Pedestrians are very vulnerable when collisions occur. Unlike people in vehicles, they don’t have much to physically protect them from the actual crash. They also lack the safety restraints that could keep them in safe to prevent secondary collisions and severe injuries.
When a driver hits a pedestrian, the person out walking or jogging might require emergency medical care. They could even end up coping with life-altering, permanent injuries. Pedestrians on California roads might feel confident about their safety, especially if they cross at marked locations and wear visibility gear. Unfortunately, they may be at more risk now than pedestrians over the last four decades.
What does crash data show?
Every year, the states collect information about collisions and then report that information to regulatory agencies. In 2022, the United States saw the highest level of pedestrian deaths in traffic recorded in more than 40 years.
Although the report analyzing pedestrian deaths in 2022 did not include information from Oklahoma, the number of deaths was alarmingly high. The 49 states that did report traffic fatalities saw a cumulative 7,500 pedestrian deaths. Early data from 2023 and the first quarter of 2024 indicate that the trend of worsening traffic safety may have continued as opposed to improving.
What is to blame for the increase in pedestrian deaths?
The surge in fatal pedestrian crashes largely relates to unsafe driving habits. Motorists text while driving, drive after drinking, exceed the speed limit or drive aggressively. Those choices can be the main underlying reason that a pedestrian collision occurs.
No matter how carefully individuals walking, running or jogging on public roads observe California traffic laws, their safety efforts do not eliminate the bad choices of motorists in traffic. Even if a pedestrian collision isn’t fatal, it could lead to massive financial losses. Pedestrians may require hospitalization and could lose out on many days or weeks of income. They may also have a permanent reduction in their earning potential.
Filing a personal injury lawsuit is often necessary after a serious pedestrian collision. Those who recognize traffic risks and understand their rights can reduce the likelihood of suffering long-term setbacks caused by pedestrian crashes.