A person can do everything right — wait for the signal, use the crosswalk, stay visible — and still not make it home. Across communities throughout the country, pedestrian deaths from car crashes continue to rise, turning routine trips to school, work or the corner store into moments of real risk. This trend is not just a statistic; it shows up in families forced to grieve a loss that never should have happened.
So why is this happening? A mix of forces is pushing danger into spaces meant for walking. Faster and heavier vehicles increase the odds that a collision becomes fatal. Street designs that prioritize speed over safety leave little room for human error. Distraction from phones to in-car screens steal attention at the exact moment drivers need it most. And gaps in lighting, crosswalk visibility, and enforcement can make everyday crossings feel like a gamble.
The following will outline three of the biggest reasons for this increase and tips for victims and their loved ones to preserve the legal remedies.
#1: Poor infrastructure
Many neighborhoods prioritize vehicle throughput over safe crossings. Wider lanes, higher posted speeds and long distances between signalized crossings raise the risk of a serious crash. Limited lighting and faded markings also cause issues, making it more difficult for drivers to see pedestrians for pedestrians to know where they should cross.
#2: Driver behavior, distraction, impairment
The following continue to be key factors increasing the rate of pedestrian fatalities:
- Driver use of smartphones for navigation and messaging
- Impaired driving from alcohol, cannabis, prescription medication misuse
- Failure to yield during left turns, right turns on red
- Speeding in urban corridors, work zones
Not only are these factors a sign of poor judgement, they are also often against the law.
#3: Larger vehicles
Larger SUVs and trucks are much more common now than they were in the past. Simple physics tells us that a crash with a larger vehicle involves more force and leads to greater injury. These larger vehicles also often have more blind spots meaning not only is an accident worse when it happens but it is more likely to happen because the driver cannot see the pedestrians.
Pedestrian deaths account for 20% of all traffic fatalities. In many cases, the cause is a combination of the factors noted above.
Victims and those who lose loved ones to a pedestrian accident are wise to take steps to protect their legal remedies. Gather evidence including copies of police reports and medical records. Take names and contact information from any witnesses and reach out to legal counsel to discuss your options.
