Several factors can contribute to pedestrian accidents during the warmer months such as light conditions and traffic speed weather.

During the warmer months, many people will be walking as a way of exercising. Whether you are a young mother going grocery shopping, a child out of school or a retiree going out for some fresh air, you face the risk of being hit by a car while walking along the streets of Providence.

Many communities throughout Providence and the U.S are taking the initiative to create safe roadways to walk along. While the initiatives have made a positive impact, we still have a long way to go to reduce the number of pedestrian accidents.

Here are five facts you should know about pedestrian accidents in the U.S so far:

  1. According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, more than 4, 700 people are killed in pedestrian accidents every year. Although the number of deaths continues to decrease every year, thousands of pedestrian accidents are still occurring.
  2. Seniors and children have the highest risk of being killed or injured in pedestrian accidents. About 20% of the people killed in pedestrian accidents are children under the age of fourteen. In addition, 20% of people injured and 10% of fatal pedestrian accidents involves seniors.
  3. Alcohol impairment is considered one of the biggest root causes of all pedestrian accidents. It’s reported that 15% of the accidents are caused by drunk drivers while 35% are caused by intoxicated pedestrians.
  4. About 20% of pedestrian accidents are hit-and-run incidents. This shows that driver negligence is a huge factor. Studies show that drivers flee the scene out of fear and panic. They believe that it’s better to flee the scene than to stay and face the consequences.
  5. Most pedestrian accidents are preventable.

Common Risks Pedestrians Face

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, almost two thirds of car accident victims involved a teen driver. Teen accident rates are much higher during the summer because that’s when teens drive more. This information serves as a reminder to everyone that they should be mindful when sharing the road with young drivers.

While we put much emphasis on the hazards of distracted driving, we seem to give less thought to the hazards of walking and distraction. Crossing the road with other traffic requires attention and judgment yet many people multitask while crossing the road and are distracted by their phones.

A study found that a third of 18-30 year olds use their smartphones while crossing the road. This is very worrying because it means one in three people in this age group are at risk of being involved in a pedestrian accident.

According to the World Health Organization, people who are distracted by texting, using the internet, listening to music or phone conversations take greater risks while crossing the road. People do not think the risk is great but judging from the number of people who are losing their lives, distraction is an increasing problem for pedestrians in Providence.

Something that’s also causing growing concern is that the number of children that were involved in pedestrian accidents were in the middle of the street or driveways. Driveways make it very difficult for drivers to see children.

Drivers believe that driving at low speeds won’t cause significant injuries but many accidents can be prevented. Children under 10 years old should not be allowed to cross the streets alone. Parents should also take the initiative to teach their children these pedestrian safety tips:

  • They should not run but walk across the street
  • They should not run after toys or other items that make their way into the street.
  • They should not assume drivers can see them; they should instead make eye contact before crossing the street.

Contacting a Providence Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Pedestrian accidents can result in serious injuries and accumulation of medical bills. If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident in Providence, contact an experienced Providence pedestrian accident lawyer right away.

Laws regarding pedestrian accidents are very complicated. At Kevin P Landry Law Offices, our expert team of Providence lawyers understand the intricacies of Rhode Island law as they pertain to pedestrian accidents.

Call our offices today at 401-751-0101 or you can visit our Providence offices for your free initial consultation.