As someone injured in a pedestrian accident in Pasadena, California, you can be said to be more fortunate than others who have died in similar incidents. The reality is that pedestrian fatalities have gone up at an alarming rate every year since 2009.
A preliminary analysis of 2019 traffic deaths by the Governors Highway Safety Administration has come up with some startling statistics. Below is a summary of the results.
Pedestrians deaths up 60% from 2009 to 2019
Though the GHSA had data that only spanned the first half of 2019, it was able to estimate that 6,590 pedestrians died that year: a 60% jump from 2009 and the highest that the number has been since 1988. It also marked a 5% increase from the previous year. The rate came to 2 deaths per 100,000 people, which is the highest since 1997.
The states with the highest pedestrian fatality rates were Hawaii, New Mexico and Florida while Idaho, Wisconsin and Vermont had the lowest. Five states accounted for 47% of all pedestrian deaths: California, Arizona, Texas, Georgia and Florida.
GHSA gives several reasons for the increase
From 2009 to 2018, all other traffic deaths saw a 2% increase. The question, then, is why it’s only pedestrian deaths that have seen such a spike. The GHSA gives distracted driving as one reason with more and more drivers letting themselves be distracted by their phones.
The report also mentions how more SUVs and light trucks are on the road. Due to their design, such vehicles are more likely to leave pedestrians with injuries at the head and neck level: thus, a greater chance of fatalities. Sixty-nine percent of new vehicle sales in 2019 were light trucks, compared to 48% in 2009.
Lawyer for serious personal injury cases
Many victims of pedestrian accidents are left with catastrophic injuries that require long-term treatment and diminish their capacity to earn a living. If your situation is like that, you may hire a lawyer to assist with the claim. The lawyer may, in turn, hire crash investigators and other third parties to strengthen the case. He or she may then negotiate for the maximum possible settlement.
