Pedestrian Injury Lawyer Phoenix AZ
Pedestrian Accident Fatalities and Causes in Arizona
Pedestrian fatalities could increase 5% this year compared to last, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). The agency reports pedestrian deaths increased 53% over the past decade going from 4,109 deaths in 2009 to 6,283 deaths in 2018. Meanwhile, the number of all other traffic deaths increased by 2%. Pedestrians now account for 17% of total U.S. traffic deaths, the highest since 1982. In Arizona, the state was the fourth highest for pedestrian fatalities with 3.3 per 100,000 population in 2018. In Phoenix, there were 94 pedestrian deaths in 2017, but there were 110 pedestrian deaths in 2018. A pedestrian injury lawyer Phoenix AZ can advise a collision victim regarding a potential personal injury claim.
There are many factors that can be attributed to the alarming rise in pedestrian deaths. They include, but are not limited to:
More trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs): More U.S. buyers have shifted from passenger cars to light trucks. Although passenger cars are the largest category of vehicles involved in fatal pedestrian crashes, the number of pedestrian fatalities involving SUVs increased at a faster rate of 81% from 2009 to 2018 compared to passenger cars, which increased by 53%. Furthermore, with online shopping and food ordering becoming ever more popular, the presence of delivery trucks on the roads has also increased. Pedestrian crashes involving trucks and SUVs are also generally more severe than impacts with cars.
Nighttime collisions: Increases in pedestrian fatalities are occurring largely at night. From 2009 to 2018, the number of nighttime pedestrian fatalities increased by 67%, compared to a 16% increase in daytime pedestrian fatalities.
Weather conditions: moderate temperatures can encourage more nighttime outdoor activity such as walking. Warmer weather is associated with increased alcohol consumption, which increases the risk of fatal pedestrian collisions. A pedestrian injury lawyer Phoenix AZ can investigate liability, applicable insurance policies.
Smart Phone Use: Another possible factor contributing to the recent rise in the overall number of pedestrian fatalities could be the large growth in smartphone use over the past decade, which can be a significant source of both cognitive and visual distraction for all road users.
Other factors that affect pedestrian fatalities include economic conditions, population growth, demographic changes, weather conditions, fuel prices, vehicle miles traveled, the amount of time people spend walking and changing patterns of drug use, including decriminalization of marijuana.
Decreasing the number of injuries and deaths of drivers and passengers can be largely attributed to steady enhancements in vehicle crash worthiness and crash avoidance technology. Pedestrians remain just as susceptible to sustaining serious or fatal injuries when struck by a motor vehicle. States use like Arizona are using various combinations of engineering, enforcement and education countermeasures to address pedestrian safety. In Phoenix, road crews are busy fulfilling Transportation 2050, which will upgrade the city’s aging 5,000-mile street network and add 135 miles in new sidewalks to improve connectivity. If you or someone you know is involved in a collision, a pedestrian injury lawyer Phoenix AZ can advise a victim concerning the settlement and litigation process.
Contact the law office of Paul Englander, PLC today to schedule a consultation.
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