Traveling by foot on or near a roadway puts you in danger of being hurt or killed by a passing motor vehicle. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, automobile crashes resulted in the death of more than 6,700 pedestrians in 2020 – a sharp increase from the previous year despite a steep drop in overall vehicle miles traveled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
What explains the recent surge in pedestrian accidents? Traffic safety experts point to the following factors:
Pandemic Anxiety
The pandemic that began in early 2020 upended normal life for millions worldwide. Emptier roads allowed many to drive faster, endangering pedestrians. It is also believed that prolonged social distancing led to feelings of detachment among many that, in turn, caused them to drive more recklessly.
Aging Population
The number of adults ages 65 and older in the United States is steadily on the rise. Due to increased medical frailty, reduced total observance and decreased reaction time, elderly pedestrians are highly vulnerable to being injured or killed on our streets.
Sun Belt Population Boom
The Sun Belt region of this country continues to experience substantial population growth that has been occurring since the 1960s. Largely designed to prioritize speed of travel over safety, the cities in this region are where a disproportionate number of pedestrian accidents occur.
Vehicle Size
Large vehicles continue to be in high demand among American consumers, with SUVs, crossovers, and pickup trucks seemingly more popular than ever. Not surprisingly, bigger vehicles inflict more damage when they are involved in roadway collisions, with pedestrians or otherwise. Recent research has found that a 100 kilogram (220 pounds) increase in vehicle size correlates to a 2.4 percent increase in the number of pedestrian deaths.
Whalen Hersh, LLP – A Pedestrian Accident Law Firm
The experienced lawyers at Whalen Injury Lawyers have successfully represented many pedestrian accident victims over the years. Through our ability to recover millions of dollars in pedestrian accident settlements, we have obtained the compensation that our clients need for medical bills, lost wages, and other accident-related expenses. The pedestrian accident attorneys at Whalen Injury Lawyers have an established track record of aggressively pursuing money damages in pedestrian accident cases throughout Colorado. We develop close working relationships with our clients and proudly provide the professional legal representation they and their family members need during difficult times. Our pedestrian accident attorneys have achieved many impressive accolades, such as being recognized as Colorado Super Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40 by the Denver Business Journal, and Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the Nation by National Trial Lawyers Association.
Contact Whalen Injury Lawyers
Have you or a family member suffered a serious injury in a pedestrian accident? The pedestrian accident attorneys at Whalen Injury Lawyers will be pleased to help you explore your legal options during a free consultation. Should we decide to work together, our team will aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve from the responsible party and their insurance company. Our Denver pedestrian accident attorneys exclusively represent clients against insurance companies and corporations in personal injury matters.
Schedule your free consultation today either by calling Whalen Injury Lawyers at 720-307-2666 or submitting this online contact form.
