The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC) estimates that one pedestrian per hour on the roads in 2020 was fatally injured or killed by a car. This equates to over 7,000 deaths. In the same year, more than 104,000 people received treatment for non-fatal injuries.
While pedestrians should feel safe when crossing busy streets and cities, this is not always the case. Below are some reasons pedestrians are dying so fast.
Drinking of drugs and alcohol
Many pedestrian accident lawyers meet families of loved ones who were killed while driving on US roads. According to the CDC, 13% (of all pedestrian accidents) in 2020 involved a driver whose blood alcohol concentration was at least 0.08 grams per deciliter.
But vehicle drivers are not the only ones to blame. According to the same report, 32% of pedestrians who were involved in an accident had blood alcohol levels below 0.08 grams per deciliter. Impaired judgment or coordination could occur, regardless of whether you are driving a car or walking the streets.
Dark Clothing
While vehicles have headlights that illuminate their surroundings at night to help them see, motorists may not always be able to react quickly to pedestrians in dark clothes. This situation is even more severe in areas without street lighting. Brightly colored clothing and pocket flashlights are two ways pedestrians can be more visible.
Unmarked Crosswalks
Responsible pedestrians cross busy roads using marked paths, especially at intersections and accident hotspots. Many pedestrians are killed or injured at unmarked crossings. These are areas where the vehicle driver may not see. Drivers who are busy driving, such as parking, may not be able to see pedestrians crossing roads or behind their cars.
Electronics
Many personal injury lawyers can tell you that pedestrians are not allowed to use electronics. This means that many people who walk to their destinations use music and phones to entertain themselves.
Electronic devices can be useful, but they can also pose a danger. A New York University Langone Medical Center study on pedestrian accidents in New York City found that 8% of pedestrian deaths involved pedestrians using electronic devices.
Quiet vehicles
Many pedestrians use several senses to detect vehicles. These include their vision and hearing. The increase in electric cars means that the ability to hear is no longer enough to tell if the road is clear.
The majority of electric vehicles are quieter than their fuel-consuming counterparts. This can make it difficult to spot them when they come around corners or drive up behind you.
Accidents involving pedestrians can happen to motorists or pedestrians. To learn more about your rights and eligibility for compensation, contact a pedestrian accident lawyer if you have been in an accident involving pedestrians.