With the number of fatalities in car accidents involving pedestrians increasing each year in the US, what can be done to better protect both pedestrians and drivers from becoming injured in high traffic areas

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 15, 2016 / Even the most careful people are at risk of injury when out walking on the road. Recent research shows that the number of pedestrians injured by cars and trucks on the road is increasing each year in the US. While most Americans are aware that accidents on the road are very common, it may shock many drivers to discover that more than 6 million auto accidents take place across the US each year. In fact, not only are these accidents happening at increasingly alarming rates but a large majority —2.3 million in 2013— result in some type of injury.

New studies have also shown that between 2014 and 2015, it is estimated that accidents involving motor vehicles and pedestrians increased by a whopping 10 percent. What is even more alarming is the fact that fatalities in accidents that involved pedestrians and either large trucks or cars, increased by 19 percent between 2009 and 2014. Pedestrians out walking along the streets in the US are now factored in to largest shared number of traffic deaths in the last 25 years.

Projected Number of Pedestrians Injured in Auto Accidents Continues to Rise

From 2005 to 2014, the number of pedestrian deaths as related to motor vehicle accidents climbed from 11 percent to 15 percent. Early information from the total number of auto accidents in 2015 shows that the percentage of pedestrian fatalities is likely to continue that upward trend.

So what can drivers and pedestrians do to try and reduce the risk of becoming involved in one of these all too common accidents. Studies suggest that one of the leading contributors to pedestrian accidents that involve both cars and trucks is the increased use of cellular phones. Whether people are texting and walking or checking their social media when they're behind the wheel, cell phones are a major distraction to both drivers and people who are walking along or crossing the street. Read more on Car Accidents Involving Pedestrians - http://www.napolinlaw.com/practice-areas/car-accidents/car-accidents-involving-pedestrians/

Additionally, new reports show that more and more people are choosing to walk for simple errands instead of driving. This is largely due to the fact that walking has increased health benefits, less environmental impacts and is more affordable. And while this may be better for some people, it does mean there are many more pedestrians out on the roads today than there were 20 or 30 years ago.

Alcohol use is another major contributing factor to the increase in pedestrian deaths as they relate to motor vehicle accidents. A surprising 34 percent of the pedestrians killed in auto accidents had a blood alcohol content level at or above most state's legal limit of .08 percent. However, of the information released from these most recent studies only 15 percent of drivers involved in pedestrian fatalities had a blood alcohol level at or above their states legal limit of .08 percent.

What Can Be Done to Reduce the Risk of Injury or Death for Pedestrians

What is also interesting about these recent findings is the fact that while pedestrian injuries have been steadily on the rise in the US, the number of total traffic fatalities has declined. The number of overall traffic deaths in the US went down from 33,883 in the year 2009 to 32,675 in 2014. This decline was partly due to automakers improving vehicle crash test ratings and implementing more advanced crash avoidance technologies on newer model vehicles.

In contrast to the amount of positive changes that have helped reduce the total number of motor vehicle accidents that occur each year in the US, laws and improvements that may help pedestrians have gone largely unnoticed. Unlike many European countries that have put laws into place that require pedestrian protections to be manufactured on vehicles, the US has no made no such move to better protect pedestrians from the harsh impact of automobiles.

Learn more on Accident and Injuries here: http://www.napolinlaw.com/practice-areas/accidents-and-injuries/

Making All Streets Safe to Walk On

According to many urban designers, another option for better protecting pedestrians who are involved in car and truck accidents is to stop prioritizing traffic flow in larger urban areas. Many experts agree that with high speeds, distracted driving and less than hospitable walking conditions, it is no wonder pedestrians are at such a great risk or injury or death when crossing streets and walking along the roadways. One of the main points that all of this recent research shows is that if Americans can find a way to normalize walking in large urban areas, there may be a chance to make pedestrians on the streets a more common sight and greatly reduce the chance for injuries or fatalities in these types of accidents. Have you been involved in an auto accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, Big Rig, Pedestrian Accidents in: Los Angeles County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Inland Empire, Orange County, Claremont, Glendora, La Verne, Ontario, Upland, Brea, and Rancho Cucamonga. Get help by Calling the Personal Injury Law Office at: 1-909-325-6032 Car Accident Legal Help - http://www.napolinlaw.com/practice-areas/car-accidents/car-accident-lawyer/car-accident-legal-help/

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Contact Info:

Name: Alexander D. Napolin
Email: email@napolinlaw.com
Organization: Napolin Law Firm
Address: 269 W Bonita Ave. Claremont, CA 91711
Phone: 1-909-325-6032

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SOURCE: Napolin Law Firm