Some statistics on pedestrian deaths

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, California led the nation in pedestrian deaths in 2014. In that year, there were 4,884 pedestrians killed around the country in accidents involving motor vehicles, and 697 of these fatalities occurred in California. Florida and Texas had the second and third highest numbers of pedestrian deaths in 2014.

Though the number of annual pedestrian deaths is known, the data is difficult for transportation professionals to analyze. Detailed information about how much time people spend walking does not exist, so it is unclear whether declining pedestrian death rates are caused by less walking or safer roads. From 2001 to 2013, pedestrian fatality rates declined by 3.4 percent, and pedestrian injury rates declined by 15.4 percent.

NHTSA data on pedestrian accidents shows that males accounted for 70 percent of those who were killed in 2014. The average age of people that were killed in pedestrian accidents was 47, and 75 percent of fatal pedestrian accidents took place in urban areas. Data also shows that fatal pedestrian accidents are most likely to occur between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8:59 p.m., and more than one-third of the pedestrians that were killed in 2014 were legally intoxicated.

Drivers are expected to stop for pedestrians at cross walks and give them the right-of-way. A driver who injures or kills a pedestrian could face criminal charges. Even if no charges or filed or the motorist is not convicted, a personal injury lawsuit filed with the assistance of an attorney could be a way of recovering compensation for injuries if it can be determined that the driver was negligent.