Numerous recent studies have shown that California is one of the worst states for pedestrians in that we have a higher rate of pedestrian accidents than almost any other state. One of the keys to lower the number of these often deadly accidents is to be aware of what often causes them. Keep reading for more information and then contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
- Unmarked Crosswalks
- Drug or Alcohol Use
- Distraction
- Left-Hand Turns
- Quiet Cars
- Poorly Designed Roads
A majority of pedestrian accidents take place at intersections. When a pedestrian uses a marked crosswalk, their chance of being in an accident is significantly reduced. While many people assume that pedestrian accidents are more common at night, the truth is that most of them happen on sunny afternoons and evenings when people are out and walking around.
Driving under the influence of drugs and / or alcohol is a serious offense and is treated as such in California. The sad truth is that many pedestrian accidents – especially fatal pedestrian accidents – involve drugs or alcohol. While it is more common that the driver was under the influence, in some cases it is the pedestrian whose judgement and mobility was impaired by drugs or alcohol.
Today distracted driving is one of the leading causes of accidents and it generally involves using electronics. This can refer to the driver not paying attention to the road as they check their phone, change the radio station, or talk to a friend. It could involve a person walking down or crossing the street listening to their music so loudly that they cannot hear what is going on around them, texting a friend, or otherwise not paying attention to what is going on in the road.
When a vehicle s turning left, there is a higher chance that they will be involved an accident with a pedestrian because each party will be looking in a different direction. In fact, one study showed that the number of pedestrians struck by left-turning drivers is more than three times as high as the number of pedestrians struck by right-turning drivers.
Today’s cars, more and more of which are electric or hybrids, are quieter than ever before. This makes it hard for pedestrians to hear them. Even if a pedestrian is looking up, the car can come around a curve silently and strike them. This issue has become such an issue that future electric or hybrid cars will have sound added to protect pedestrians.
Whether it is due to a lack of marked crosswalks, a lack of lights at which a pedestrian can cross, lack of sidewalks, or curves with no site, a poorly designed road can be partially responsible for pedestrian accidents.
If you have suffered an injury in a pedestrian accident please contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 now for a free legal consultation.
