Pedestrian accidents may not be the most common type of motor vehicle accident, but they are often among the most dangerous. In the wake of a pedestrian accident, victims may not be certain about what they should do or where they should go. Here are five things you should know about pedestrian accidents:
- Pedestrian accidents are more deadly than other accidents
- On average, victims of pedestrian accidents are about 50% more likely to be killed than in other kinds of motor vehicle accidents. The reason for this is simple: in these accidents, victims do not have the benefit of a motor vehicle shielding them from injury. As a result, they are much more likely to be severely injured or killed when they are struck by a vehicle.
- Higher speed accidents are significantly more deadly
- It may not be a surprise to most people, but the faster a vehicle is going when it impacts a victim, the greater the harm it causes to them. Accidents involving a speeding driver, therefore, are much more likely to result in a fatality than ones where the driver drove under or close to the speed limit. Speeding also increases the likelihood of an accident happening in the first place.
- Alcohol is strongly tied to pedestrian accidents
- In addition to being illegal, alcohol plays a large part in contributing to the risk of an accident. As much as 47% pedestrian accidents involved an individual with a blood alcohol content (BAC) over the legal limit. In 33% of cases, it was the pedestrian, while in 17% of cases, it was the driver. In some cases, both the driver and pedestrian had a BAC over the legal limit.
- Pedestrian accidents tend to occur in urban areas at night
- Urban areas tend to be significantly more dangerous for pedestrians than rural areas, due to the heavy amount of traffic increasing the risk of an accident. Likewise, accidents are significantly more likely to happen at night, when it is dark and visibility is limited. This risk is increased depending on the availability of safety measures like crosswalks and sidewalks, the absence of which increases the risk of a pedestrian accident significantly.
- Elderly people and children are disproportionately killed in pedestrian accidents
- Sadly, it is the oldest and youngest who are most likely to be severely injured or killed in a pedestrian accident. Approximately 20% of all fatalities from these accidents resulted from individuals over the age of 65. Meanwhile, approximately one in five children under the age of 15 who died in a traffic accident died as a result of a pedestrian accident.
If you have been involved in a car accident, it is important that you contact an attorney to understand your legal rights. The New York personal injury attorneys at Zlotolow & Associates can bring more than two decades of experience to your case. We have helped thousands of clients recover through settlements and courtroom verdicts. To schedule a consultation, you can call us toll-free at (886)800-0092, or you can visit our contact page.
