Pedestrian deaths are spiking across the US: Why?
Statistically, there is a greater chance that you may be seriously injured in a pedestrian accident than there was a decade ago. The pedestrian accident attorneys in Washington at Schauermann Thayer Injury Law can help you fight for full compensation if you or a loved one have been involved in a pedestrian accident.
There are numerous reasons why pedestrian accident deaths are increasing. Much of the blame can be laid at the feet of self-involved and distracted drivers. Other reasons include larger cars and more pedestrians on the road walking.
Call the Washington pedestrian accident attorneys at Schauermann Thayer to begin the legal process if you believe that someone else was to blame for your pedestrian accident injuries. We could investigate your accident and help you develop a strong case for compensation.
The Number of Pedestrian Accident Fatalities Is at a 40-Year High
In 2022, over 7,500 pedestrians lost their lives in accidents across the United States. This number represents a 40-year high. The number of fatalities started increasing around 2010, and has shown no signs of actually dropping. The headlines focus on the surging number of fatalities, somewhat overlooking the fact that there are more accidents also causing severe injuries. For every pedestrian accident fatality, numerous victims suffer serious and life-changing injuries.
Local governments are certainly aware of the alarming trends, but they seem to be powerless to do anything about it. For all the pedestrian safety initiatives, the pedestrian safety situation seems to be getting worse by the year. Here are some reasons why safety for pedestrians is deteriorating throughout the country and in the Pacific Northwest.
More Traffic Is Resulting in Widened Roadways
Authorities have been working to create traffic solutions that prioritize moving cars. They are trying to unclog bottlenecks that make drivers’ commutes far more burdensome. However, pedestrian safety often does not get factored in enough into the decisions that planners make. They may pay lip service to pedestrian safety while clearly not doing enough to protect them from serious accidents. Governments are building larger and wider roads to carry more cars without placing much, if any, priority on pedestrians actually being able to cross them.
Cars Are Larger Than They Used to Be
Besides the number of incidents, the severity of the individual accident has been increasing. More pedestrians are suffering serious injuries for a number of reasons. One of the major reasons why deaths are rising is that the average car is much larger than it was in the past. These days, the average passenger vehicle weighs over 4,000 pounds. Automakers are moving away from sedans in favor of more profitable SUVs. The result is that each individual accident unleashes more force on the pedestrian, causing more severe injuries.
More People Have Been Walking
Further, there are more pedestrians on the streets than there were in the past. The trend of moving to an urban core and the extensive light rail system in the Seattle area mean that people are increasingly abandoning car ownership. Even if people own a car, they are choosing to leave it at home for shorter distances, either in the name of exercise or saving money on gasoline. In addition, warmer temperatures mean that more people are walking. Additional pedestrians on the road increase the chance of a serious accident.
Motorists Have Become More Reckless
Drivers are largely to blame for the sharp rise in pedestrian accident deaths. It is not a stretch to say that drivers are much worse now than they were two decades ago. First, there has been a general decline in adherence to mores and expectations in society. This change translates to more dangerous drivers, who may deliberately ignore traffic laws that get in their own way. The COVID-19 pandemic made things far worse. With less traffic on the road, drivers adopted more dangerous habits that they kept when traffic gradually returned to the streets. The result is that drivers do not look out for pedestrians and are less likely to yield the right-of-way when they are required to by law.
Mobile Devices Have Resulted in Distracted Driving
Perhaps the biggest culprit for the increased dangers that pedestrians face is the invention of the smartphone. Nearly two out of every five drivers admit to sending a text or email behind the wheel in the past month. It takes a driver an average of five seconds to send a text and several more seconds to refocus their attention on the road. Distracted driving increases both the chance of the accident in the first place and its severity. Drivers do not make an attempt to slow down, so the pedestrian accident will occur at a higher speed. A pedestrian’s chances of surviving the crash are inversely related to the speed at which the accident occurs.
Regardless of the cause of your pedestrian accident, you may be eligible for financial compensation when you can prove that the driver involved in the crash was negligent. You must hire a pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible after the crash to seek compensation.
Contact a Washington Pedestrian Accident Attorney Today
Schedule a free initial consultation with the pedestrian accident attorneys at Schauermann Thayer to learn more about your legal rights after a pedestrian accident. Our lawyers serve both the Washington and Oregon areas. We will listen and learn, while we explain what form your legal case may take. To speak with a pedestrian accident lawyer, call us today at (360) 818-2725. You pay us nothing unless you win your case.
