is advisable that you speak with a road traffic accident claims solicitor as soon as possible. If you are proceeding with a claim, the first step will be submitting your claim to the Injuries Board for assessment. A road traffic accident solicitor can help you in preparing your application to the Injuries Board and ensure that you follow the process in the correct format, meaning that you can move forward with your claim quickly without unnecessary delays.

    It is important to remember to keep copies of any expenses that you have incurred as a result of the accident. It is also imperative to retain copies of medical reports or Garda reports, where possible as you will need them when making a claim.

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How do I make a claim?

Once you have gathered all the relevant information in relation to your injury it is then time to move forward with your claim. It is important to use a specialist road traffic accident solicitor to help you with this.

  1. Prepare information for a solicitor

    When you decide you want to move forward with your road traffic accident claim it is important to have all the relevant information to hand when contacting a solicitor. Important information to have on hand at this point is:

    • Date of the accident
    • Location of the accident
    • Details of the party at fault – including their name, address, contact information, vehicle registration number, insurance information. If the other party left the scene and you were unable to get their details – don’t worry there are still options for you to pursue a case
    • If any emergency services attended the scene, and their details
    • Specifics of what happened
    • Details of your injuries
    • Any pictures you may have taken of the scene of the accident and/or your injuries
    • Details of any witnesses
    • If there may be CCTV in the area that may have caught the accident on tape
    • Hospitals/Doctors attended with your injury
  2. Solicitor becomes your trusted advisor

    As a solicitor is aware of the road traffic accident claim process they can avoid any legal bumps in the road you might encounter if you did this yourself. It is their job to be your trusted advisor on all legal matters throughout your case.

  3. Solicitor obtains a medical report

    One of the most important documents in your case is a medical report. Your solicitor will ask for your doctor’s or Hospital details so he can obtain a report on your injuries. This report will then be used to allow us progress your case.

  4. Solicitor prepares the Injuries Board application

    As soon as your solicitor has gathered all the information, your road traffic accident claim will be submitted to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board for assessment. You solicitor will do this for you. Once the Injuries Board assess your claim your solicitor will revert with a suggested settlement amount. At this stage you have a choice to accept the Injuries Board assessment or reject it and move the next steps.

    At this point one of two scenarios will unfold:

    a. If both you and the party at fault accept the Injuries Board assessment, your case is settled and the person at fault will be ordered to pay settlement to you.

    b. If either you or the person at fault reject the Injuries Board assessment, then you move to the next stage and your solicitor will issue legal proceedings.

  5. Possible case outcomes

    Before you start to concern yourself with court and everything that comes with it, it’s important to understand that only a very small percentage of cases actually make it to a courtroom.

    Settlement meetings will be arranged where a settlement can be negotiated. Most cases are settled at this point without ever having to step foot into a courtroom and remember it’s your solicitor’s job to be with you every step of the way, right beside you to ensure that your best interests are met at all stages. Your solicitor is to be your trusted advisor throughout the process and to let you focus on your recovery, as they focus on settling your case.

At Tracey’s we make law accessible to all — regardless of your knowledge or experience with the claims process. For more information and a confidential discussion on your road traffic accident, phone 01 649 9900 where you can speak with a member of our team straight away, or email ask@traceysolicitors.ie to tell us about your case.

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Case Settlement

If you are to proceed with a road traffic accident claim you may be entitled to claim compensation for the accident and added expenses you may have incurred. These claims are called damages.

General Damages

General damages are non-financial damages such as pain and suffering and/or physical and emotional injuries following a road traffic accident.

Special Damages

Special damages are out of pocket expenses incurred as a result of the road traffic accident, for example, loss of earnings (if you are out of work), medical bills, and added travel costs as a result of the accident (for example, travel to and from the hospital). Learn more about Special Damages.

Material Damages

Material damage refers to damage caused to your personal property. For example, in a road traffic accident, the material damage would be the damage to your car.

What are the Legal Time Limits?

The statute of limitations are the legal time limits on how long you have to make a claim — these vary depending on the situation. The general rule for most personal injury cases is that the person has two years from the date of the accident or date of knowledge of the accident to make a claim for compensation. Contacting a solicitor to discuss your case will help you in determining how long you have left to make a claim.

Learn more about Time Limits

About Tracey Solicitors LLP

We draw on more than 35 years of experience in personal injury law to provide you with expert advice and legal services.

We’re here to help you with your claim, and will work with you to ensure you understand every step of your legal journey.

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