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Pedestrian accidents can be devastating, and they often leave victims suffering from severe injuries that can completely alter their lives. Unfortunately, these incidents are regularly caused by the careless or negligent actions of other drivers on the roadway. Here, we examine some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents in California. The reality is that these incidents have a wide variety of causes. By being aware of the causes of pedestrian accidents, we think that drivers and pedestrians alike can take the steps necessary to prevent these tragic incidents from occurring.
When we examine data available from the California Office of Traffic Safety, we can see that there were more than 14,000 total pedestrian injuries across the state during the latest reporting year of data on file. Additionally, 972 pedestrians lost their lives in these traffic incidents.
Often, the fault for these incidents falls onto drivers on the roadway. After all, these are the individuals who have a greater responsibility because they are inside heavy vehicles that can inflict significant injuries on those around them. Some of the main causes of pedestrian accident injuries in California include the following:
Distracted driving is incredibly dangerous and often leads to severe accidents on the roadway. Anytime a driver is on their cell phone, talking to others in the vehicle, eating or drinking, applying makeup, or anything else to take their eyes off the road, this can lead to disastrous injuries.
Drivers operating above the speed limit or too fast for conditions are often not able to slow down fast enough to prevent running into a pedestrian. Pedestrians hit by speeding vehicles are much more likely to sustain life-altering injuries or fatalities.
Drivers are required to yield the right of way to pedestrians in most situations. This includes crosswalks, intersections, parking lots, and other areas required by law. When drivers fail to follow traffic signals, they could strike a pedestrian.
Drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs are a leading cause of traffic fatalities each year in California. When a driver is intoxicated, their reaction times, reasoning, and driving skills become impaired. These drivers are much less likely to see pedestrians on the roadway.
Left-hand turns are more dangerous than most people realize. A driver’s attention is typically on navigating the intersection instead of pedestrians in these situations.
Drivers who are reversing their vehicles face a myriad of challenges, including focusing on pedestrians who may be in their pathway. Pedestrians face significant risks when drivers are backing up out of driveways or in parking lots.
When drivers fail to slow down when there are unsafe weather conditions, including rain, ice, fog, or snow, they may not see pedestrians or they may be unable to stop in time to prevent an accident.
If you or somebody you care about has been injured in a pedestrian accident caused by the careless or negligent actions of another driver in California, reach out to our personal injury attorneys in OC for help as soon as possible. A lawyer will be able to use their resources to fully investigate your claim and handle all negotiations with aggressive insurance carriers. The goal is to recover maximum compensation for your injuries and other losses.