American pedestrians take their lives in their hands when they walk alongside roads with 4,743 killed in 2012, nearly a 10% increase over 2010.
Data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 1.51 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents for every 100,000 U.S. residents in 2012. However pedestrians in some states are more at risk than others with Delaware leading the nation with nearly three pedestrian fatalities for every 100,000 residents and South Dakota the safest state with only 0.24 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people, the lowest rate nationwide.
According to Robert Archuleta, director of the Traffic Safety Division of the New Mexico Department of Transportation, many different factors put pedestrians at greater risk, ranging from the correct infrastructure for safe walking down to the individual action of the pedestrian or the driver. He went on to say that engineering decisions such as overpasses, safe routes for pedestrians and the action of law enforcement to control speeding drivers or impaired driving can all help to prevent pedestrian fatalities.
If you have been injured in a serious vehicle accident involving an automobile and a pedestrian, and would like to best possible attorney team to work on your case, please immediately call Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP –(888) 244-5480. We are here to help.
