The risk of being killed in a pedestrian accident can depend on several contributing factors. For instance, as you might expect, the speed at which the vehicle is traveling can significantly impact the severity of injuries. Additionally, impairment of either the driver or the pedestrian can increase the chance of death.
But a recent study from the West Virginia University School of Public Health and Injury Control Research Center found that males are at an increased risk of suffering fatal injuries as well. In fact, male pedestrians are more than twice as likely to die in a crash, compared to women walkers. They are also slightly more likely to be struck by a vehicle in the first place.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to New York City Department of Transportation, the year 2009 was found to be the safest on record regarding traffic crashes. Meanwhile, between the years 2005 and 2009, pedestrians accounted for 52 percent of traffic deaths.
The following are other interesting statistics pertaining to pedestrian accidents in New York:
- failure to yield caused 27 percent of pedestrian accidents involving serious injury or death;
- pedestrian accidents were two-thirds more deadly on major street corridors than smaller local streets;
- 80 percent of serious or fatal injury pedestrian crashes involved a male driver;
- 79 percent of serious or fatal injury pedestrian crashes involved privately-owned vehicles; and
- of the five boroughs, Manhattan is the deadliest for pedestrians.
Nationwide, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2010 there were about 70,000 pedestrians injured and 4,280 pedestrians killed in crashes.
The majority of these pedestrian accidents occurred:
- in urban areas compared to rural areas;
- at night compared to during the day; and
- at a non-intersection compared to at an intersection.
Contacting a Pedestrian Accident Attorney on Long Island
If you or someone you love was the victim of a severe or fatal pedestrian accident, contact an attorney at Gacovino, Lake & Associates on Long Island at 800-246-4878. We can discuss whether you have a viable claim worth pursuing.
