Pedestrians who share the roads with vehicles don’t have much protection when a crash occurs. A collision between a pedestrian and a motor vehicle could lead to severe or possibly even fatal injuries for the pedestrian. Even parking lot collisions that involve vehicles traveling at relatively low speeds could put someone in the hospital and leave them unable to work for weeks.
Most people recognize that they have to accept the risk of a crash when out for a jog or when walking home from work. However, they may not recognize that their overall level of risk is now much higher than it was just a few years ago according to federal crash statistics.
2022 was a dangerous year for pedestrians
In recent years, the overall number of traffic collisions and fatalities has been on the rise. That trend has led to a marked increase in the number of reported pedestrian deaths.
According to federal data, there were roughly 7,500 pedestrian deaths in 2022, which is the most reported since 1981. Realistically, the final number of deaths is probably higher because information about such crashes in Oklahoma wasn’t available during the study.
All this data lines up with overall trends in traffic safety in recent years. Increased reports of dangerous conduct, including distracted and drunk driving, undoubtedly contribute to the elevated risk for pedestrians. Drivers who speed or who fail to watch for pedestrians could cause a crash through their negligence that completely changes another person’s life.
Pursuing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit will often be necessary after a pedestrian crash because insurance simply will not cover the massive losses people incur in a pedestrian car crash.
