Fewer people are driving during the pandemic, but the number of pedestrians getting killed continues to climb.
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, preliminary data from 2020 shows the number of pedestrian fatalities in Connecticut jumped by 48% from 2019 to 2020. There were 21 pedestrian fatalities between January and June 2019. During that same period in 2020, there were 31 deaths. Preliminary data for 2021 looks even more grim, as at least 52 pedestrians and six cyclists died after getting hit by cars in Connecticut at the beginning of the year.
How do pedestrian deaths happen?
A pedestrian accident typically involves a person on foot and a motor vehicle. However, pedestrians can also be injured or even killed by people riding bicycles. Accidents often happen where cars and pedestrians share the same space – in crosswalks, at intersections, or in parking lots, to name a few common locations.
Top causes of pedestrian accidents include:
- Distracted drivers: People behind the wheel who are looking down to work an infotainment system, taking their attention off the road to use a GPS, or turning around to retrieve something from the back seat pose a risk to everyone else on the road, including pedestrians and bicyclists.
- Texting drivers: Texting is a form of distracted driving but is unfortunately so common and dangerous that it gets its own category. Drivers also make irresponsible decisions and use their mobile devices to take selfies, check social media, or surf the internet.
- Drunk driving: While the dangers associated with impaired driving have been known for decades, drunk drivers continue to pose a serious threat to all sharing the road, including pedestrians.
- Speeding: Drivers who exceed the legal speed limit or go too fast for the weather conditions increase their chances of causing an accident. A speeding driver has less time to react if they approach a pedestrian who is crossing a street.
What do you do if you get hit by a car?
A car accident involving a pedestrian can lead to serious injuries or death. Compared to a person driving a car, someone on foot has very little protection when struck by a vehicle and can suffer broken bones, a concussion (or another type of brain injury), spinal cord damage, and many other serious injuries — even if the car is traveling at a slow speed.
If you are struck by a car and are able to do so, call 911 and seek immediate medical attention. A pedestrian accident is a frightening event. Some victims might think they’re OK and can “tough it out.” But symptoms can persist or worsen with time. Some injuries are only detected after a doctor conducts a thorough examination. It’s critically important to get checked out by a medical professional and attend all follow-up appointments. Be prepared for an insurance adjuster to ask if you saw a doctor soon after the accident. If you say you did not, the insurance company may question the severity of your injuries and argue for less compensation.
Give yourself the Salomone & Morelli advantage
Pedestrian accidents generally are among the most serious cases a lawyer handles, as they tend to involve severe injuries or fatalities. Unfortunately, insurance companies representing at-fault drivers may downplay the injuries. They may even argue the pedestrian was at fault. In some cases, they try to contact the accident victim and say the claim is not worth the hassle.
At the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli, we know how to find the truth. We have extensive experience fighting for pedestrian accident victims and families who lost loved ones in such accidents. If you lost a loved one, we can help you explore your options, which may include filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
If you were injured in a pedestrian accident or a loved one died, contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli for a free consultation. Let us put experience and resources to work for you. We can focus on your claim while you focus on your recovery, and if we don't win your case, you pay no legal fees. Contact us today. We are available 24 hours a day and would be honored to speak with you about your potential legal case.