Pedestrian Safety

Believe it or not, tens of thousands of pedestrians are injured and thousands more are killed in preventable accidents each year. According to the most recent numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, 7,522 pedestrians lost their lives in 2022, up from 7,388 in 2021. Though pedestrian deaths declined in the U.S. from the 1980s until 2009, they have risen steadily since. While experts work to understand more about our country’s shift away from pedestrian safety, it is crucial to brush up on tips that help keep our roads safe.

Walking is beneficial for a variety of reasons. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that over 145 million Americans use walking to maintain a physically active routine. One of the benefits of walking is that it improves a person’s overall health. It also lowers the risk of stroke, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, some cancers and diabetes. Walking is not just good for a person’s physical health but for their mental health, too.

What Dangers Do Pedestrians Face on Our Roads?

You may be wondering why pedestrians face so many risks when it is such a healthy activity. Other countries have made strides in pedestrian safety, while our trend paints a much bleaker — and far more dangerous – picture. Although the 2000s saw the automobile industry making significant strides in safety and assistive technologies for drivers, the same cannot be said for pedestrians. The NHTSA reports that pedestrian crashes tend to have certain characteristics, including:

• Light conditions. Approximately three-quarters of pedestrian fatalities happen when it is dark. Though less frequent, deadly crashes also happen during daytime hours as well as at dusk or dawn.
• Roadway location. Most pedestrian deaths occur at non-designated intersections. Researchers have identified what they call “hot spots” for pedestrians, which are locations with five or more lanes to cross, traffic volumes exceeding 25,000 vehicles per day, and speed limits of 30 mph or higher.
• Hit-and-runs. Nearly 25% of pedestrian fatalities each year are hit-and-runs, a number that the agency notes has been consistent for decades. Some of the most common factors in hit-and-run crashes are substandard lighting conditions, the occurrence of the weekend, and an early morning time frame.
• Most pedestrians who are killed in motor vehicle crashes are males; they are more than twice as likely to be killed in a crash as pedestrians. Age is also a factor in these incidents, with individuals between the ages of 60 and 70 sustaining the greatest number of deaths.

Tips to Prevent Accidents

Whether as a pedestrian or a driver, there are steps all of us can take to promote roadway safety. Drivers should follow the following recommendations from the NHTSA:

• Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times. Be especially wary at night or during bad weather conditions.
• Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop, too.
• Never pass a vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing where you cannot see.
• Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
• Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street, in school zones, and in neighborhoods where children are present.
• Be extra cautious when you are backing up and look for pedestrians.
• Avoid all distractions when you are behind the wheel. No cell phones, no eating, drinking, fiddling with the music of navigation – nothing that takes your attention away from the task of driving.

The NHTSA has some useful safety tips specifically for pedestrians as well. Here are some examples:

• Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
• Whenever one is available, walk on the sidewalk.
• If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far away from traffic as you can.
• Always cross the street at a crosswalk or intersection. Look for cars in every direction, including those that are turning left or right.
• If a crosswalk or intersection is not available to you, find a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap that allows you to cross safely and continue looking for traffic as you cross.
• Watch out for cars entering or exiting driveways or backing up in parking lots.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs when you are walking; they put you at risk by impairing your abilities and judgment.

Were You Injured in a Pedestrian Accident?

A pedestrian was killed every 70 minutes in a traffic crash in 2022. In Pennsylvania, 193 pedestrians lost their lives and nearly 4,000 others were injured in pedestrian accidents that same year. At Galfand Berger, our attorneys have been fighting tirelessly on behalf of injured victims for decades. We represented a client who, as a pedestrian, was directing traffic at a construction site. A vehicle struck him, causing significant injuries including a closed head injury and the loss of one of his legs. The at-fault driver’s insurance company denied coverage to help our client, but we challenged the decision and won at trial. Our attorneys successfully secured a $1,500,000.00 settlement in favor of our client. To learn more about this recovery, visit: https://www.galfandberger.com/verdicts/auto-accidents/43-2/.

If you have questions about filing a claim for the injuries you sustained in a pedestrian accident, someone at our firm can help. Contact a representative online now.

Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP, Representing Injured Victims Since 1947

Contact the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, Pennsylvania, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.