In Portland and other cities across the nation, people often choose to get around by foot. Whether they are going for a walk, jog, run or hike, a pedestrian is often walking in areas where vehicles travel. Although motorists are supposed to be aware of their surroundings and operate cautiously around pedestrians, the unfortunate reality is that collisions occur between automobiles and pedestrians.
How common are auto-pedestrian accidents? Based on data from 2017, there were a total of 5,890 traffic crashes that involved one or more pedestrian fatalities. In these crashes, 5,977 pedestrians were killed. This equates to a pedestrian being killed in a crash every 88 minutes, which amounts to more than 16 people a day and roughly 115 a week.
With regard to when and where fatal pedestrians occur, most are likely to occur in the dark and not at an intersection. It was also determined that more accidents occurred in urban areas than rural areas. While children are vulnerable when it comes to traffic safety and pedestrian accidents, it was found that the age group with the highest rate of fatal pedestrian crashes is the 50-to-59 age group.
The aftermath of a pedestrian crash can be gruesome. A person is unable to stand up to the size and weight of a vehicle, even when it is moving slowly. Thus, the injuries and damages can be significant. As a means to offset these harms, it is important to understand the legal recourses one is entitled to. A personal injury action could help place liability on a negligent driver. This civil suit could also help with the collection of compensation.