A report recently published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows how 36,000 Americans died on U.S. roadways in 2018. This is the lowest the traffic fatality rate has been in this country since 2014. While the number of motorists that being killed is declining every year, the number of pedestrians that are dying is steadily increasing.
NHTSA data shows that the number of pedestrians that were struck and killed in 2018 was 3.4% higher than in 2017. Some 6,283 individuals lost their lives in 2018 in these types of accidents. This marks the highest number of deaths since 1990.
That same data shows that bicyclists were also killed at alarming rates in 2018. NHTSA researchers found that 857 bike riders lost their lives in crashes that year. This is 6.3% more than in 2017.
NHTSA data shows that female bicyclists are particularly vulnerable to getting hurt. There was a 29.2% increase in women-involved bicycle accidents in 2018 whereas male-involved incidents only rose by 3.2%.
Auto industry analysts point to the roll-out of increased safety technology on vehicles as the reason for why car occupant crash-related deaths have declined.
A recent test performed by the American Automobile Association (AAA) captured how many of these newer automobiles’ high-tech detection systems don’t help motorists avoid pedestrians at night though. This is why their fatality rates are soaring.
Industry analysts point out that cities that have installed separate traffic and pedestrian lanes have seen a reduction in fatalities. The local governments in many of these areas have been slow to fund the installation of these lanes though.
The pedestrians that often suffer the most severe injuries are those who are struck by sports utility vehicle (SUV) drivers. Their high profile tends to leave the torso or head of someone who is struck by one severely injured. The number of SUV-involved pedestrian fatalities has increased by 81% in the past decade.
There’s a lot of work that has to be done to make roadways here in Hayward and elsewhere in California safer for bicyclists and pedestrians.
If you’ve been seriously injured by a negligent motorist, then you may be entitled to compensation for your current and future medical bills and lost wages. An attorney who’s experienced in fighting for the rights of the injured can help you get the compensation that you deserve in your case.
