For obvious reasons, there’s much more discussion out there about safe driving, or even safe bicycle riding, than there is about being a safe pedestrian. After all, it seems like we should just be able to walk safely down a street, and especially where pedestrians have right of way, walking seems like the safest option. Unfortunately, you can’t count on your surroundings to protect you.
In 2017, there were 5,977 pedestrians killed in traffic accidents in the United States, which averages out to about one death every eighty-eight minutes. On top of this, more than 100,000 pedestrians with nonfatal crash-related injuries were treated in emergency departments. Pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely to be killed in a car crash than the occupants of the vehicle.
Yes, for the obvious – drunk drivers – as well as for the perhaps less obvious – inebriated pedestrians. Nearly half of crashes that have resulted in the death of a pedestrian involved either the pedestrian or the driver having imbibed alcohol before the accident. One-third of crashes fatal to pedestrians involved an inebriated pedestrian with a blood alcohol concentration of at least .08 grams per deciliter. Seventeen percent involved a driver with the same blood alcohol concentration.
Obviously, no one should drive drunk, or even buzzed, or high. Pedestrians who have been imbibing should take a cab or rideshare.
Of all pedestrian deaths from accidents, twenty percent were identified as people over 65 years of age. Of the children under 15 years of age who were killed in traffic accidents in 2017, one in every five were pedestrians. Pedestrians are vulnerable as it is, but falling into these other two categories also poses an additional risk. Keep an eye out for vulnerable pedestrians if you’re walking, and if you’re driving, it should go without saying, but keep an eye out for any and all pedestrians.
Speeding is not just a problem for the driver of a car and doesn’t always just result in an inconvenient ticket and fine. The likelihood of a pedestrian being hit by a car increases, the higher the vehicle is traveling, and this also translates to the injury’s severity.
Avoiding certain areas can statistically help your chances, so it might help to know that the majority of pedestrian deaths occur in urban areas, at night. Typically these are also at non-intersection locations, so be sure to cross at designated crosswalks, for your safety, if nothing else.
The responsibility for your own safety, while it is technically in the hands of others, must lie on your shoulders. Staying aware of your surroundings is always helpful, anyway, regardless of your mode of transport, and as a pedestrian, it’s critical to ensure you aren’t the victim of someone else who has decided not to pay attention to the road or to those around them. If you’re on your feet, stay on your toes.
blogs
Workman’s Compensation — When to Hire an Attorney
Workman’s Compensation is a right for all employees in California. It seems like a simple idea, and one designed with the workers’ best interests in mind. The truth, unfortunately, can be a lot more complicated than that. Avoid learning this lesson out the hard way by hiring a qualified attorney as soon as you are […]
5 Things Cyclists Should Do After a Bike Accident in California
Biking, especially on a highway, is a fun and an adrenaline-filled way to keep fit and explore what California has to offer. At the same time, it’s also a dangerous activity as the chances of being rear-ended by a motorist in California are pretty high. Unfortunately, when a bicycle accident happens, most cyclists often have […]
What to Look for When Hiring an Attorney
In Arizona and California, two big car cultures on the grow, you’re statistically more likely to be involved in some sort of motor vehicle accident or have some other legal concerns surrounding your automobile. Other injuries, like dog bites and slip and falls, are all-too common, and can be difficult to navigate with some kind […]
The Most Common Types of Motorcycle Injury
The Most Common Types of Motorcycle Crashes According to the National Institute of Health, there are four main types of motorcycle crashes. Distinguishing these by category helps determine patterns that can later be used to help treat such accidents. The four main types are: The Most Common Injuries on a Motorcycle In the same study, […]
Looking Out for Motorcycles
In 2019, the number of deaths caused by motorcycles was found to be 29 times that of deaths caused by cars. Motorcycles can go very fast, they have no sides to protect the rider, they are more difficult to see on the road and they do not perform well in bad weather. While it is […]
Personal Injury Claims: When Do you Need a Lawyer?
In cases where there are severe injuries, toxic exposure, or malpractice, you will need a personal injury lawyer. However, there are also instances when you don’t need a lawyer. Although you might need a lawyer to represent you in court if there are complex legal issues that need to be handled, other injury claims might […]
Slip and Fall Injuries in Arizona and California
In desert climates especially, some property managers have a tendency to not count on inclement weather when it comes to the upkeep of their properties. This means that, over time, things like rain and seismic shifts can slowly wear away at all kinds of surfaces, making them unsafe to walk on. While property managers may […]
Top 5 Reasons Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer
Accidents happen almost every time and sometimes so fast that you don’t have time to figure out the way forward. True, you might end up feeling stressed up because of the piling medical bills. The pilling finances might drain you, thus rendering you unable to work. Statistics reveal that more than 31 million people are […]
Motorcycle Safety Tips for Cold Weather
Driving any vehicle in cold weather and especially snow is going to make for a much more difficult time than driving in dry, comfortable weather. With enough preparation and all of the right gear, it is possible to mitigate many of these problems, but without them, you run the risk of a deadly accident. Before […]
4 Common Mistakes that Ruin Workers Compensation Claims
Thousands of workers are injured annually while at the workplace. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one worker succumbed to workplace injuries every 99 minutes in 2019, while over 99,000 others retained non-fatal injuries. Despite the prevalence of workplace injuries and the increasing number of workers compensation claims, only a few victims are usually […]
contact form
