Although motorists are supposed to drive safely and cautiously in areas where pedestrians are frequently found, this does not always occur. Negligent drivers are often the cause of serious and fatal pedestrian accidents.
Based on current statistics, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that 5,376 pedestrians were killed in traffic-related incidents in 2015. This means that, on average, a pedestrian is killed every 1.6 hours. It was also found that around 129,000 pedestrians were treated in emergency departments in 2015 for non-fatal injuries caused by a traffic incident.
What are the risk factors of being involved in a pedestrian accident? Based on statistics, pedestrians that are 65-years-old or older accounted for 19 percent of all pedestrian deaths and around 13 percent of all pedestrian injuries in 2015. On the other hand, child under the age of 15 have about a 20 percent chance of being killed in a pedestrian accident.
Alcohol can play a role in a pedestrian crash and is reportedly involved in 48 percent of these incidents. With regards to intoxicated drivers, 15 percent of fatal pedestrian accidents involve a driver with a BAC of 0.08 or higher.
Another risk factor is speed. The higher the seed a vehicle is traveling the more likely it is that a pedestrian, unable to avoid a fast traveling vehicle, will be struck. Additionally, it was found that pedestrian deaths are more likely to occur in urban areas, in non-intersections and at night.
Victims of a pedestrian accident should understand that they have recourses available. If a negligent driver was the cause of the collision, it is possible to hold that driver responsible for the injuries and damages caused. For those who have lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident, it is possible to seek damages through a wrongful death lawsuit.
Source: Cdc.gov, “Pedestrian Safety,” accessed June 17, 2017
