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Pedestrians don’t typically fare well when it comes to collisions with motor vehicles. Unlike bicyclists and motorcycles, who may be more likely to wear protective gear, pedestrians are the most vulnerable and susceptible to being severely injured.
While overall traffic fatalities have seen a slight dip over the last few years, pedestrian deaths have risen significantly. In 2018, approximately 6,227 pedestrians across the United States lost their lives due to traffic accidents.
Roughly 46 percent of those pedestrian deaths occurred in Texas, Arizona, California, Florida, and Georgia, according to data.
The El Paso Times reports that 2018 marked the deadliest year for pedestrians in El Paso. That year saw a total of 32 pedestrian fatalities, surpassing 23 deaths each in 2016, 2014, and 2012.
Reports suggest that pedestrian deaths have run parallel with an overall increase in traffic fatalities in El Paso. For example, there were 69 reported traffic fatalities in 2018. In 2017, there were 55, with 17 of them being pedestrians.
In 2018, ten pedestrians were killed in hit-and-runs, with five of them being unsolved. Most notably, a 12-year-old autistic girl was struck and killed in the early-morning hours. Security camera footage suggests that she was struck by a dark-colored cargo van, although investigators were unable to identify the driver.
In another incident, a man was struck and killed in a hit-and-run involving an SUV. The man’s brother tried to prevent him from driving drunk by throwing his keys in the road. The man retrieved his keys, but was struck while walking back.
So far, 2019 is looking grim. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reported that in only the first few months of the year, there have been 22 traffic fatalities. Six of them involved pedestrians.
El Paso police attribute the rise in pedestrian fatalities to distraction. They urge both drivers and pedestrians to be aware of their surroundings.
In many cases, drivers don’t see pedestrians. Either they’re involved in distracted behavior or are simply not fully aware of their surroundings. That’s why it’s important that pedestrians make themselves visible by wearing bright clothing, as well as using lights and reflective gear at night.
Other factors in pedestrian accidents include:
If you were injured in a pedestrian accident, it’s likely you sustained serious injuries that require extensive medical treatment and time spent in recovery. That’s why you need an experienced and dedicated attorney on your side who knows how to hold negligent drivers accountable and get results.
Don’t wait. Contact Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC to schedule your free case evaluation.
Michael J. Gopin has practiced law in El Paso since 1987. Even after more than 30 years, he still remembers his first jury case. It was two weeks after receiving his license, when he represented a person whose life had been forever changed after being blinded in a work-related incident...
We are experienced El Paso personal injury lawyers. Give us a call and you’ll be taken care of! (915) 333-3333
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