Pedestrian accidents are riskier for certain groups of people who are more likely to be injured or killed than others. These groups include young children between the ages of 5 and 9 years old and adults 65 years and older.
A new government report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that those who face the highest risk are those 75 years of age and older. According to data from 2001 to 2010, traffic-related fatalities for this age group were more than twice those of individuals younger than 35. It’s believed that with an aging population, the number of elderly pedestrians who are killed may increase.
Some of the factors that may play a role in the increased chance of getting struck are physical disabilities, visual impairments and reduced mental functioning. But physical frailty and other health conditions may contribute significantly to the risk of death.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2010 there were 826 individuals aged 65 years and older who lost their lives in pedestrian accidents, and an estimated 8,000 were injured.
What other age groups have a higher chance of being seriously or fatally injured in a pedestrian accident?
Young children are also at risk. The NHTSA reports that 162 children 9 years old and younger lost their lives in a pedestrian accident in 2010, and an estimated 7,000 sustained injuries.
Often, motor vehicle operators do not see smaller children when they cross a street, or some children may run into traffic suddenly without looking for approaching vehicles.
Whenever someone has been seriously or fatally injured in a pedestrian accident, it will need to be determined if the driver acted in a negligent manner. To learn about the viability of a claim, contact a lawyer from the law firm of Gacovino, Lake & Associates.
