Accidents and the safety of pedestrians

As California residents may know, accidents causing injury and death of pedestrians are a problem. According to 2012 statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4,743 individuals died after being struck by a vehicle, while a pedestrian was injured after being struck by a vehicle in that year every seven minutes. There are recommendations that have been issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concenring what pedestrians may do to prevent becoming a victim of an accident.

Risk factors in pedestrian accidents include age, speed and consumption of alcohol. According to the NHTSA, one in five children aged 5 through 15 were killed in traffic accidents in 2012 were pedestrians, while 20 percent of pedestrian deaths and 9 percent of pedestrian injuries occurred to those over the age of 65. Alcohol consumption was involved in 48 percent of pedestrian deaths.

The CDC recommendations to help prevent pedestrian accidents include several measures that might reduce the risk. Using a flashlight and wearing reflective clothing while walking at night may make a pedestrian more visible to drivers. The CDC also recommends that pedestrians stay on the sidewalk whenever possible. However, if no sidewalk is present where they are walking, then pedestrians might be safer walking along the shoulder of the road and facing toward traffic. Another recommendation is to always cross the street at marked street corners and crosswalks.

A pedestrian who is involved in an accident caused by a careless driver may face serious injuries and large medical bills. In such an event, the victim may find it advisable to meet with a personal injury attorney in order to determine the remedies that may be available.