Los Angeles is full of pedestrians. People are out during the day and at night walking, jogging, skateboarding and biking around the city, and motorists are expected to share the road with all types of pedestrians. Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents continue to happen when motorists and other parties fail to observe traffic laws and safety precautions that are designed to protect pedestrians.
Pedestrian crashes are not just a problem in Los Angeles. They happen all across the country and result in thousands of injuries every year. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that 76,000 pedestrians were hurt in an accident in 2012 and more than 4,700 pedestrians were killed.
These numbers paint a tragic picture: Every day, people are injured or killed after getting hit by motor vehicles in accidents that can often be prevented.
Many crashes that involve pedestrians are the result of careless driving. Motorists who cause these catastrophic accidents are often distracted by cellphones, speeding, failing to observe traffic signals or impaired by alcohol. They are not paying attention to their surroundings, making them a serious risk to the people who expect them to operate their vehicle safely.
Unfortunately, the pedestrians most at risk for getting injured are some of most vulnerable people to begin with. Young people under the age of 15 and people over the age of 65 are at an increased risk of getting hurt as pedestrians. Sadly, the injuries that are suffered by these victims are often permanent, disabling or fatal.
While there are ways to prevent some pedestrian accidents and minimize damages, the fact is that there is no way to completely eradicate the risk of these crashes which means that there will continue to victims hit by cars and seriously hurt. Victims should remember that they don’t have to deal with the aftermath of these crashes alone. They have the right to seek legal guidance and pursue compensation that can provide crucial financial support and at least partially cover the damages that have resulted from an accident.