Pedestrian accident deaths in the United States surged once again in 2022, reaching its highest point in 41 years, furthering a worrisome trend that has shown no signs of stopping. According to new estimates from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), at least 7,508 people on foot were killed by drivers on U.S. roadways in 2022, an estimate that excludes Oklahoma. Based on these numbers, U.S. pedestrians would experience a 77% increase in deaths since 2010, a more than triple the rate of increase compared to other commuters for whom fatalities increased 25% over that same period.
What the Numbers Show
Last year, the GHSA had accurately estimated that 2021’s pedestrian accident deaths had reached a 40-year high. In 2020, the deaths reached a 31-year peak. The GHSA noted that in all three of the years, large arterial roadways designed to prioritize vehicle speed, large vehicles and dark roadway conditions were disproportionately common factors in the pedestrian fatalities.
Between 2021 and 2022, 22 states reported fatality increases. Arizona saw an 18% increase, Virginia 35% and Oregon, 46%. Even in states like New York where the fatalities fell, officials are cautioning lawmakers against taking the lower numbers for granted. They are urging officials to think about how the public is being educated and engaged with, particularly the drivers.
Officials are hoping the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is paying attention to the report’s findings since the agency is accepting comments on a series of new rulemaking steps regarding vehicle safety for pedestrians. Among them is a proposed Automatic Emergency Braking rule that would set stricter standards for how cars must react when confronted with a pedestrian.
However, it does not require crucial companion technology such as Intelligent Speed Assist systems that would prevent vehicles from reaching lethal speeds where braking systems are no longer effective. The agency has also proposed adding a dedicated pedestrian safety rating to all new cars to encourage drivers to choose certain vehicle models that pass safety metrics with regard to pedestrians.
Injuries and Damages
Pedestrian accidents often prove to be a financial burden for victims and their families, who face significant expenses such as mounting medical bills due to emergency transportation, hospitalization, surgeries, rehabilitation, etc. These types of accidents also cause permanent injuries and disabilities and may lead to loss of earning capacity or the need for round-the-clock nursing care.
Injured victims of pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents can seek compensation from at-fault parties for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families that have lost loved ones in pedestrian accidents can seek compensation for damages such as medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, lost future income, etc.
Pedestrian accident victims and their families should also remember that they can seek compensation for injuries or losses in collisions even if the victim was not walking in a marked crosswalk and even if the driver involved in collision was not charged. Our law firm recovered the full one million dollar insurance policy for a girl who was not in the crosswalk when a motor vehicle hit her.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident 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 51 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. We 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 $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, 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, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy 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://usa.streetsblog.org/2023/06/22/pedestrian-deaths-set-a-four-decade-record-in-2022-yes-again