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Pedestrian accidents are often devastating for victims. Due to the severity of these injuries caused by these accidents, it is imperative that drivers and pedestrians alike take the steps necessary to prevent these horrific crashes from occurring. One of the best ways to prevent pedestrian accidents is to understand where these incidents are most likely to occur. Do pedestrian crashes happen most often in urban or rural areas? Do they happen on main highways or side streets? Here, we examine where most pedestrian accidents occur in California.
To be clear, pedestrian accidents can occur anywhere pedestrians and vehicles come into close contact with one another. This can include in urban areas as well as rural areas.
When we look at data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), we can see that more pedestrian fatalities occur in urban areas (81%) than in rural areas (19%). This should come as no surprise to readers.
The reality is that cities are where vehicles and pedestrians are much more likely to interact with one another. In the cities, areas, where there are no intersections or crosswalks, are where pedestrians are most likely to be struck by vehicles. These incidents are also more likely to occur during the evening and nighttime hours. Typically, we see pedestrian accidents in the city occur when the weather is fairly clear because bad weather often means that pedestrians are not out and around vehicle traffic.
Even though fewer pedestrian accidents occur in rural areas, this does not mean that pedestrians and drivers should not be on guard and aware of their surroundings. Of particular concern in rural areas is negligent driving behavior. Pedestrians face significant risks when drivers operate their vehicles while distracted by phones or other devices, while impaired by alcohol or drugs, or when operating too fast for conditions. Drivers in rural areas may not be as attentive to the possibility of pedestrians as those in urban areas.
When we turn to data available from the California Office of Traffic Safety, we can see that there were more than 14,000 pedestrians injured as a result of vehicle collisions during the latest reporting year across the state. Additionally, 972 individuals lost their lives as a result of pedestrian crashes that same year.
The CDC says that there were nearly 6,000 total pedestrians killed across the US as a result of traffic collisions during their most recent reporting year. Their data also shows that around 137,000 pedestrians were treated in emergency departments for non-fatal injuries during that same year.
If you or somebody you care about has been injured in a pedestrian accident in California, you should seek legal assistance as soon as possible. If the accident was caused by the careless or negligent actions of another driver, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses. This can include coverage of your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering damages, and more. An Orange County pedestrian accident attorney can handle every aspect of your claim, including investigating the incident to determine liability, negotiating with aggressive insurance carriers, and even taking your case to trial if necessary to ensure that you are treated fairly.