Pedestrians in Southern California take to the streets every day. Whether for a leisurely stroll, for a fast-paced workout, or as a means of commuting between work and home, pedestrians in Orange County are risking their lives as they share the roadways with motorists.
When a car crashes into a pedestrian, catastrophic injuries may result due to the speed of the car, the force of the impact, and the lack of protection for the pedestrian. In a pedestrian accident, the motor vehicle typically hits the person with the front of the car’s bumper or the edge of the hood at a relatively high speed.
The Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 4,092 people lost their lives in a pedestrian/car crash nationwide in 2009, and 59,000 pedestrian injuries were reported that same year. This equates to nearly eleven pedestrians killed each day of the year, and about one injured every nine minutes. These statistics are astonishing, but luckily pedestrian fatalities continue to decrease, having dropped 22 percent since 1998.
According to the NHTSA, the state of California has one of the highest percentages of pedestrian fatalities, and pedestrian fatalities make up approximately eleven percent of motor vehicle fatalities.
Although it is widely thought that pedestrian accidents happen more frequently at crosswalks and intersections, they do not.
Where do pedestrian accidents occur most often?
- Roads without crosswalks
- Non-intersections
- Major roadways
Pedestrians involved in Southern California car crashes are often vulnerable to traumatic injuries, such as fractured bones, paraplegia, quadriplegia, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and even death.
Contact a Southern California pedestrian accident attorney.
If you have been seriously injured in an Orange County pedestrian accident, or if you lost a loved one in a pedestrian car crash accident due to a negligent driver, then you need to speak with a skilled personal injury attorney who can help you determine your legal options and take on the insurance companies on your behalf.
When it comes to choosing a lawyer to represent your needs in such a serious matter, you need one who will be there for you and will answer your questions along the way. Please download a free copy of the book written by attorney John Burns entitled 9 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your California Vehicle Accident Case, which can help you understand how insurance companies operate and what not to do after a pedestrian and car crash.
Call the Law Offices of John P. Burns at (877) 320-1338 to discuss your California pedestrian accident case today.