The number of pedestrian accidents in the country – and the state of California – is on the rise and this is unacceptable. As vehicles get more and more safety features, the number of pedestrian accidents should be doing nothing but going down. It is up to everyone to take the steps necessary to help this trend move down.
Keep reading to find out what steps you can take to reduce the number of pedestrian accidents in the United States. If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, or have lost a loved one in a fatal pedestrian accident, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
The Depressing Facts About Pedestrian Accidents Across the Country
In 2016 alone, nearly 6,000 people died in pedestrian accidents throughout the United States. This means that a pedestrian was killed about every hour and a half. This is unacceptable. What is even worse is the fact that from 2015 to 2016, fatal pedestrian accidents increased by almost 10%. In fact, 16% of all fatal traffic accidents in 2016 were pedestrian accidents.
Nine out of ten traffic crashes involving pedestrians involve just a single vehicle. Pedestrians are more likely to be hit by the front of a vehicle than by its side or back, which means that drivers should be able to see them coming.
Help Protect Pedestrians While You Are Driving
When you are behind the wheel, make sure that you are paying attention to the road and nothing else. Do not touch your phone. Do not adjust the radio. Do not fiddle with your GPS. You may think you are only taking your eyes off the road “for a second” but it is likely longer than you think it is. Even if it is not, it only takes a second of driving without paying attention for you to hit a pedestrian.
Second, give pedestrians the right of way. Even if they are not paying attention, even if you technically have the right away – if you believe there is any change that a pedestrian is going to step out in front of your vehicle, stop your vehicle. You cannot worry about whether they are following the law or not – you must only worry about preventing an accident.
Call Us Right Away if You Are Involved in a Pedestrian Accident
If you are involved in a pedestrian accident, whether as the driver, a passenger, or the pedestrian, you may have legal options to recover damages. You can contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation to learn more about your rights and options.
