It is commonplace in many cities and urban areas to walk to work, school, or stores. Of course, nobody should have to be afraid when they take a walk outdoors. But the reality is that even just walking next to roads and crossing streets is dangerous, even with safety measures like stop signs, traffic lights, and crosswalks in place. You may think that this is a paranoid or alarmist point of view, but statistics show that it is a much bigger issue than people think.

Growing Number of Pedestrians Killed

Now more than ever pedestrians need to be on alert. According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, pedestrian deaths rose by 46% between 2009 and 2016. The trend continued into 2017, where for the second year in a row around 6000 pedestrians died after being struck by a vehicle. This is an especially alarming statistic when you consider all the developments in vehicle safety in the past few years like emergency automatic braking, collision alerts, and backup cameras. Self-driving car technology must also face this issue, as a prototype Uber car struck and killed a pedestrian in Arizona this March.

Why It Isn’t a Fluke

Many think distractions are to blame. Drivers sitting on their phones reading articles, finding songs to play, and texting others are at a much higher risk of killing a pedestrian. It is almost impossible not to link the rise of the smartphone with this statistic, since pedestrian deaths began to increase as the phone became more widespread. It is incredibly important for drivers to keep their eyes on the road at all times, and especially in busy cities or traffic.

Distracted drivers are not the only problem here. Many think distracted pedestrians are also to blame. Being on a smartphone is equally dangerous for pedestrians, most of all when they cross streets. There are a few cities, like Honolulu, which have even passed new laws making it illegal to cross streets while looking at a phone.

Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Because our world is so distracted all the time and showing no signs of changing, accidents can happen to anyone. Pedestrian accidents are among the most severe type of collision, for obvious reasons. If you have been injured by a negligent driver while walking, or if one of your loved ones has been killed in this situation, call the offices of Richard J. Troutman right away.

You deserve compensation for injuries and wrongful deaths due to negligent or distracted drivers, and we can help you get all you deserve in this situation. We are an established personal injury law firm in Winter Park, with a particular specialty in all cases involving automobile accidents. Call us today for your free consultation at 407-647-5002.