The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 6,516 pedestrians were killed, and an estimated 55,000 pedestrians were injured nationwide in pedestrian accidents in 2020. On average, one pedestrian was killed every 81 minutes in traffic crashes in 2020, according to the NHTSA.
A car striking a pedestrian can be traumatic. If pedestrians and motorists understand some of the reasons these accidents happen, they can help to prevent them.
According to the NHTSA, pedestrians can help to reduce the number of pedestrian accidents by following safety tips including:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shared a couple more pedestrian safety tips that may help reduce risk, including increasing visibility when walking at night (such as carrying a flashlight) and avoiding electronic distractions (such as a cellphone or earbuds).
New York pedestrians are entitled to certain rights, and owe certain “duties,” or legal responsibilities to others. Many of these rights and duties are contained in Article 27 of the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law.
New York pedestrians who follow the rules of the road, including those pertaining to right of way, can help to reduce the number of pedestrian-strike accidents.
Drivers must also follow the rules of the road and be on the lookout for pedestrians. It’s important to remember that children, teens, the elderly, or people with disabilities may be less predictable and may need more time to cross streets and intersections.
Here are some recommended safety tips by the NHTSA:
All drivers are required to use care to avoid hitting pedestrians, regardless of who has the right of way. If a pedestrian is there to be seen, the driver is obligated to react and drive accordingly.
If you were involved in a pedestrian accident, William Mattar, P.C. may be able to help. Our attorneys have helped thousands of injury victims and know that when there are serious injuries, immediate action should be taken. At William Mattar P.C., we are here to help injured pedestrians 24 hours a day. Give us a call, at (844) 444-4444, or fill out our free initial consultation form.