Pedestrian Accidents Kentucky

In 2003, pedestrians made up 11% of the total deaths caused by automobile accidents. In other words, more than one in ten deaths caused by automobiles involved pedestrians, not other cars. To lay a foundation for the rest of the article, we will first discuss the nature of pedestrian accidents.

In addition, we will describe ways to avoid accidents. Nobody in Kentucky wants to be involved in a pedestrian accident, no matter what the benefits are. The easiest way to avoid the long, draining pedestrian accident lawsuits and resource-depleting lawyer bills is to not get in a pedestrian accident in the first place.

Finally, we will go into detail about what to do if you have been involved in a pedestrian accident. As this is most likely of the greatest interest to the most people, the majority of this article’s body will be devoted to describing what you should do immediately after an accident. Then we will discuss finding a good lawyer, proving who was at fault in the accident, what you can expect in compensation for your injuries, and what ethical matters should be considered.

With that said, we would like to begin by laying out the foundation of this article. Many pedestrian accidents occur every year, and the mortality rate is very high, which should be a major concern for anyone either on foot or behind the wheel.

In 2003 alone, nearly 5,000 pedestrians were killed in automobile accidents. Since only about 70,000 pedestrians were injured or killed in accidents that year, this number represents a startling 7% mortality rate. For those of you prone to stepping out onto a street without looking, it is a good thing to remember that you have little better than a one in ten chance of surviving a pedestrian accident.

If you live in a rural area, you may be thinking that you don’t need to worry, because there is little traffic. However, just because the odds of a pedestrian accident are reduced, the odds of a fatality are almost doubled, or about a 20% chance.

For the parents out there, it is a good thing to remember that the highest-risk group of all is five to nine-year-old males, who are prone to darting blindly into the street in chase of a ball or other object of interest. Among this age group, the mortality rate is about 8%, so be careful to watch your children at all times.

Finally, there is the group with the highest mortality percentage. Fortunately, and not surprisingly, this group also happens to be at the lowest risk for a pedestrian accident. Senior citizens are very rarely involved in pedestrian accidents, most likely because by then they have developed common sense, and do not need to be told what we are about to tell you.

Much has been written on defensive driving, but we will first focus on the pedestrian’s role in his or her own safety. Much of this is common sense, but having it written out clearly for you can literally be a lifesaver.

First and foremost, you must learn not to trust the driver. Just because there is a stop sign doesn’t mean that the car will stop. Just because that little flashing sign says “walk” doesn’t mean you should dart blindly into traffic. In these instances, it is imperative that you make sure the driver sees you, and has come to a complete stop. The difference between blindly putting your faith in someone you don’t know and taking your life into your own hands may be the difference between a nasty pedestrian accident and a perfect day.

Never cross in the middle of a block. Drivers aren’t looking for pedestrians in the middle of the block, and parked cars can all but obscure even a cautious pedestrian. It’s only a few hundred feet to the nearest intersection, and that can save you from traveling much further to the nearest hospital.

And last but not least, be sure to wear reflective clothing when walking in the dark. Even white clothing can only be seen from one to two hundred feet away in the dark - even when illuminated by the headlights of a car. It is almost no extra trouble for you to wear a reflective vest or armband, and it is highly effective at preventing pedestrian accidents in Kentucky.