Until a person becomes a victim of a pedestrian accident, they often have no idea just how common or dangerous these types of injuries are. If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury in this way, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation. In the meantime, you can read the following to learn some potentially surprising stats about just how common pedestrian accidents are in California and the rest of the country.
The Number of Pedestrian Deaths Has Increased Steadily in the Last Decade
Many people are shocked to learn that pedestrian deaths are rising. In fact, from 2007 to 2016, they went up by more than 25%. Consider that at the same time, traffic deaths were down by nearly 15%. Likewise, pedestrian deaths as a portion of total motor vehicle deaths went from 11% in 2007 to 16% in 2016. There is no time in the last 33 years that pedestrian fatalities have made up as large a portion of the total number of vehicle crash deaths.
The Legalization of Marijuana Might Affect Pedestrian Deaths
While there are still many questions about how legalizing marijuana will affect the overall accident rate in California and elsewhere, we do have some preliminary data that does not look good. The seven states that legalized recreational marijuana between 2012 and 2016 saw an average 16.4% increase in fatal pedestrian accidents in the first six months of 2017 versus the number in the first six months in 2106. Every other state in the country reported an average 5.8% decrease in the same type of accidents.
Speed Makes a Big Difference
If a pedestrian is hit while a vehicle is traveling less than 20 miles per hour, they have a 90% chance of surviving. However, if they are hit at a speed higher than 20 mph, they only have a 50% chance of surviving. Their likelihood of dying increases as the driver’s speed increases.
Running Red Lights is a Top Cause of Pedestrian Deaths
About half of the deadly red-light running accidents involve the death of a pedestrian or occupant in another vehicle that is hit. This is why it is essential to make sure that you are always stopping at red lights.
When to Stay Off the Road
There are some times of the day and night that are safer than others. For example, nearly 75% of those killed in pedestrian accidents were walking at night. 26% of pedestrian deaths occur between 6 PM and 9 PM, and another 24% occur between 9 PM and midnight. More than 70% of those killed in these accidents were not crossing at a marked intersection.
Have you been injured in a pedestrian accident? Have you lost a loved one in this type of accident? Then contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
