It is very important for you to understand how frequently pedestrian accidents occur if you walk near traffic on a regular basis. Every year, pedestrian accidents lead to many serious injuries, and some of these incidents prove fatal. Unfortunately, many pedestrians continue to become hurt and killed in accidents as a result of negligent drivers, such as those who operate a vehicle after drinking alcohol or while using a phone.
As a pedestrian, you are especially likely to suffer a debilitating injury if you become involved in an accident on the road.
Statistics shed light on pedestrian injuries and deaths
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points out that pedestrian accidents resulted in 104,000 emergency department visits due to nonfatal injuries in 2020, based on estimates. Additionally, pedestrian accidents claimed over 7,000 lives throughout 2020. In fact, out of all the people who died in traffic accidents in 2020, pedestrians represented one out of every six deaths.
Pedestrian accident risk factors to recognize
Pedestrians and drivers should pay close attention to various risk factors. For example, many pedestrian accidents take place due to alcohol, and a majority of fatal accidents occur during the nighttime, on urban roads and outside of intersections. Higher speeds not only make pedestrian accidents more likely, but also increase the severity of injuries if an accident occurs.
If a reckless driver caused a pedestrian accident that has left you with a serious injury, financial problems and other hardships, you should not hesitate to hold them responsible.