Pedestrian Accidents
National Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), it is estimated that 7,668 pedestrians died in traffic or non-traffic incidents in 2019. Non-traffic incidents are those which occur in non-traffic areas such as driveways, parking lots, or other private property. one out of every five pedestrians killed in 2019 (20%) were struck in crashes that involved hit-and-run drivers. In addition, according to the the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were an estimated 76,000 injuries due to pedestrian accidents that did not result in a fatality.
In fact, according to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the U.S. pedestrian fatality rate per billion vehicle miles traveled (VMT) jumped an unprecedented 21% in 2020, increasing from 1.9 in 2019 to 2.3 in 2020, in spite of having fewer drivers on the road due to the pandemic. What is perhaps even more alarming is that there has been a 46% increase in pedestrian fatalities between 2010 and 2019, while there has only been a 5% increase in all other types of traffic fatalities combined.
Washington State Pedestrian Accident Statistics
It is clear that pedestrian accidents and fatalities are on the rise, even in Washington State. In 2019, 44 people died in Washington alone due to pedestrian accidents, rising to 47 in 2020, which represents a 7% increase in fatalities. This may not seem alarming except when combined with the national data that show a significant increase across the country. In fact, pedestrian fatalities in Washington State in 2019 represented nearly 20% of all traffic fatalities combined.
Causes Of Pedestrian Accidents
While the majority of pedestrian accidents in Vancouver involved a pedestrian and a vehicle, other types of pedestrian accidents can include maintenance issues with sidewalks, walkways, and roadways. For instance, if you are walking across a parking lot and fall and break your ankle due to stepping in a large pothole, that is also considered a pedestrian accident.
If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident within Washington our experienced Vancouver, WA auto accident attorneys are here to help. We have helped individuals who have been injured on Interstate 5, highway 14, surface streets and even parking lots within Clark County, Cowlitz County, Skamania County, Pacific County, and other areas of Washington and Oregon. If you need the help of an experienced accident injury attorney, please contact our firm today for a FREE case review.
