Alarming statistics regarding auto-pedestrian accidents

Pedestrian accidents are dangerous and often result in fatalities due to the relative strength and size of the vehicles that hit the smaller, unprotected victims. There are some alarming statistics about auto-pedestrian accidents in America that have been put forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.According to the CDC, nearly 5,400 pedestrians were killed in the United States in 2015. That works out to one person dying from being hit by a vehicle every 1.6 hours of every day of the year. Emergency rooms across the country treated around 129,000 auto-pedestrian accident victims for injuries during the same year.Certain populations are more likely to suffer harm in auto-pedestrian accidents than others. Adults who are over the age of 65 and children under the age of 15, in particular, have higher rates of injury in auto-pedestrian accidents than others. Also, pedestrians who are under the influence of alcohol are more likely to be hit by vehicles than individuals who are sober.Pedestrians who enter roads at non-intersection, where there are no crosswalks or where there is no signage or signals which may give drivers notice of the pedestrians’ presence, are more likely to suffer harm in collisions, as are pedestrians who are on the roads at night. Pedestrians can take actions to prevent these types of serious incidents, but oftentimes it is the fault of a negligent or reckless driver who puts a pedestrian victim in harm’s way.Auto-pedestrian accidents are often fatal and can rip families apart. No family should have to endure this type of tragedy but, as suggested by the CDC, thousands are affected every year. Legal representatives who practice personal injury law may be able to help individuals who have suffered due to auto-pedestrian collisions.