Pedestrian accident numbers have been rising around the US at an alarming rate, but some pedestrians have a much higher risk of being involved in a fatal car accident compared to others.
A new report in The Grid analyses pedestrian accident statistics as outlined by recent reports by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Preliminary data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration predicts a higher number of pedestrian wrongful deaths during the first 9 months of 2022 compared to the previous year. Even as roads around the world get safer, American roads are not only getting more dangerous for all, but are also getting especially deadly for some of their most vulnerable users, including pedestrians and bicyclists.
According to the report, pedestrians who live in states with warmer climates are more likely to be involved in car accidents. That is because there are more likely to be larger numbers of pedestrians in states like Georgia that enjoy warm sunny weather for much of the year.
Pedestrians in lower socioeconomic neighborhoods are also at a much higher risk of being struck and killed in car accidents. Road design in these neighborhoods very rarely prioritize safety. Multi-lane roadways are more common in lower socioeconomic neighborhoods and pedestrian concerns are often neglected in these areas. Sidewalks are either non-existent or poorly maintained, making it hard for a pedestrian to walk safely.
In fact, when it comes to pedestrian-safe infrastructure, many American cities have a dismal record. Many roads have poor sidewalk design in place. Even when sidewalks exist, they are not accessible to those with disabilities or those walking with children in strollers. Navigating broken, cracked payments only puts a pedestrian at risk of an accident. Pedestrians in large urban sprawls like the metro Atlanta region are also significantly more likely to be involved in an auto accident.
If you are a pedestrian walking in a neighborhood with a dense concentration of SUVs, your risk of being involved in a serious auto accident increases significantly. If you are struck by an SUV, your chances of suffering serious injuries are as much as two or three times higher than if you are struck by a regular passenger car.
Even as the world enjoys safer roads as a result of advanced automobiles and better road planning, Americans continue to experience an ever – increasing risk of fatal car accidents or auto accidents resulting in catastrophic injuries.
The Atlanta car crash attorneys at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons injured in car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident, talk to a lawyer at our firm and determine if you have legal options to a claim for damages. You may be eligible for compensation that includes medical expenses, lost income and other types of damages. Talk to an attorney at our firm and discuss your case.