In 2018, on average, 17 pedestrians and two bicyclists were killed each day in traffic accidents in the nation. According to a news report in The New York Times, experts believe distracted drivers and bigger vehicles may be the prime culprits. Since reaching a low in 2009, pedestrian deaths in the United States have skyrocketed more than 65 percent. A report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that more pedestrians and bicyclists were killed in 2018 in the United States than any other year since 1990.
What the Report Found
The news about overall traffic safety has been good in recent decades as automakers have added 
safety features, and drunk driving deaths have fallen coupled with the fact that seatbelt use has increased to nearly 90 percent. However, in recent years, the spike in pedestrian and bicyclist deaths are a cause for serious concern. The number of pedestrians killed increased by 3.4 percent last year to 6,283 and the number of bicyclists killed rose by 6.3 percent to 857, even as total traffic fatalities decreased. Together, pedestrian and bicyclist deaths in 2018 accounted for one-fifth of traffic deaths.
The report found that larger vehicles and distracted drivers are among the key culprits. As more and more people continue to buy large trucks and SUVs, more pedestrians and bicyclists are getting hit because drivers’ visibility is being hampered by the size of these vehicles, the report states. Also, SUVs and light trucks are more prone than cars to run over pedestrians rather than throw them up over the hood making it more likely that the victims would suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries.
Distracted driving plays a significant part as well. About 10 percent of fatal car accidents involve a distracted driver and about 3.2 percent of drivers on the road on any given day are talking on their cell phones. The report shows pedestrian deaths have risen significantly in urban areas – by about 69 percent in 2018. Bicyclist deaths have also surged in those areas, up 48 percent over the last decade. These types of deaths involving pedestrians and bicyclists are more common in low-income areas where people are more likely to walk, take public transportation or bike to work.
Rights of Pedestrians and Bicyclists
Pedestrian and bicycle accidents have the potential to result in devastating injuries. Some of the common injuries sustained in these types of crashes include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord trauma, broken bones, amputations, internal organ damage, etc. These are all injuries that may require lengthy hospitalization and costly rehabilitation. They may also result in long-term disabilities that may prevent individuals from returning to work or pursuing livelihoods.
Injured victims will able to seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. It is important to remember that pedestrian accident victims may be able to seek compensation for injuries or losses in collisions even if they were not walking in a marked crosswalk.
A family who has lost a loved one in a pedestrian or bicycle accident may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation as well. An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to guide you through what can quickly become a complex process and help you maximize the compensation you receive.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian or bicycle accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 49 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/22/us/pedestrian-cyclist-deaths-traffic.html