Pedestrian accidents can result in life-changing and debilitating injuries for victims. Pedestrians should be familiar with the dangers that are out there and pedestrian accident victims should be familiar with the legal protections that may be available to help them with their damages.
Frightening statistics
A recent study found that drivers of pickup trucks and SUVs are more likely to strike pedestrians when making turns than drivers of other types of vehicles. A study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety points to the increase in popularity of larger vehicles like pickup trucks and SUVs as a possible factor in the increase in pedestrian deaths in the United States.
The same study found that larger vehicles are more likely than other types of cars to be involved in accidents when pedestrians are standing, walking or running near the road and away from intersections. Outside of intersections, pickups were 80% more likely than cars to hit a pedestrian along the side of the road. In addition, SUVs were 60% more likely to hit pedestrians than cars.
Researchers questioned whether the nature of the larger vehicles leads to a greater number or increased nature of blind spots in these types of vehicles causing drivers to fail to observe pedestrians. The size of trucks is also increasing. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 6,519 victims were killed in pedestrian accidents during 2020. That number represents an increase of 59% in pedestrian deaths since 2009 and a 4% increase since 2019. The increase in light truck sales has been up greater than 25% since 2009.
When the statistics become personal
Each pedestrian accident is not a number but rather a pedestrian who has been harmed, maybe for life, or killed. Each number represents a pedestrian life or the lives of families that may be in shambles following a pedestrian accident. A personal injury claim for damages may be able to help victims and families with those damages and is an option both should be familiar with.