What Factors Can Place Pedestrians at Higher Risk for Injury?

 Posted on September 26, 2019 in Pedestrian Accidents

While we commonly hear of driver and passenger death and injury statistics in the news when the subject of car accidents arises, the reality is that pedestrians are just as affected by automobile crashes, making up a large portion of the collision statistics reported each year. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tells us that pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely to be killed in a car crash than passenger vehicle occupants. Pedestrian accidents in the year 2016 alone claimed nearly 6,000 lives in the United States, and in 2015, around 130,000 pedestrians needed emergency treatment. The nature and number of incidents evolve each year as the CDC releases the latest reports, but all of these statistics point to one common denominator: certain factors put pedestrians at higher risk for injury.

What Increases the Chances of a Pedestrian Accident?

Just how close is someone to becoming a statistic in a pedestrian accident? Research has shown that the following factors can place an individual in harm's way while walking outdoors:

• Youth and older age - Adults age 65 and older, as well as children under the age of 15, have higher chances of being injured or killed in pedestrian collisions. Older adults accounted for 20 percent of all pedestrian deaths in 2016, and 15 percent of those who were injured in 2015. This can be contributed to elderly people possibly not hearing or seeing oncoming cars and younger kids not paying attention to their surroundings. 

• Drug or alcohol impairment - One major factor that has proven to make up an astounding 48 percent of all pedestrian accidents is intoxication, on either the part of the driver or the pedestrian. If you are walking around town under the influence of a controlled substance, you automatically increase your chances of being struck by an automobile. Pedestrians found to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at a minimum of 0.08% at the time of collision have been shown to make up 33 percent of fatality statistics.

• Location, time of day, and speed - Other important factors proven to increase the chances of injury include where someone is walking and at what time of day. Contrary to popular belief that most pedestrian accidents take place in the middle of intersections, studies show that a bulk of them actually take place in urban areas, particularly at night. Not surprisingly, the speed of the vehicle at the time of the collision also plays a big role in pedestrian risk. The higher a vehicle’s speed, the greater the likelihood that a pedestrian will be injured if he or she is struck by an automobile.

Recent reports from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) point a lot of this risk to pedestrians being defenseless or lacking protection while on the streets. The NTSB emphasizes the need for greater attention given to prevention, such as a focus on distracted driving and DUI awareness, with hopes that continuous efforts of public awareness will better protect defenseless pedestrians.

Contact a Schaumburg Personal Injury Lawyer

There are some precautions a walker can take any time he or she steps out the door. If you or someone you know has been hurt in a pedestrian accident, it is important to understand your rights and your options for holding a negligent driver responsible. Depending on the circumstances of the incident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. A tenacious Rolling Meadows pedestrian accident attorney can help you recover damages, allowing you to heal and resume your day-to-day activities. Call the skilled legal team at Newland & Newland, LLP today at 847-797-8000 to schedule a free phone consultation.

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/pedestrian_safety/index.html

https://safetrec.berkeley.edu/news/new-research-brief-motor-vehicle-speed-risk-factor-pedestrian-safety