Whether it is spastically or on a daily basis, individuals in Seattle and other major cities utilize sidewalks and crosswalks to get to and from their destinations. While motorists are aware that pedestrians are and can be in the area that they travel, some fail to take the necessary precautions to ensure that these pedestrians are safe. Failing to keep one’s eyes on the road, drive a safe speed and check blind spots could easily be the cause of a serious and even deadly auto-pedestrian crash.
How serious are pedestrian accidents? Based on current statistics, 5,376 pedestrians where killed in traffic accidents in 2015. This amounts to one death every 1.6 hours. In addition, it was found that 129,000 pedestrians were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in a traffic accident. Based on these numbers, pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely to be killed in a car accident than a vehicle occupant.
There are some individuals that are more likely to be involved in a pedestrian accident when compared to others. For example, pedestrians over the age of 65 make up 19 percent of all pedestrian deaths and 13 percent of all pedestrian’s injured in 2015. It was also found that 1 in every 5 children who are 15-years-old or younger, were killed in a pedestrian accident. These two groups are more vulnerable because young children are harder to see and may not cross the street when it is safe to do so. Elderly adults are not fast moving, and they could be struck by a motorist that failed to stop or see them.
The aftermath of a pedestrian accident can be gruesome. A victim could suffer some of the most serious accident injuries. This is often due to the size and speed of the vehicle and the fact that a person does not have any protection against this. Thus, when an auto-pedestrian crash does occur, it is important to consider the possibility of a personal injury action. This legal claim could help hold a negligent driver accountable, while also helping with the collection of compensation for losses and damages suffered.