For individuals in Washington and other states across the nation, motor vehicles are not the only convenient way to get around. Walking is an efficient and reliable in big cities. In addition to being environmentally safe and economical, pedestrians tend to enjoy a nice walk outside as they head to and from their destinations. No matter the reason for traveling by foot, the unfortunate reality is that the lives of pedestrians are put at risk because of the motorists that travel near them.
According to current statistics regarding the pedestrian safety in the city of Seattle, safety is going in the wrong direction. In other words, there has been an increase in fatal pedestrian accidents in the city. In 2017, 11 pedestrians died. This accounted for more than half of the total fatal accidents occurring in Seattle that year.
This doubled the rate of fatalities that occurred the year previously, which was five. Fifty-six serious pedestrian injuries occurred in 2017. Because these numbers were a large increase from previous years, researchers looked into the causes. It was found that more people were commuting to their jobs in Seattle by walking. This rate rose to 8 percent, which is up from 6 percent in 2010.
And, those living in Seattle that commute by foot to their jobs downtown were 13 percent. Researchers pointed out that virtually everyone that commutes to their job via bike, bus or light rail are also pedestrians because they need to complete their transit to work by foot. Thus, a large number of pedestrian are often not accounted for in surveys.
In addition to the increasing number of pedestrians in the city, there are many risks faced by pedestrians that contribute to the cause of pedestrian accidents. Whether it is the growing traffic, negligent drivers, damaged sidewalks or lack of sidewalks, those injured in a pedestrian accident should understand the cause of the accident they were harmed in. Filing a legal action not only helps with assigning accountability, but also helps with the recovery of compensation for damages and losses suffered.