New York worst state when it comes to pedestrian accident risk

According to a national study and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 1.4 out of every 100,000 pedestrians will become a victim of a fatal collision. In addition, nearly 5.5 out of every 100,000 motorists are guilty of not yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians. A recent analysis of pedestrian accident data reveals that New York is ranked the highest for these tragic types of collisions.

An estimated one out of every six fatal collisions involves a pedestrian. According to statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Security Council, the numbers for these types of wrecks have increased an estimated 45% over the past decade. The study shows that the majority of these accidents occur in urban areas in the night-time hours, especially on weekend nights. Furthermore, victims of these collisions are more likely to be males.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated more than 193,800 people were treated for injuries related to a pedestrian accident in 2017. If broken down, that figure would translate into about 22 people being injured by a vehicle every 60 minutes. Every state has its own motorist penalties for failing to yield to a pedestrian, though most range from $150 to a $250 fine for a first offense. With its reputation for having the most aggressive drivers, it is likely no surprise that New York has the highest numbers of failure to yield violations and a higher than national average for pedestrian deaths.

Part of the reason for the higher numbers may be due in part to the sheer density of New York’s population. However, the statistics mean that pedestrians in the state should exercise caution when navigating the city’s streets on foot. When one is a victim of a serious pedestrian accident, there is often significant monetary damages along with the physical and emotional injuries that these accidents inflict. An experienced attorney can assist victims — or their surviving families — in recovering their damages via a successfully navigated personal injury suit.