Pedestrians are some of the most fragile hazards on the roads. If a driver is not paying attention and strikes a pedestrian, that individual does not have the luxury of being surrounded by life-saving technology like a fellow motorists does.

We are reminded of this in a case of a Louisiana woman's wrongful death. The 39-year-old woman from Port Allen, Louisiana was recently struck by a 1999 Mercury Cougar on west U.S. 190. The 36-year-old man behind the wheel, who was also from Port Allen, was not injured in the crash.

The Louisiana State Police reported that the woman walked in front of the man's car where she was struck. The West Baton Rouge Coroner pronounced the woman dead at the scene as a result of her catastrophic injuries. Police took toxicology samples from both individuals to determine whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash. Those results were not yet available as the incident remains under investigation.

Many times, law enforcement places the blame in these types of crashes on the pedestrian. While it is important for pedestrians to follow the rules of the road - using sidewalks and crosswalks where they are installed and walking against the flow of traffic when on the street - motorists need to share the responsibility and keep a watchful eye out for pedestrians.

Those who are injured in a car-pedestrian crash might want to contact a personal injury attorney. They can help victims seek compensation to pay for their hospital and lost wage expenses as a result of their injuries.

Source: NBC 33TV, "Early morning crash claims life of Port Allen woman," Jan. 8, 2012