Whether you enjoy walking to clear your mind, as a form of exercise or as a convenient method of transportation, you need to understand the many risks you face near traffic. Sadly, pedestrian accidents lead to many deaths and injuries every year, and many of these accidents are preventable. Speeding, drunk driving, using a phone behind the wheel, inexperience and low visibility are just some of the risk factors that cause pedestrian accidents.
If you are facing hardships in the wake of a pedestrian accident, you need to go over all of your options and determine whether a driver’s negligence contributed to the accident.
Pedestrian injuries and deaths
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that 137,000 pedestrians received emergency treatment due to injuries sustained in traffic accidents over the course of 2017. During the same year, pedestrian accidents claimed 5,977 lives. In fact, pedestrians have a higher chance of losing their life in comparison to those riding in passenger vehicles for every trip they take.
Risk factors linked to pedestrian accidents
According to data from the CDC, many pedestrian fatalities involve older pedestrians over 65 and younger pedestrians under 15. Many pedestrian deaths occur on urban roads, outside of intersections, and during the nighttime. When drivers travel at high rates of speed, the chances of a pedestrian accident increase, as well as the severity of the pedestrian’s injury.
Regrettably, pedestrian accidents keep claiming lives and resulting in devastating injuries. If a driver’s recklessness caused you or a loved one to suffer a serious injury, you need to stand up for your rights.