Lafayette County, MO (January 22, 2020) – A pedestrian sustained injuries after being struck by a car in the eastbound lanes of North Outer Road on Tuesday, January 21st.

According to reports, the accident took place at about 10:00  p.m. when 28-year-old Bethany Cross was hit by a 2004 Chevrolet as she was walking near the shoulder on the south side of the roadway. 

The Chevrolet was driven by Mr. Shelby McGowen, 49, of Bates City.

Cross was transported by paramedics to Centerpoint Hospital. Her condition is currently listed as critical. 

Our thoughts are with the injured victim, Mrs. Bethany Cross, and her family at this time. We hope for a full recovery.

Pedestrian Accidents in Missouri

Car accidents take place every day in Missouri. In accidents where only motor vehicles are involved, victims can be critically injured, but they are afforded some protection from their cars. Car accidents where pedestrians are involved are a different matter entirely. Pedestrians do not have any safety measures against this type of accident and often suffer critically devastating injuries.  This fact is supported by more than just anecdotal evidence, it is also supported by national statistics and data.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that once every seven minutes a pedestrian is either critically injured or killed. They are also almost twice as likely to die from crash-related injuries than a vehicle occupant. In 2017, approximately 6,000 pedestrians died in car accidents throughout the United States, with upwards of 129,000 requiring emergency room treatment for their injuries. 

Our Missouri personal injury attorneys understand the legal system, Missouri traffic laws, and how to deal with big insurance companies that would otherwise try to bully you into a lesser settlement. If you have been injured in a car accident for which you were not at fault and are looking to file a personal injury claim in Missouri, reach out to the personal injury attorneys at Monsees & Mayer, PC. If you are unsure if you even have a legitimate claim, discussing your case with a qualified attorney will answer all of your questions and let you know what legal options are available to you. Give us a call at (816) 361-5555 to schedule your free consultation regarding your potential Missouri pedestrian accident claim today.

Notes:  We use outside sources in the creation of these news post including first-hand accounts, news sources, police scanners, and eyewitness accounts pertaining to the accident and injuries that are involved in them.  For that reason, the specific details about this accident have not been independently verified by members of our writing department. If you notice any information that is not correct, please let us know immediately so that we can make the appropriate corrections.  If you would like the post removed from our site, please let us know and we will do our best to take the story down as soon as possible.

Disclaimers: At Monsees & Mayer, we strive to be responsible members of the community and are hoping to improve the safety and quality of life for all residents of Missouri.  While we are always very saddened when we hear about these types of accidents, our hope is to bring awareness to the dangers that are all around us. We hope that everyone will take the necessary precautions to avoid these types of serious accidents in the future.  This post should not be construed as a solicitation for business. You should not misconstrue any information found in these posts as medical or legal advice. The photos used in this post are not representative of the actual accident scene.