Serious Leg Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents: Fractures, Surgeries, and Long-Term Recovery

Pedestrians have little protection when they are struck by a motor vehicle. Even collisions at relatively low speeds can generate enough force to cause devastating injuries to the legs, hips, knees, ankles, and feet. While many people associate pedestrian accidents with head injuries or spinal cord injuries, serious orthopedic trauma is among the most common and life-changing consequences of these collisions.

Leg injuries often require emergency surgery, lengthy hospital stays, months of rehabilitation, and, in some cases, permanent disability. For many victims, recovery is measured not in weeks but in years. At Kalfayan Merjanian, LLP, we represent California pedestrians who have suffered serious orthopedic injuries because of negligent drivers and work to recover compensation that reflects both their current and future losses.

Why Are Leg Injuries So Common in Pedestrian Accidents?

The height of most passenger vehicles places the front bumper near a pedestrian’s legs at the moment of impact. As a result, the initial collision often causes severe injuries to the lower extremities before the victim is thrown onto the hood, windshield, or pavement. The force of the impact can fracture multiple bones simultaneously while also damaging muscles, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels, and nerves. Because pedestrians have no seat belts, airbags, or other protective structures, the injuries are frequently far more severe than those sustained by occupants of the vehicle.

What Types of Leg Injuries Most Typically Occur?

Pedestrian accidents can cause a wide range of orthopedic injuries, many of which require extensive medical treatment. Common injuries include:

• Femur fractures
• Tibia and fibula fractures
• Pelvic fractures
• Hip fractures
• Knee fractures and ligament tears
• Ankle fractures
• Foot fractures
• Crush injuries
• Compound (open) fractures
• Soft tissue injuries involving muscles, tendons, and ligaments

Many victims suffer multiple fractures affecting both legs, significantly complicating treatment and rehabilitation.

Why Are Femur Fractures So Serious?

The femur is the largest and strongest bone in the human body. Breaking it typically requires tremendous force, making femur fractures common in high-impact pedestrian collisions. These injuries almost always require surgery to stabilize the bone using rods, plates, or screws. Recovery may involve months of restricted weight-bearing, physical therapy, and follow-up procedures. Even after the fracture heals, some patients continue to experience chronic pain, reduced mobility, arthritis, or differences in leg length that affect their ability to walk normally.

When Is Surgery Necessary?

Many serious leg injuries cannot heal properly without surgery. Orthopedic surgeons may perform procedures to realign fractured bones, stabilize joints, repair torn ligaments, reconstruct damaged tissue, or address vascular injuries that threaten circulation to the affected limb. Depending on the severity of the injuries, a pedestrian may undergo multiple surgeries over several months or years. Some patients require external fixation devices immediately after the accident before undergoing definitive reconstructive procedures once swelling decreases. The need for repeated surgeries often extends both the recovery period and the overall financial impact of the injury.

What Does Long-Term Recovery Look Like?

Recovery from a serious orthopedic injury rarely ends when a patient leaves the hospital. Many pedestrians require extensive rehabilitation that includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, pain management, and follow-up orthopedic care. Some must relearn how to walk, regain strength, and improve balance after prolonged periods of immobility. Even with excellent medical care, permanent limitations may remain. Victims may experience chronic pain, reduced range of motion, weakness, instability, or difficulty standing and walking for extended periods. For individuals whose jobs require physical activity, these limitations can significantly affect future employment and earning capacity.

Can Serious Leg Injuries Lead to Permanent Disability?

Yes. Some orthopedic injuries never fully heal. Complex fractures involving joints, severe crush injuries, nerve damage, or complications such as infection may leave a person with permanent functional impairments. In the most severe cases, traumatic injuries may ultimately require partial or complete amputation. Even when amputation is not necessary, arthritis can develop years after the initial injury, leading to chronic pain and additional surgeries, including joint replacement procedures. Because many of these complications develop over time, it is important to consider future medical needs when evaluating a personal injury claim.

How Are Future Medical Expenses Calculated?

One of the most important aspects of a serious pedestrian accident case is evaluating future damages. Current medical bills often represent only a portion of the total financial impact. Future expenses may include additional surgeries, orthopedic follow-up care, physical therapy, prescription medications, pain management, assistive devices, mobility aids, home modifications, and long-term rehabilitation.
In catastrophic injury cases, attorneys frequently work with orthopedic specialists, rehabilitation physicians, life care planners, and economists to estimate the cost of future treatment over the victim’s lifetime. Accurately calculating these future expenses helps ensure that an injured person does not settle a claim before understanding the full extent of their losses.

What Other Damages May Be Available?

A serious leg injury can affect nearly every aspect of a person’s life. In addition to medical expenses, injured pedestrians may seek compensation for lost wages, diminished future earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent disability, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. Someone who previously enjoyed hiking, running, sports, or other physical activities may no longer be able to participate in those pursuits. Others may require assistance with daily tasks that they once performed independently. These noneconomic losses are often just as significant as the financial costs of the injury.

Early Investigation Is Essential in Pedestrian Accident Claims

As with any serious personal injury case, preserving evidence is essential. An early investigation may identify surveillance footage, interview witnesses, document the accident scene, obtain police reports, preserve vehicle data, and secure other evidence that helps establish liability. Prompt investigation also allows attorneys to obtain complete medical documentation while treatment is ongoing and consult with orthopedic experts regarding the long-term effects of the injuries. Building a strong case from the beginning can improve the ability to pursue full compensation for both current and future damages.

Contact Kalfayan Merjanian, LLP

If you suffered a serious leg injury after being struck by a vehicle, you may be facing months of treatment, rehabilitation, and uncertainty about your future. Orthopedic injuries often require extensive medical care and can permanently affect your ability to work and enjoy everyday life. Kalfayan Merjanian, LLP is committed to helping injured pedestrians pursue compensation that reflects the full extent of their physical, emotional, and financial losses. Contact Kalfayan Merjanian, LLP today to discuss your case and learn about your legal rights.