Louisiana residents who opt to walk for transportation do so for many reasons. It’s good for health purposes, it’s free, and for many commuters, it is the easiest way to get from one place to another. Walking is the oldest form of transportation, yet in an age of distraction, it is quickly becoming one of the most dangerous.
In the last year alone, a study from the Governors Highway Safety Association released numbers that revealed that the number of accidents involving a pedestrian increased by approximately 11 percent. This represents one of the largest jumps in that number ever recorded. These startling statistics lead many to wonder about the causes and reasons for this increase in pedestrian accidents.
The dangers of walking
Vehicles are safer than ever, but statistics indicate that the possibility for injuries and fatalities is still high. This is likely because of human error, such as distraction, reckless driving and more. Experts think that there are many factors that could lead to the increase in pedestrian accidents, such as the following:
- Economic improvement and cheaper gas prices could be the reason behind more cars on the road.
- Distraction is a problem for both drivers and pedestrians.
- Distraction is one of the three main threats to pedestrians, behind failure to yield and speeding.
Accidents involving pedestrians are particularly concerning. Pedestrians are largely unprotected against the impact of a moving vehicle. Even speeds of around 40 miles per hour can lead to an 80 percent chance that a pedestrian will die if a vehicle strikes him or her.
Due to the startlingly high number of pedestrian accidents and the problem with distraction, many cities with high levels of foot traffic are considering lowering the speed limit and working on other ways to limit the number of unnecessary accidents.
Protecting yourself after an accident
Whether an accident occurred as you were walking and injured you, or you were a driver hurt in an accident caused by a person who was acting negligently, you may have a case. It is your right to seek compensation for your pain and suffering, as well as your accident-related losses.
From distracted driving to speeding, you should not have to suffer because of the negligent actions of another person. In order to protect yourself, you would be wise to seek a complete evaluation of your case as soon as possible after an accident.
