The sad truth is that thousands of lives are lost in pedestrian accidents every single year in the United States. Because cars are the common mode of transportation in America, it heightens the possibility that pedestrians could be seriously injured while crossing the street or moving into the path of a moving vehicle. According to Walking Info, there were 4,280 pedestrian accident deaths in 2010 alone. This amounts to nearly 12 people every single day of the year. There were an estimated 70,000 pedestrian injuries in 2010, but many injuries are never even reported by the police so the actual numbers may be even higher.

According to Walking Info, pedestrians are involved in about 13 percent of all fatalities. Transportation officials can’t monitor how many people walk per year, so the numbers may be slightly askew. It is estimated that at least 3.2 million Americans use walking as their main form of transportation to commute to work or school. In congested cities like New York, many residents do not take vehicles to get where they want to go and they will walk instead. As with any mode of travel, there is some risk to walking.

Statistics show that 69 percent of all pedestrians who were killed in an accident were males. Almost three out of every four pedestrian accidents occur in urban areas and the top four states of pedestrian fatalities are California, Florida, New York and Texas. These four states make up 41 percent of all pedestrian fatalities in the nation and they account for 5 percent of all pedestrian fatalities throughout the United States.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association claims that nearly one-half of all pedestrian fatalities occur on a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 70 percent of all pedestrian accidents happen at night. This may be because visibility is lower at night and more drivers are not paying attention to the roads in front of them at this time. Typically, these accidents occur between 4 p.m. and 4 a.m. While everyone is at risk to a pedestrian accident, there are certain age groups that are more at risk than others. One group that is in particular danger of a pedestrian accident is elderly adults.

Men and women over the age of 65 account for 18 percent of all traffic pedestrian deaths per year. 20 percent of all pedestrian deaths involve children between the ages of five and nine, making this the second most at-risk group. This is partially because little children do not have the discretion to check and see whether or not a car is speeding towards them. As a result, they will oftentimes run out into the road to get a ball or a toy. Children are also at risk because they are so short that drivers oftentimes can’t see them in the road. This can result in tragic accidents. Elderly individuals also may not be able to see the dangers up ahead regarding cars because of their limited visibility, and they may not be spry enough to sprint across the street if they are in the middle of the road when an accident occurs.

One of the leading causes for pedestrian accidents is drunk driving. When a person is intoxicated, he or she will often lose his or her ability of observation. This means that the driver may run red lights and hit pedestrians who are crossing the street legally. Drivers who are intoxicated and are involved in an accident can be prosecuted on a criminal level for driving while intoxicated, and involved in a car accident claim as well. If you want more information about pedestrian accidents or if you are the victim of one of these tragic accidents and need assistance, then contact an attorney today for more information.