Pedestrian Accidents

American drivers’ love of larger vehicles has proved to be a death knell for some pedestrians. These vehicles are much larger than the average car, and, due to their heights, sometimes, prevent SUV drivers from even seeing pedestrians.

A 2020 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) disclosed what most of us already know: that SUVs are more dangerous to pedestrians than cars and more likely to cause a pedestrian’s death than a cars.

Pedestrian deaths continue to rise

SUVs have surged in popularity in the past 20 years and account for an increasing number of motor vehicles on U.S. roads. The IIHS study only focused on a small slice of incidents when it reviewed 79 SUV-pedestrian collisions that occurred in three urban areas in Michigan. Here are some of the key findings:

• A total of 30% of the crashes in which SUVs that traveled 20 to 39 mph led to fatal injuries to pedestrians. That number was 23% in which cars struck pedestrians.
• The three incidents in Michigan in which an SUV traveled 40 mph or faster and struck a pedestrian led to fatalities. That is a 100% death rate. Meanwhile, 54% of the incidents involving cars at that same speed led to a pedestrian death.
• Pedestrian deaths rose 53% in the 10-year period from 2009 to 2018.
• While pedestrian incidents usually involve cars, SUV-related fatalities involving pedestrians climbed 81% from 2009 to 2016, the most of any vehicle category.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, single-vehicle accidents involving SUVs and pedestrians accounted for 17% of the total number of pedestrian fatalities in 2019. During that year, a total of 6,205 pedestrians died on U.S. roads, nearly 1,100 were struck by an SUV.

While vehicle manufacturers have focused on improving SUV safety for its drivers and passengers, they have not made a similar effort to address the dangers these large vehicles pose to pedestrians. It is time that changed.

On March 15, a man described by police as being in his 50s suffered serious injuries when he was struck by a car. The accident occurred at about 6:15 a.m. at the Sacramento Avenue and Jefferson Boulevard intersection in West Sacramento.

The driver fled from the scene of the accident, but a witness was able to give the authorities a description of the vehicle. Authorities found the vehicle, which had sustained major damage to its windshield, at a nearby intersection. The driver, a 25-year-old woman, was subsequently found and taken into custody.

The injured pedestrian was taken to UC Davis Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. The driver was booked and charged with hit and run that resulted in serious injuries, driving under the influence and possession of methamphetamine. At the time of the initial report, the pedestrian’s identity had not been released and authorities were still attempting to determine what actually caused the crash.

Pedestrian accidents can lead to serious injuries. Depending on the circumstances, such as how fast the driver was driving and the type of vehicle involved, the pedestrian could be seriously harmed. Medical expenses can be high, and many injured victims will be unable to return to work for prolonged periods, further worsening their financial situation.

People who have been injured in this manner may want the assistance of an attorney in order to determine whether the vehicle driver should bear financial responsibility. An attorney representing a victim could review the police report and obtain the testimony of eyewitnesses to determine whether the driver of the car was distracted, speeding or otherwise negligent at the time of the incident.

Source: CBS Local, “Police Arrest Suspect in West Sacramento Hit-And-Run Crash”, Sean Bennett, March 15, 2016

Halloween is enjoyed by many Sacramento residents, both young and old. This is especially true when the spooky holiday falls on a Saturday like it does this year. But before you put on your costume and head out the door to celebrate, the California Highway Patrol has some safety tips to remind you of:

Use added caution when driving. There will be many trick-or-treaters out-and-about, especially between the hours of 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Follow the posted speed limits and consider going even slower to watch for kids darting out into the roadway.

Put away all distractions. Whether you are driving or walking, it’s important to put away all electronic devices and focus on getting to where you are going safely. You will have time for a “selfie” in your Halloween costume once you arrive at your destination.

Use caution when trick-or-treating. Unfortunately, there will be many drunk drivers on the roadways Halloween night, so it’s more important than ever to be a cautious pedestrian. That means making eye-contact with drivers before crossing the street and only crossing at designated crosswalks and intersections.

Children should wear costumes that are safe. Instead of a mask that makes it difficult to see, encourage your child to opt for face paint instead. Costumes should also not be dragging on the ground or pose tripping hazards. Reflective tape and flashlights can make trick-or-treaters more visible to motorists.

Adults should chaperone children under 12. Although it may seem safe to send younger kids out in their own neighborhoods, safety officials say children 11 and younger should be accompanied by a responsible adult. In other words, not your 18-year-old nephew who may get into mischief himself.

With all of that said, have a fun and safe Halloween. Remember, if an accident should occur, the first call you make should be to 911. The second call you make should be to an experienced personal injury lawyer who can protect your legal rights and interests.

It may seem hard to believe, but summer has nearly come to an end. For students across California, that means an end to summer vacation and the start of a new school year. For drivers in the Sacramento area and beyond, back-to-school time means stricter enforcement of traffic laws and an increased risk of pedestrian accidents.

The American Automobile Association, better known as AAA, is already issuing press releases warning drivers that school zones and residential neighborhoods are going to be buzzing with pedestrians very soon. And with an increase in pedestrian activity comes an increased risk of a serious accident.

According to AAA, in 2013 alone, pedestrian accidents involving children resulted in 330 deaths and 13,000 injuries. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety notes that in the past 10 years, approximately one-third of child pedestrian deaths occurred between 3:00 and 7:00 p.m. (the after-school hours).

If you live near a school, you may have gotten used to summer speed limits. But when school is back in session, police will be enforcing school-zone speed limits, which are generally at least 10 mph slower than in other areas. Those slower speeds make a difference. Even if a pedestrian accident does occur, the victim is about 66 percent less likely to be killed if struck at 25 mph than if struck at 35 mph.

Even if you are an experienced and conscientious driver, safety cannot be taken for granted when it comes to children. Their movements are often unpredictable and unintentionally dangerous. Therefore, it’s up to the rest of us to ensure that we are extra vigilant when driving near schools.

Whenever a pedestrian and a motorized vehicle collide, there is no question as to which one will win. Because of this, pedestrians have a vested interest in paying attention to their surroundings and always looking out for cars and trucks. The incentive for this vigilance is obvious: Saving your own life.

Unfortunately, drivers are not the only travelers who are distracted these days. A growing number of pedestrians are being struck and killed in traffic accidents, at least in part, because their eyes are staring at cellphones and their ears are listening to music coming from a pair of headphones. Here in Sacramento and across California generally, pedestrian accidents have become an especially vexing problem along light-rail train routes.

Last year alone, about 154 people in California were struck by trains. Nearly two-thirds of those victims died. The rate of train accidents last year went up nearly 50 percent from just the previous year.

Earlier this month, Sacramento Regional Transit began a safety and awareness campaign aimed at pedestrians but also focusing on bicyclists and drivers. The title of the campaign is: “See Tracks? Think Train!” It aims to call attention to the many grade-level crossings in Sacramento where light-rail train tracks intersect with streets and sidewalks.

If your daily commute puts you in contact with a rail line (and most commuters do), please be sure to follow some basic safety rules. They include looking both ways before crossing a track, obeying crossing arm gates and signals and finishing across quickly with no stopping in the middle. A little common sense and focused attention could very well save your life.

Source: The Sacramento Bee, “Sacramento agency: Too many distracted pedestrians hit by trains,” Tony Bizjak, March 18, 2015