Pedestrian Accident Victims

Multi-Ton Vehicle vs. Pedestrian

When a multi-ton moving vehicle of steel meets a 150-pound human body, the results are not going to be good. Without any bodily protection, our nation’s pedestrians are vulnerable to serious injury and death when a moving vehicle hits them.

The latest statistics released by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveal that 6,283 pedestrians were killed and more than 180,000 were injured across the country in 2018 – that’s one life taken every 84 seconds and a 41% increase since 2008. In Georgia, where 16% of all traffic fatalities are pedestrians, our state is one of five (California, Texas, Arizona and Florida) that make up nearly half of all pedestrian deaths in the U.S., in spite of the fact that they make up only a third of the country’s population combined.

Worse yet, the upward trend continues as the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) warns that more than 6,500 pedestrians were killed in the U.S. last year, based on preliminary data. If the projection continues, 2019 will be the deadliest year since 1988 for our nation’s pedestrians.

When, Where, and Why

Some people run for exercise, some walk to get to work, and some ride bikes for the fun of it. As popular as it is to enjoy the great outdoors, it is hard to escape the associated dangers. To understand the risks, it is helpful to know when, where and why a majority of pedestrian accidents occur.

• 80% of all pedestrian fatalities occur in urban areas.
• 18% of all pedestrian fatalities occur at an intersection.
• 83% of all pedestrian fatalities occur away from an intersection, such as sidewalks, shoulders/roadsides, shared-use paths, and bicycle lanes for example.
• 75% of all pedestrian fatalities occur in the dark, 21% occur in daylight, with 4% occurring at dusk or dawn.
• With more SUVs on the road, deaths involving SUVs increased by 81% over the last 10 years compared to passenger cars, which increased by 53%.

Some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents are the result of:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Drivers making left turns
• Distracted driving
• Poor driving conditions (insufficient lighting, weather, etc.)
• Improper lane use
• Unmarked or poorly marked crosswalks

Catastrophic Results

The injuries that result from pedestrian accidents can be catastrophic – even if they happen at a slow speed. Most commonly, pedestrian accident victims suffer lacerations, bone fractures, internal injuries, pelvic injuries, head trauma, spinal injuries, and most seriously, death.

Specific injuries can vary, depending on any combination of answers to these questions:

• How fast was the vehicle traveling at the time of impact?
• At what angle did the vehicle collide with the pedestrian?
• Where was the pedestrian’s center of gravity at the time of impact?
• Which part of the body came into contact with the vehicle first?
• Which part of the vehicle came into contact with the body first?
• What was the design and size of the vehicle?

The facts of an accident can be drawn from answering questions like the ones above, but determining who is at fault is an altogether different question. Drivers and pedestrians alike, have a responsibility to take precautions that reduce the risk of injury.

A Driver’s Duty to Exercise Due Care

Poor driving habits such as distracted driving or drunk/impaired driving are among the leading causes of pedestrian accidents. While only 18% of pedestrian fatalities occur at intersections, a large number of those occur when crossing the road, even at the right place and the right time.

Drivers making left turns negligently focus all of their attention on oncoming traffic for the first chance to turn. They often neglect to look for pedestrians in the crosswalk who are crossing when they are supposed to – with their direction of traffic on a green light.

In addition to following all applicable rules of the road, when it comes to pedestrians, Georgia code (O.C.G.A. §40-6-321) states that every driver should exercise ordinary care in order to avoid colliding with a pedestrian on the roadway. A driver must give warning (by sounding a horn) when necessary, and take proper precautions to avoid an accident if they observe any child or obviously confused, incapacitated, or intoxicated person.

Pedestrian Safety

Pedestrians owe it to themselves to take all precautions for their safety, and reduce risk of injury. Georgia code (O.C.G.A. §40-6-96) outlines the rights and duties of pedestrians on and around the state’s roadways. In keeping with this code section, the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) offers the following tips:

• Walk on the sidewalk
• Cross at the crosswalk
• Stop and look left, then right, then left before crossing the street.
• Obey all traffic signals.
• Wear bright clothing.
• Watch for turning traffic.
• Watch for vehicles turning out of driveways

Were you or a loved one injured?

Responsibility to take precautions falls on both sides of a pedestrian accident, but when a driver fails to exercise due care, becomes distracted while driving, or gets behind the wheel of a vehicle when under the influence of drugs or alcohol, there is no excuse for colliding with a pedestrian.

If you or a loved one has been injured or died because of a vehicle operator’s negligence, you deserve to be compensated. Call our office today for a free case consultation at (770) 731-1447.

READ MORE:

• Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA): “New Projection: 2019 Pedestrian Fatalities Highest since 1988”
• GHSA Report: Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2019 Preliminary Data
• Centers for Disease Control statistical injury and fatality data
• Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety: Pedestrian Safety Tips