Although pedestrian accidents have been on a downward trend for the last couple of decades, they are still an all-too-common occurrence on streets of all sizes and locations. According to information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4,743 people were killed as pedestrians in accidents with motor vehicles in 2013, which amounts to about 12 people per day. This was actually a slight jump from previous years.
Pedestrian accidents that do not lead to deaths are significantly more common. There were about 76,000 reported injuries to pedestrians in 2012, which means that on average, someone is being injured in a pedestrian accident every seven minutes.
The numbers themselves might suggest that walking can be a dangerous form of travel, as pedestrians account for approximately 14 percent of all traffic fatalities but only about 11 percent of all trips in various modes of transportation. However, there has been a three percent reduction in pedestrian deaths since 2001.
While it’s difficult to claim that walking is inherently more dangerous, it is clear that there are risks associated with walking. Pedestrians need to understand the rules of the road and street crossings and must be aware of their surroundings, the same as drivers. Unfortunately, when accidents occur, pedestrians have little in the way of protection, unlike drivers of vehicles.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a pedestrian accident and believe the driver was negligent while behind the wheel, work with the skilled personal injury Bradenton attorneys at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.