California Pedestrian Accident Attorneys: Have You Been Injured Walking on the Street?
Being a pedestrian is a healthy, green, and often necessary pursuit, but it can also be a very dangerous one. Accidents in which walkers are hit or struck by a car, truck, motorcycle or bus often lead to serious injury or death. In the U.S., 5,000 pedestrians are killed and 64,000 are injured annually. In California alone, about 700 pedestrians are killed and nearly 14,000 are injured each year. Injuries suffered by pedestrians in accidents are usually severe, since the human body is not mean to withstand impact from a motor vehicle. Common pedestrian vs. auto injuries include brain and spinal damage, broken bones and paralysis. Pedestrian collisions can happen to any walker, anytime, anywhere, but common causes include speeding, poor or negligent driving, and road design flaws. If you or a family member has been in an accident as a pedestrian in California, you should contact a lawyer to help fight for you during this painful and difficult time.

Pedestrian Accident and Death: General Statistics
The United States has many pedestrian accidents for a Western nation, and California is one of the most dangerous places for walkers. Here are some numbers about pedestrian accident and death rates.

• Pedestrian deaths are the second largest fatality group in motor vehicle deaths in the U.S., accounting for 11% of all traffic deaths.
• In California, only 8% of all outings are on foot, while 17% of all traffic deaths are pedestrian fatalities.
• Every 111 minutes, a person is killed in a pedestrian accident, and someone is injured as a walker every 8 minutes.

Pedestrian Accident Causes: Why?
Why are there so many serious and deadly collisions between people and cars? A variety of causes are commonly attributed to pedestrian-related crashes. Here is some information about the three most likely culprits:

• Speeding
  A fast-moving vehicle is a frequent enemy of the pedestrian which can cause devastating consequences. A speeding driver may not have time to notice a person on the street. And whether the driver sees or not, a speeding vehicle is usually less able to stop in time to prevent colliding with a walker. To show how destructive speed can be, consider that 85% of pedestrians hit at 40 miles per hour are killed, while 5% die when struck by a vehicle going 20 mph.
  
  
• Poor Road Design
  Drivers are not the only ones responsible for walking accidents. Many opportunities exist for improving safety measures for pedestrians, and many road areas are flawed and lacking. Reduced speed limits or the addition of road humps could prevent accidents in high foot traffic areas. Also, certain roads and intersections may be in need of more pedestrian-friendly elements including:
  • Islands in medians of highly populated streets
  • Overpasses and Underpasses for walkers
  • Sidewalks

  Something as simple as lighting might stop a terrible pedestrian accident from happening, and the location of heavy pedestrian traffic areas, such as bus stops, may not always be in the most appropriate place. It is important to note that drivers and pedestrians are not always the ones at fault.
  
  

• Negligence
  Pedestrian collisions often occur as a result of a driver who is not abiding the laws and rules of the road. A driver, who is distracted due to a cell phone, radio, passenger, or other in-car distraction, can be extremely dangerous to people on the road. One who disobeys or ignores traffic laws or devices which give the right of way to pedestrians at walkways is equally unsafe. And of course, a driver who disregards speed limits can make for a hazardous factor on any road.

Walker Accident Injury: What?
Injuries sustained by pedestrians in motor vehicle accidents are normally severe and physical damage varies. As stated earlier, the human form is no match for that of a car, SUV, truck or bus. Where the victim is hit, higher or lower on his or her body, depends on the shape and size of the impacting vehicle. In most of these accidents, the walker is hit by the front of the moving vehicle. For example an adult struck by a truck or SUV has a higher likelihood of suffering a head injury. In most of pedestrian collisions, the walker is hit by the front of the moving vehicle.

The most vulnerable areas for impact and injury are the walker’s head and extremities (arms, legs). In many cases, the major injury is caused after initial impact, when the pedestrian strikes the ground or other objects, such as a road median, pole or tree.

Here are a few of the commonly reported pedestrian injuries:

• Brain Injury
• Broken Bones, including arms, legs, ribs, hip and collarbone
• Coma
• Paraplegia
• Quadriplegia
• Spinal cord injury

Ped Collision Victims: Who?
More men are killed in pedestrian collisions (69%) than women. However, age also plays a role. Sadly, children and elderly are the most vulnerable demographic for pedestrian injuries. The most frequent age range for being hit by a vehicle is under 16 years of age. The elderly are pedestrian accident victims less commonly, however the likelihood of their sustaining serious injury or death is much higher.

Walking Accident Locations: Where?
More pedestrian deaths occur in urban areas since those areas have larger populations and therefore more and car and foot traffic. 85% of pedestrian injuries happen in cities. While traffic intersections can be extremely dangerous for people on foot, most pedestrian accidents do not occur there. Non-intersection accidents account for most walker accidents, and speed and surprise play a major role. A large number of fatal pedestrian crashes happen on freeways and highways.

Pedestrian Injury Times: When?
Most accidents involving pedestrians occur on the weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). And most of those accidents occur in the evening (between 6pm and midnight).

Pedestrian Collision Prevention: How?
There are numerous things that pedestrians can do to protect themselves from the dangers of walking on roads and streets. Paying attention to rules of traffic, using common sense when approaching and interacting with traffic, and having a heightened sense of the dangers of moving vehicles can help walkers avoid potential crashes. Locally available community and education programs exist to inform and teach citizens about pedestrian safety and resources. Still, more initiatives are needed to provide alternatives to walking and playgrounds for children in urban areas.

If you or someone close to you has been involved in pedestrian-related accident in California, please contact an experienced attorney now. The Law Offices of Greenberg and Rudman LLP have over 50 years combined experienced in injury law, and we are here to fight for you. Call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for a free and confidential consultation. Let us help you understand your rights and seek the justice you deserve.