Fatal Pedestrian Accidents Are on the Rise This Time of the Year
Posted June 27th, 2016 by Anthony Carbone, PC.
Categories: Personal Injury.
If you take notice of the news the last couple of weeks, you may have seen an increase of pedestrians getting injured or even dying as a result of being struck by cars. Just this weekend, a young man who was crossing at an intersection in Hoboken was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver. This was only one week after one pedestrian had died and another person was injured after being struck by a car in Park Ridge, NJ.
Summertime and warmer weather brings more and more people out in the streets and this can cause more fatal pedestrian accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2013, 4,735 pedestrians had been killed in traffic crashes in the U.S., averaging one crash-related pedestrian death for every two hours. In addition, more than 150,000 pedestrians were treated for non-fatal crash-related injuries in 2013.
Who is at risk for a fatal pedestrian accident? According to the CDC, adults ages 65 and older as well as children under 14 are the most likely to get into an accident. Most of these deaths occur in urban areas like Jersey City and Hoboken, at night, and at non-intersection locations (like a person darting out from between parked cars).
Who is responsible for a fatal pedestrian accident? The majority of the time, the responsibility lies with the driver of the vehicle. It is his/her responsibility to stay alert while driving. If you lost a loved one in a fatal pedestrian accident, you are eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit against whoever is responsible for the accident. The driver may try to fight it, saying your loved one had darted out in front of the car. That’s why it’s best to have an experienced attorney to help you with your claim.
There are ways to prevent a pedestrian accident from occurring. If you’re a pedestrian, make sure you cross at an intersection, stay on the sidewalk or along the shoulder facing traffic, and you wear reflective clothing at nighttime. If you’re a driver, stay alert at all times, especially when driving in an urban area.
If your loved one is involved in a fatal pedestrian accident, don’t wait another second. Contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone now for a free consultation.
