How Safe Are Pedestrians on Our Roads?

Posted on November 24, 2014 by bonnicilawgroup

car and cyclist accidentRecent incidents show that car accidents involving pedestrians are becoming more common in San Diego, with a pregnant woman being hit just earlier this week in Escondido and a former G&E employee being sentenced for striking a homeless man. San Diego Crime Stoppers and local police are still unable to find the driver who struck and seriously injured a cyclist in Ocean Beach late last month. With pedestrian fatalities on the rise, it is important to stay attentive to this issue to prevent future accidents.

Pedestrian Accidents Are Extremely Common

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics from 2012 show that 4,743 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents and an additional 76,000 were injured. Most pedestrian deaths occur in urban areas and a large number of those killed are young adults and senior citizens. In a response to stem the tide of pedestrian deaths, the Federal Highway Administration has committed more than $3.8 billion across 11,000 projects to make roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

Frightening statistics show that pedestrians should educate themselves on what they can do to reduce their odds of being killed or injured in a traffic accident. According to the Centers for Disease Control, pedestrians can protect themselves by doing the following:

  • Wearing retro-reflective clothing and using a flashlight will help you increase your visibility at night.
  • You should always use crosswalks. It is extremely obvious and much safer to cross a street in front of cars that are not moving as opposed to cars that are.
  • Pedestrians can also avoid an accident by walking in greater numbers, which would increase visibility a great deal.

We are all pedestrians at some point or another, so every one of us has a responsibility to drive safely and be held accountable when we do not. If a reckless driver has injured you, you may be able to receive damages and compensation. Reach out to our expert personal injury attorneys at Bonnici Law Group today.

Bonnici Law Group, APC – San Diego Personal Injury Attorneys

Did You Know?: According to NHTSA statistics, 73 percent of pedestrian deaths occurred in an urban area.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/Pedestrian_Safety/index.html