Pedestrians are at risk of being injured in motor vehicle accidents in Pennsylvania and across the nation. With the number of drivers who are distracted behind the wheel, operating their vehicles in a reckless manner, under the influence, or drowsy, pedestrians must take great care when they are crossing the street and even walking on the sidewalk. Unfortunately, even the most cautious people can be injured or lose their lives in a pedestrian accident.
A new study shows that Pennsylvania had a substantial rise in fatal pedestrian crashes in 2018. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), there was an increase in pedestrian deaths of 41 percent in the first six months of the year when compared to the same period the year before. This trend is not limited to Pennsylvania. Across the U.S., pedestrians are dying in motor vehicle accidents at a troubling rate.
In 2018, there were more than 6,200 fatalities involving pedestrians. That is the most in almost 30 years. There were 90 pedestrian deaths in crashes in Pennsylvania in the first half of the year. In 2017, that number was 64 for the first half of the year. GHSA also found that there were 19 years in which pedestrian fatalities were on the decline between 1990 and 2009. Then there was an increase that has continued for the past decade. From 2008 to 2017, there was a 35 percent increase in nationwide pedestrian deaths.
This is happening while there was a six percent reduction in other traffic fatalities. Of all motor vehicle fatalities, 16 percent were pedestrians. That is a rise from 12 percent 10 years ago. Pennsylvania is one of 25 states that saw an increase in the first half of 2018. Experts say that a major cause of these fatalities is the number of SUVs on the road, and that people are driving while distracted and under the influence of alcohol. SUVs are a notable concern as pedestrian fatalities have risen by 50 percent since 2013. That is while passenger car fatalities rose by 30 percent in that same time-period. In Pennsylvania, there were nearly 800 pedestrian deaths from 2013 to 2017.
Pedestrians are not protected when they are hit by a motor vehicle. There can be broken bones, spinal cord damage, brain trauma, cuts and worse. Often, as this study shows, these crashes result in fatality. With the litany of issues a family will face after losing a loved one in fatal pedestrian motor vehicle accidents, having legal advice is critical. A law firm experienced in motor vehicle accidents should be contacted for help in seeking compensation through a legal filing.
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