Did you know that around 17% of all fatal accidents involve pedestrians? Each year, there are roughly 40,000 deaths due to traffic accidents, but not all of those individuals are in vehicles at the time. Pedestrians and cyclists also face major risks. Not only are these accidents a serious problem, representing a major portion of all fatal accidents in the United States every year, but it’s getting worse. Statistics show that pedestrian deaths hit a low point all the way back in 2009, when things seemed to be trending in the right direction. Since then, however, they have gone up by about 80%. This is a massive increase and shows that the roads in America are definitely not getting safer.
Tips for pedestrians
There are some things that pedestrians can do to stay safe. A few tips include:
- Always using crosswalks when possible
- Facing traffic when walking in the road
- Obeying all traffic signals
- Paying extra attention to alleys and driveways, where drivers may show up unexpectedly
- Avoiding walking in dark conditions
- Avoiding distractions, such as looking at the phone while walking near traffic
Unfortunately, this does not guarantee that a pedestrian will not be injured. Often, their safety has nothing to do with themselves and everything to do with the drivers around them. Even a safe pedestrian can still be injured when a driver makes a mistake.In some cases, pedestrians will suffer disabling injuries or even pass away as a result or these accidents. Family members need to be well aware of all of their options to seek financial compensation for medical bills, funeral costs, lost wages and more.