Who is to blame for pedestrian accidents?

Walking is one of the most common modes of transportation for Brooklyn residents, whether they walk to work or just down the street to the subway. With so many pedestrians on the road, their safety should be a top priority. However, nearly 50 pedestrians are killed in accidents every year; many more are seriously injured.

To prevent these accidents, it can be helpful to know why they happen in the first place. Below, we examine some of the more common causes of pedestrian accidents and what you can do if you are among those injured in one.

Motorists

Often, drivers are involved in a pedestrian accident. A driver might make an illegal or unsafe turn, fail to stop at a traffic signal, or be unable to stop at a crosswalk because he or she is speeding or distracted. Impairment by fatigue, alcohol or drugs could also contribute to an accident between a driver and a pedestrian.

Pedestrians

Some accidents are caused by other pedestrians. People walking around Brooklyn may be looking at down at their phones or otherwise unaware of their surroundings. Intoxicated walkers can pose a threat to others as well, especially if they are aggressive, clumsy or if they don't follow traffic laws.

Property owners

Keeping premises free from hazards is an important responsibility for property owners in New York. This means they must clear their walkways of snow, ice and other potential hazards. It also means they (or the Department of Transportation, depending on who owns the property) must repair defective sidewalks. Failure to do this could lead to hazardous conditions that put pedestrians in danger of slipping, tripping and falling.

What to do after a pedestrian accident

If you or your loved one has been involved in a pedestrian accident recently, you may have grounds to file a legal claim seeking damages from a motorist, pedestrian or property owner engaging in the behaviors we discussed in this post.

Money from a lawsuit cannot undo the accident, but it can help injured parties get the help they need to recover from a serious accident. This money can be crucial, as pedestrian accidents often result in catastrophic injuries.


Study finds big jump in SUV-pedestrian fatalities in last 8 years

SUV's are extremely popular. Between 2009 and 2016, the number of passenger vehicles registered, excluding SUVs, decreased by a little less than 1 percent. Over the same period, the number of SUVs registered grew by 37 percent. SUVs and light trucks now account for 67 percent of the American auto market.

Unfortunately, SUVs are responsible for a growing number of pedestrian fatalities. The nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found a huge spike in fatal SUV-pedestrian collisions between 2009 and 2016.

During those eight years, fatal pedestrian crashes involving SUVs grew by 81 percent. That's 3.1-percent higher than the increase in such crashes involving all other vehicle types combined. This confirms a previously recognized trend.

"Although larger, heavier vehicles provide more protection to their occupants and thus have lower driver death rates per registered vehicle than smaller cars," according to the Institute, "previous research has found that SUVs and other light trucks and vans were associated with increased risks of severely injuring or killing pedestrians in an impact when compared with cars."

SUVs can be especially deadly to pedestrians

The basic shape of an SUV makes it more dangerous to pedestrians. Since they are taller and their front-ends are squarer, SUVs are more likely than other vehicles to strike pedestrians in the head or chest, as opposed to the legs.

One approach to reducing the risk is to "soften up" the front end of the vehicle. This could be done by adding a "pedestrian airbag" that would inflate when the vehicle hits a pedestrian, potentially preventing the pedestrian from striking the vehicle's roof pillars, which can be especially dangerous. Adding rearview cameras and brighter headlights could also help.

Other factors contributing to fatal pedestrian accidents

The study's authors don't know exactly what has caused the jump in SUV-pedestrian fatalities, but it's worth noting that fatal pedestrian crashes have themselves risen in recent years. In 2016, pedestrian deaths were at their highest rate since 1990. Per capita, the greatest increase in fatalities was among pedestrians between 20 and 69.

That could be the result of more walking among people in that age group. Between 2005 and 2015, the estimated number of Americans reporting walking as their primary mode of transportation rose from 3.3 million to 4.2 million.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, New York City had the highest number of pedestrian fatalities in 2016.

In order to prevent these tragedies, every driver needs to be vigilant about watching for pedestrians. If you or a loved one has been hit by a car, truck or SUV, contacting a personal injury attorney can help ensure that you receive full, fair compensation for your injuries and losses.