For New York City, the changing of the calendar from one year to another means many things. One is accumulating the statistics from the previous year. Auto accidents must be tracked to determine where safety implementations are showing success and where improvements are needed. While there was an overall reduction in the number of deaths on the road in the city, pedestrians found themselves in greater danger than ever before.
For those who have been injured in pedestrian accidents or lost a loved one in fatal pedestrian accidents, these statistics are important when thinking about a legal filing. There as an increase of 4.7 percent in fatal pedestrian accidents in 2018 with 111 people dying in these crashes. In December alone, there were 12 people killed. Given the number of deaths that happened in 2018 and the sudden spike in the last month of the year, the Transportation Commissioner stated that the goal of having no traffic deaths requires a lot more work.
The positive aspect of the statistics is that even though there were so many pedestrian fatalities, there was an overall reduction of 12 percent in traffic fatalities. By the last Thursday of the year, there were fewer than 200 deaths in auto accidents. That is a reduction of 11.7 percent from 2017. The genesis of the improvement is believed to be the mayor’s “Vision Zero” initiative where the city speed limit was lowered to 25 mph. Other aspects include increased enforcement and making roads safer with innovative designs.
Cyclists have also grown safer as there was a substantial reduction in fatalities with riders. In 2018, there were 10 deaths. That is down 14 from the 24 who died in 2017. 36 people who were driving or were passengers in vehicles died in accidents. That is a 38 percent reduction. Every borough except Queens had lower fatality rates. The numbers for fatalities are lower than they were 100 years ago when agencies began keeping records.
Positives aside, pedestrians are among the most vulnerable New Yorkers. With the number of vehicles on the road, distracted drivers, drivers who are under the influence or are simply behaving recklessly, it is a constant risk to be in a pedestrian accident. With the medical expenses, lost time on the job and fatalities, a legal filing is often the main strategy to be adequately compensated. A law firm that has experience in helping those who have been hurt or lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident should be contacted for advice as soon as possible.
