Pedestrian Fatalities on the Rise
Pedestrians are extremely vulnerable to injury when they are struck by a motor vehicle. The combination of being hit by the weight of a vehicle and having no protection from the impact makes for a very dangerous situation. Sadly, pedestrian fatalities have been on the rise and despite the drop in traffic during the early days of the pandemic, more pedestrians were killed.
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How to Drive Safely through a Flash Flood
The U.S. National Weather Service looked at a 30-year national average in 2005 and found that about 127 people die every year in floods in the United States; much more than the number who die in tornadoes, hurricanes or by lightening. A Zevin 1994 report found that 80 to 90 percent of flood deaths are caused by flash floods. About 40 percent of flash flood fatalities were pedestrian accidents or motor vehicle accidents as the person or vehicle attempted to cross the flooded area.
What is a flash flood?
A flash flood is an intense flooding of low-lying areas over a period of six or less hours. In the Pacific Northwest flash floods are generally caused by a severe rain or thunderstorm.
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New Year’s Traffic Accident Statistics
Road traffic increases on most major holidays as people travel to visit family and friends; New Year’s is no exception. According to the National Safety Council’s (NSC) traffic study of six major holidays, New Year’s Eve came in at the fifth deadliest. New Year’s Eve traffic accident statistics also reveal what is probably obvious; drinking and driving play a major role in the traffic accidents that do occur and that more accidents happen in years where New Year’s Eve falls on a weekend.
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Top Pedestrian Safety Tips to Prevent Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents cause thousands of personal injuries every year. Sadly, pedestrians were in a group of road users who saw an increase in fatalities in the United States in 2013 with 4,735 deaths. Like bicyclists, pedestrians are very vulnerable to injuries in crashes because they do not have the protection of a vehicle.
Everyone is a pedestrian but teenagers are especially vulnerable to pedestrian accidents because they are more likely to be getting from place to place without a car. They may also not yet be drivers and therefore lack an understanding of the rules of the road. Pedestrian safety requires the same critical thinking skills and understanding of traffic rules as driving a car. Parents can help to prepare their teens to be good pedestrians by reminding them to walk on sidewalks and always stop and look left, right then left again before crossing.
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What Causes Pedestrian Accidents? Do I Need the Help of a Pedestrian Injury Attorney?
If you were struck and injured as a pedestrian or a loved one was killed in a motor vehicle crash, you should contact a pedestrian accident attorney today! Because of the physical vulnerability of pedestrians, these accidents can cause devastating, permanent disabilities. In addition, depending on state laws and the specifics of the accident, liability could rest with the pedestrian or the motorist. You deserve a thorough look at your case from an attorney who specializes in pedestrian accidents.
Completely Vulnerable
There is no doubt that pedestrians are the most vulnerable party of those using roadways. Pedestrians have no physical shield in a collision and motorists are often so focused on other motor vehicles that they forget to look out for pedestrians. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association assert that there are almost 5,000 pedestrian accident deaths per year along with 78,000 injured, 46,000 of which are children.
4 Seconds or Less is all it Takes
There is evidence that distracted driving causing accidents is on the rise possibly due to the introduction of so many electronic devices used in motor vehicles such as cell phones, GPS, satellite radio, DVD players, etc. A driver taking their eyes off the road for four seconds (the average time taken for texting) means moving a distance the length of a football field without your eyes on the road. Distracted driving leads to more pedestrian accidents and injuries because pedestrians are not being seen. It also takes motor vehicles off the road and onto sidewalks or out of their lane where pedestrians may be walking.
The most common type of pedestrian injury is injury to the head causing traumatic brain injury (TBI). If you believe you may be suffering from TBI due to an accident please contact your health professional for a PET scan or MRI for diagnosis.
It is important to understand the most common causes of pedestrian accidents and which causes are likely to be attributed to the driver and which to the pedestrian.
“It Was the Driver’s Fault”
- Inattentive or distracted driver
- Talking or texting on a cell phone
- Talking to another passenger
- Eating
- Any type of distraction that takes eyes off the road
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Cutting corners
- Not stopping at stop signs
- Failing to yield
- Poor weather conditions
- If the driver does not adjust their speed for conditions
“It Was the Pedestrian’s Fault”
- Jaywalking
- Breaking traffic signals
- Darting in front of a moving vehicle
If you were the victim of a pedestrian vs. car accident then let us provide peace of mind through complete legal counsel and tough representation.
Please contact an attorney at Tario & Associates today; we are committed to helping victims of personal injury cases.
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