Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), pedestrians account for 11 percent of all traffic, but 13 percent of all traffic fatalities. More than 4,000 pedestrians lose their lives and another 70,000 are injured each year in the United States in accidents with motor vehicles.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents and Fatalities

The number of pedestrian injuries and fatalities are astounding, especially when research shows that most of these accidents are preventable. The most common causes of pedestrian accidents include:

• Bicyclists riding on the sidewalk, or joggers running on the sidewalk, crowd out walkers and cause them to fall onto the road in the way of oncoming traffic.
• Intersections are particularly dangerous for pedestrians. Using crosswalks and obeying traffic signals can help prevent accidents, but speeding vehicles and those trying to beat traffic lights can seriously injure a pedestrian who is obeying the law.
• Drivers making left-hand turns are more likely to strike a pedestrian than those traveling in a straight path or making a right-hand turn. While pedestrians crossing the street focus on what is in front of them, drivers may miss seeing a pedestrian until it is too late.
• Distracted drivers and those driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs account for the majority of serious and fatal pedestrian accidents. Impaired drivers and those who use their cell phone to make calls, send or receive text messages, or engage with navigation systems put pedestrians and all others on the roadways in extreme danger.
• As engineering innovations make vehicles quieter, they are increasingly difficult for pedestrians to hear. Pedestrians are more likely to step off the curb into the path of an oncoming vehicle when they are unable to hear its approach.
• Multi-lane highways and wide roads that feed into interstates are extremely hazardous when pedestrians attempt to cross. Bus stops and train depots are often located close to these roads, putting pedestrians in harm’s way when they try to navigate across these highways.

More than a quarter of all pedestrian fatalities and almost half of all pedestrian injuries involve adults over the age of 65 and children under 15 years old. Slower movements and reaction times for seniors and impulsive actions by children make it more likely for these age groups to suffer injuries and death. It is not surprising that most pedestrian accidents occur on good weather days when more pedestrians are present on the roadways.

Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Galfand Berger LLP Help Injured Pedestrians Claim Compensation

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Call the experienced team of Philadelphia pedestrian accident lawyers at Galfand Berger LLP at 800-222-USWA (8792) or contact us online to schedule a consultation today. Our offices are located in Philadelphia, Lancaster, Reading, and Bethlehem and serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.