Pedestrians should be attuned to the possibility that they could be in an accident with a motor vehicle any time they head out their door. In Staten Island, the statistics show that there has been an increase in the number of pedestrian accidents from 2016 through 2017 after a sharp decline from 2013 through 2015. These numbers come from the Traffic Safety Statistical Repository (TSSR).
In 2015, there were 287 pedestrian accidents in Staten Island. In 2016, that rose to 369. By 2017, it was 396. With these worrisome numbers, authorities are giving advice on how to avoid being in a pedestrian crash. While this is obviously beneficial, it is also important to understand the statistics, the causes of these accidents and what one’s rights are after being hit.
The most recent numbers for 2018 show there were eight pedestrian-auto accidents that could be considered serious. Drivers often forget that pedestrians also have the right to use the road. Vehicles might fail to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk when they are supposed to, and it can cause an accident. While some incidents in which a pedestrian is hit might stem from the pedestrian failing to cross at a designated crosswalk, not yielding when the vehicle has the right of way, walking in the road or standing in the street when waiting to be picked up, that does not mean that the pedestrian “deserved” to get hit, the injuries are any less severe or a fatality can be blamed on the pedestrian.
The number of distracted drivers, drivers who flout traffic laws and engage in other dangerous behaviors has placed pedestrians at significant risk of injuries and death in pedestrian accidents. Pedestrian knockdowns are some of the worst kinds of accidents because of the pedestrian’s vulnerability. It can lead to injuries, medical expenses, lost wages and long-term damage. It can even cause death. Those who have been injured in a pedestrian accident or lost a loved one in a fatal pedestrian crash may want to learn more about their rights, including whether it is possible to pursue a legal filing.
