What are the Top Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?
Warmer weather in Alabama means more people outside. People are walking, riding bikes and going for jogs to enjoy the beautiful, summer weather. While getting outside and being active is definitely a healthy option, it’s not always the safest. In fact, over 70,000 pedestrians are injured each year in car accidents, and more than 4,000 don’t survive.
While it’s common to think that the driver is at fault, a majority of these pedestrian accidents are caused by pedestrian actions. 90% of pedestrian accidents occur during sunnier days because more people are outside. In addition, seniors over 65 and children under 15 make up 27% of fatalities and 34% of injuries.
You’re probably shocked to find out just how many of these accidents actually occur. It’s understandable. It’s not often we hear about a pedestrian getting in an automobile accident. What causes pedestrian accidents?
Top Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Improper Lane Use
A majority of pedestrian accidents occur in the road. Two-thirds occur on city streets. For instance, a cyclist riding on the sidewalk can hit a pedestrian or force them to walk into the road. It’s important to remain diligent about your surroundings and proper lane usage when out walking, jogging, or biking in order to avoid accidents like this.
Left-Hand Turns
Crosswalks with signals are definitely safer. But pedestrian accidents still take place there. In fact, three times as many people get hit by cars turning left as opposed to cars turning right because usually each party’s attention is elsewhere. A driver may be paying attention to the busy intersection while the individual crossing the street is looking straight ahead.
Electronics
You probably could have guessed this one. A recent study found that eight percent of New York pedestrian accidents happened while the victim was using an electronic device. Electronics can be an easy distraction to what’s going on around you. Drivers, walkers, joggers, and bikers should refrain from electronic use while on the road.
Quiet Cars
While they’re usually better for the environment, battery-operated vehicles and hybrids are 40% more likely to hit a pedestrian. These vehicles are hard to hear, so pedestrians may not know they’re coming.
Alcohol Use
Drinking and driving is a huge no-no. But, 37% of fatally injured pedestrians have blood alcohol concentrations of 0.08% or more. Our advice: drink responsibly.
Dark Clothing
70% of accidents involving pedestrians happen at night. Once the sun goes down, it can be difficult to spot someone who is wearing dark colored clothing, especially if the street lighting isn’t the best. If you’re going to be on the roads late, try to wear bright clothes.
Have you or someone you know been involved in a pedestrian accident? Contact the team at Lewis & Feldman.
Schedule a free initial consultation and case evaluation by calling the law office of Lewis & Feldman, LLC locally at 205-896-6410, toll-free at 888-705-3997 or complete our contact form. You can also email us at jon@LewisAndFeldman.com and dfeldman@LewisAndFeldman.com. We’re your personal injury lawyers serving Birmingham, Bessemer, Hoover and the state of Alabama who can help you receive the justice you deserve.