Although accidents involving pedestrians in Pennsylvania declined slightly (six percent) from 2019 to 2020, the state still ranked 15th highest for annual pedestrian deaths in the nation. Traffic engineers at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, or PennDOT, worry that pedestrians will continue to face frightening accident risks as a result of getting used to roadways being less congested over the last year. Despite the fact that the overall number of pedestrian crashes may have decreased, the number of serious or fatal accidents has actually gone up. Some Pennsylvania residents want to know: what laws are there in place to protect pedestrians and keep them out of harm’s way?
Over the years, state legislature has enacted several statutes that aim to limit pedestrian accidents throughout the Commonwealth. While there are several important laws in place to protect pedestrians (and to limit accidents for everyone else on the road, too), here are a few key highlights that are good for every resident to know:
Pedestrian injuries and deaths are not just a statewide issue; they are also a national public health concern. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a driver struck and killed a pedestrian every 85 minutes in a crash in 2019. There are many steps that pedestrians should take to be careful when they are out walking, such as following the rules of the road, walking on sidewalks whenever possible (or facing traffic when there is no sidewalk), keeping alert and avoiding distractions, and crossing at designated crosswalks and intersections. However, it is also critical that drivers take responsibility and do their part to keep pedestrians safe.
Here are a few of the NHTSA’s pedestrian safety tips for drivers:
When a pedestrian falls victim to a traffic-related accident, he or she may want to consult with an experienced attorney to file a legal claim for damages. A qualified attorney will conduct a thorough investigation of the accident and carefully review all relevant evidence in order to determine who is liable so that they can procure the best legal outcome for their client.
At Galfand Berger, our pedestrian accident attorneys have successfully litigated pedestrian accident cases. In just one instance, our team represented a client who was hard at work directing traffic when he was struck by a car. Our client sustained a closed head injury, which can cause damage the brain and soft tissue by way of violent movement. Tragically, our client also lost his leg as a result of the collision. Although the defendant-driver’s insurance company denied coverage, we fought for our client and successfully recovered $1.5 million for him during post-trial settlement proceedings.
If you would like to learn more about filing a personal injury claim for your injuries, someone at our firm can help. To learn more, contact a representative online now.
Galfand Berger LLP has offices located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Reading and Lancaster, we serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. To schedule a consultation with our legal team, call us at 800-222-8792 or complete our online contact form.