The Real Danger To Spokane Pedestrians
Pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users in Spokane. Without the protective frame afforded by a passenger-vehicle, a single act of negligence can result in months of physical therapy and significant medical expenses. In severe cases, pedestrians can suffer fatal injuries.
Pedestrian deaths have been consistently rising in the past decade. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) estimates, nearly 6,000 pedestrians were killed in 2017. Additionally, pedestrian deaths increased by 27 percent from 2007 to 2016.
Debunking the myth of distracted walking
Some safety advocacy groups attribute the rise in pedestrian deaths to distracted walking. However, a recent study conducted by a group of Northern Arizona University engineering professors, which was published in Transportation Research Records, shows that pedestrians may not be as distracted as we think.
The study was conducted in New York City and Flagstaff, Arizona, where the habits of approximately 3,038 pedestrians were observed at various crosswalks. The study found that 86.5 percent didn’t display any kind of distracted behavior. Additionally, the majority of pedestrians observed didn’t violate any traffic laws or place themselves in harm’s way.
Those who did appear to be distracted were found to be:
- Talking on their cellphones – 2.9 percent
- Texting while walking – 5.7 percent
- Wearing headphones – 3.7 percent
- Engaging in some other form of distracted behavior – 1.2 percent
The study also found that only 16 percent of pedestrians failed to stay within the crosswalk lines, and 23 percent crossed the street without the walk signal.
Don’t let insurance companies place the blame on you
So why are there so many pedestrian accidents? In Spokane, distracted driving seems to be a greater threat. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that an average of nine people are killed and more than 1,000 are injured daily by distracted drivers across the United States.
While the study conducted by the Northern Arizona University engineering professors may debunk the myth of distracted walking, that won’t stop insurance companies from attempting to place the blame on injured pedestrians.
Don’t let them push you around. If you or a loved one sustained an injury in a pedestrian accident, it’s important that you take your claim seriously right from the start. An experienced attorney at Richard E. Lewis, PS can fight to hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions.
Contact attorney Richard E. Lewis today to schedule a free case evaluation.