A woman in her 70s is fighting for her life following a serious Scarborough pedestrian accident on Friday morning.
Toronto paramedics confirmed that the woman was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries after being struck by a vehicle.
For pedestrians and drivers, incidents like this are a reminder of how quickly an ordinary trip can turn into a medical emergency. A pedestrian has almost no protection when struck by a car, SUV, or truck. For an older adult, the effects of a collision can be particularly severe.
Why Are Older Pedestrians at Greater Risk After a Collision?
The force involved in a pedestrian-vehicle collision can cause major trauma at any age. However, older adults may face additional challenges during recovery.
Broken bones, head injuries, spinal injuries, and internal injuries can require lengthy hospital stays and rehabilitation. An injury may also affect a person’s ability to walk, drive, live independently, or participate in everyday activities.
Recovery is not always measured in weeks. After a severe Scarborough pedestrian accident, a person may require months of treatment, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or assistance at home.
Families may also find themselves taking on new caregiving responsibilities.
That long-term picture is important when assessing the impact of a serious pedestrian injury.
Toronto Drivers and Pedestrians Share a Responsibility for Road Safety
Preventing pedestrian collisions requires attention from everyone.
Drivers should actively scan for pedestrians rather than focusing only on other vehicles. Extra care is important when turning, approaching intersections, backing up, or driving in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic.
Pedestrians should use designated crossings where available, remain aware of surrounding traffic, and avoid assuming that a driver has seen them.
Visibility also matters. Rain, darkness, parked vehicles, glare, and other conditions can make it harder for drivers and pedestrians to see one another.
The goal is simple: see and be seen.
What Should You Do If You Are Hit by a Car in Scarborough?
After being struck by a vehicle, medical attention comes first. Call 911 after a serious collision and follow the advice of paramedics and healthcare professionals.
Once immediate medical needs are addressed, evidence can become important.
Try to preserve photographs, witness information, police records, and any available video. Nearby businesses, homes, apartment buildings, TTC vehicles, and passing cars may have cameras.
Dashcam and surveillance recordings can be particularly valuable because they may show the moments immediately before the impact.
Keep records throughout your recovery as well. Medical reports, rehabilitation plans, prescriptions, receipts, employment documents, and notes about changes to your everyday life may all become relevant later.
What Benefits Are Available to a Pedestrian Hit by a Car in Ontario?
A pedestrian does not need to be driving a car to potentially access Ontario’s Statutory Accident Benefits after being injured in a motor vehicle collision.
The benefits available depend on the circumstances and applicable insurance coverage.
This is especially important after a serious pedestrian accident in Toronto, where rehabilitation and care needs can become substantial.
If another driver’s negligence caused or contributed to the collision, the injured pedestrian may also have grounds for a personal injury claim, subject to Ontario law.
A claim may involve eligible losses related to medical and rehabilitation expenses, income loss, future care needs, and pain and suffering.
Why You Should Understand the Full Impact of Your Injuries Before Settling
A serious injury can change over time.
Someone may initially focus on getting out of the hospital. Weeks later, the larger challenges can become clearer. They may be unable to return to work, need help at home, or discover that their mobility has not returned to its previous level.
For this reason, an injured pedestrian should be careful about making major decisions with an insurance company before the long-term medical outlook is understood.
An experienced Scarborough pedestrian accident lawyer can review the medical evidence, investigate the collision, identify available insurance coverage, and assess how an injury may affect the person’s future.
Injured in a Scarborough Pedestrian Accident? Contact Bergel Magence
A pedestrian accident can take only seconds to happen, but its effects can last for years.
If you or someone in your family has been seriously injured in a Scarborough pedestrian accident, Toronto pedestrian collision, or another Ontario motor vehicle accident, Bergel Magence Personal Injury Lawyers can help.
For more than 50 years, our legal team has represented people affected by pedestrian accidents, car crashes, bicycle collisions, motorcycle accidents, catastrophic injuries, and other serious personal injury cases throughout Scarborough, Toronto, and across Ontario.
Contact Bergel Magence today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Our Toronto personal injury lawyers can investigate how the collision happened, preserve important evidence, explain the Accident Benefits and insurance coverage that may apply, deal with the insurance companies, and pursue the compensation you may be entitled to receive.