With the number of pedestrians on the road in Staten Island and throughout New York, it is no surprise there are pedestrian accidents with injuries and fatalities. These incidents occur often and there are many reasons for them. Researchers assess and analyze statistics to determine the cause and try to find ways to prevent them, saving people from injury and death. Unfortunately, there are ancillary factors in every issue and with pedestrian accidents, a new study from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) says that SUVs are a major cause for the rise in these crashes. People who have been hurt or lost a loved one in a pedestrian crash should be cognizant of the potential cause if they would like to file a lawsuit for compensation.
In 2018, the number of pedestrian fatalities reached its highest point in 28 years. Across the nation, there was a 4 percent rise from 2017 to 2018 and 6,227 people were killed in pedestrian accidents. The researchers analyzed the numbers from the first half of the year and their totals come from extrapolation. With SUVs, there was a 50 percent increase in pedestrian deaths involving these vehicles from 2013 to 2017. In that time, pedestrian deaths in crashes with passenger cars rose by 30 percent. Pedestrians have less of a chance of surviving a crash with an SUV.
Since 2009, pedestrian deaths have risen by more than 51 percent. That is after there was an all-time low of 4,109 that year. Pedestrian deaths account for 16 percent of all road fatalities. This is a 4 percent increase from 2009. Other potential causes for the increase include more people choosing to walk instead of drive, a lack of safe areas for pedestrians to cross the street, drivers who are distracted, drivers who are drowsy and speeding. Researchers say that if drivers simply chose to drive at a slower pace, pedestrian fatalities would decrease.
Given the natural risks pedestrians face, it is no surprise that a pedestrian-auto accident frequently results in serious injuries and death. For those who have been hurt, the medical expenses, lost wages, brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones and other injuries can have a long-term effect on their lives. For families who have lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident, there will be a litany of costs and other issues that will come to the forefront. A legal filing after a pedestrian accident is often the main strategy to be adequately compensated. A law firm with experience in these incidents can help.
