Pedestrian Accidents Increasing For Teens, College Students
Oct 6, 2023 by Dodson & Hooks, APLC
No matter what changes a community makes to its roadways, pedestrian accidents still happen. Whether it is due to an inattentive driver or unobservant pedestrian, there are several factors that can arise that can lead to an accident in even the most safely designed locations.
Officials will examine the reasons why these pedestrian accidents happen in an effort to learn more about prevention in the future. The pedestrian is often very seriously injured in the accidents, because there is nothing to absorb or deflect the impact of the vehicle.
One recent trend that has been emerging is the increase of pedestrian accidents involving teenagers. Teens will often be using cellphones or be wearing headphones, meaning that they are not paying complete attention to their surroundings. According to a study by doctors at NYU, teens aged 13-17 injured in pedestrian accidents were two times as likely as other age groups to be using an electronic device at the time of the accident.
College campuses have also seen an increase in pedestrian accidents. These can be high-traffic regions, with cars and pedestrians often fighting over the same space. The LSU campus has had several accidents recently. Students at the university have called for additional safety improvements to be made at the school.
Motorists may think that the pedestrians see them approaching, and base their driving behavior on this belief. In many accidents, pedestrians have the right of way. Officials may need to put more emphasis on educating drivers about safe driving habits around pedestrians.
Both motorists and pedestrians can take steps to help improve safety. Drivers approaching intersections or crosswalks should be aware of pedestrians in the area. Motorists should signal turns, and know right-of-way rules.
Pedestrians should only cross roadways in designated areas. This is where motorists most expect to see pedestrians, and can be prepared to stop when in these locations. Pedestrians should also try to make eye contact with motorists, so that they know that the pedestrian is going to cross the street.
These accidents can cause serious injuries that take a long time to heal. Often, victims will spend a significant amount of time receiving treatment for the injuries, and then will have to undergo rehabilitation to get back to normal. This can result in extremely costly medical bills.
If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, speak to an experienced personal injury attorney. An attorney can advise you of the options that are available to you, and help you understand the decisions that you will need to make. Settling a case after speaking with an insurance company could mean that you will not receive the true value of your case.
Officials will examine the reasons why these pedestrian accidents happen in an effort to learn more about prevention in the future. The pedestrian is often very seriously injured in the accidents, because there is nothing to absorb or deflect the impact of the vehicle.
One recent trend that has been emerging is the increase of pedestrian accidents involving teenagers. Teens will often be using cellphones or be wearing headphones, meaning that they are not paying complete attention to their surroundings. According to a study by doctors at NYU, teens aged 13-17 injured in pedestrian accidents were two times as likely as other age groups to be using an electronic device at the time of the accident.
College campuses have also seen an increase in pedestrian accidents. These can be high-traffic regions, with cars and pedestrians often fighting over the same space. The LSU campus has had several accidents recently. Students at the university have called for additional safety improvements to be made at the school.
Motorists may think that the pedestrians see them approaching, and base their driving behavior on this belief. In many accidents, pedestrians have the right of way. Officials may need to put more emphasis on educating drivers about safe driving habits around pedestrians.
Both motorists and pedestrians can take steps to help improve safety. Drivers approaching intersections or crosswalks should be aware of pedestrians in the area. Motorists should signal turns, and know right-of-way rules.
Pedestrians should only cross roadways in designated areas. This is where motorists most expect to see pedestrians, and can be prepared to stop when in these locations. Pedestrians should also try to make eye contact with motorists, so that they know that the pedestrian is going to cross the street.
These accidents can cause serious injuries that take a long time to heal. Often, victims will spend a significant amount of time receiving treatment for the injuries, and then will have to undergo rehabilitation to get back to normal. This can result in extremely costly medical bills.
If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, speak to an experienced personal injury attorney. An attorney can advise you of the options that are available to you, and help you understand the decisions that you will need to make. Settling a case after speaking with an insurance company could mean that you will not receive the true value of your case.
