HIT BY CAR WHILE WALKING – INJURY LAWYERS MN
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is a nonprofit that calls itself “The States’ Voice on Highway Safety.” They annually release a report about what’s happening on U.S. roads. This year’s report on preliminary data for pedestrian deaths in 2022 is not good news. According to early GHSA figures for 49 states and Washington, D.C., 7,508 pedestrians died last year after being hit by a vehicle. There haven’t been that many pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. since 1981. Our injury lawyers MN saw this information in a recent Yahoo article. For the whole article, click here.
The GHSA uses slightly different metrics than the U.S. government’s National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). The GHSA, for instance, counts as a fatality when a struck pedestrian dies within 30 days of the incident. The NHTSA does not. The two organizations’ figures are usually close, though. For 2021, NHTSA data showed 7,388 pedestrians killed, GHSA data showed 7,485.
Worse, data sets from both organizations show the number has been rising since 2010. That year, NHTSA figures put the number of deaths at 4,302. Motorcyclists and cyclists are also enduring an uptick in traffic fatalities; however, the surge for pedestrians represents a 77% increase in the past 13 years. At the same time, the overall rise for other kinds of traffic fatalities is 25%. Even when driving miles decreased greatly in 2020, pedestrian deaths rose 4.7%. Our lawyers have represented many people seriously injured after being hit by a car. We also frequently represent the family of people killed by a car while crossing a street.
DRIVERS NEED TO WATCH THE ROAD TO AVOID PEDESTRIANS
The brunt of pedestrian deaths occur when it’s dark outside. Of course, there are also many cases on roads without sidewalks. Many causes have been examined as a potential contributor to the increase in deaths. For example, larger vehicles, fewer pedestrian protections built into U.S. vehicles, and more risky driving. Of course, most importantly, distracted driving results in cars hitting people walking on the road. There are more distractions in cars every year. In regards to the size of vehicles, it’s worth noting that SUVs and pickups marginally outstrip cars as the vehicle causing fatalities, 40% to 35%.
Unfortunately, many remedies, like red light cameras and lower speed limits would anger drivers. As the NHTSA chief told the New York Times last year, “Motor vehicles are first, highways are first, and everything else is an afterthought.” The one we think most people could get behind is having more pedestrian islands. They’re a boon, and not just for pedestrians.
If you are injured because a car hit you while you were walking, call us. Our lawyers represent injured people and their families throughout Minnesota. You can meet an injury lawyer MN at our offices or we will come to your home. We are experts at getting people all available compensation for their injuries. This includes medical bills, wage reimbursement, and more. The initial consultation is free. Further, we never charge anything unless you receive compensation.