Top 10 Causes of Pedestrian Accidents and Injuries

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What are the Top 10 Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?

Oct 31, 2022

Pedestrian accidents are a common occurrence in Los Angeles. Launched in 2015, the city’s Vision Zero initiative was initially viewed as a flagship safety program that would prioritize the goal of eliminating traffic deaths by 2025.

Top 10 Causes of Pedestrian Accidents and Injuries

But, as the Los Angeles Times reported in January, the city’s streets are actually becoming more dangerous – in particular for pedestrians.

In 2021, 486 pedestrians were severely injured by motorists here in Los Angeles. That figure represents a staggering 36% increase from 2020.

Moreover, pedestrian deaths rose 6% in 2021 – with a total of 128 tragic fatalities recorded on the streets of Los Angeles.

In the sections below, we will look at the Top 10 Causes of Pedestrian Accident Injuries. We’ll also review how to file a claim for financial compensation after a pedestrian accident with the leading personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Dordulian Law Group.

What are the Top 10 Causes of Pedestrian Accident Injuries?

Pedestrian accidents can result in serious and even catastrophic injuries. Due to the number of pedestrian accidents that often involve head injuries, long-term medical care is commonly required for trauma such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), concussion (MTBI), or post-concussion syndrome. Accordingly, avoiding a pedestrian accident at all costs is imperative.

Let’s look at the most common causes of pedestrian accidents leading to injuries and fatalities.

The Top 10 Most Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

The Top 10 Most Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

  1. Distracted driving: Whether it’s texting while driving, drowsy driving, or simple daydreaming, a distracted motorist is always an inherent danger to unsuspecting pedestrians. With the increased prevalence of cell phones, vehicle GPS units, and high-tech consoles that even include gaming systems, there is no shortage of potential distractions for drivers. Pedestrian accident fatalities hit a four-year high nationwide in 2021, with California recording the largest number in the nation – 958.
  2. Distracted walking: It’s not breaking news that many of us walk around distracted and looking down at our cell phones. As a result, incidents of distracted walking leading to pedestrian accidents have reportedly skyrocketed, with 76% of drivers surveyed in a recent poll confirming that they saw pedestrians distracted by their phones, according to Carinsurance.org.
  3. Speeding: Speeding represents the greatest contributing factor in motor vehicle crashes which occur here in the United States. Throughout the state, illegal street racing has recently made headlines, often due to accidents involving serious injuries or fatalities. In response to the number of speeding incidents having increased dramatically since the onset of the pandemic, California recently implemented new legislation aimed at reducing speed limits.
  4. Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol: Although driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol is universally considered taboo, accidents due to such actions are not uncommon. DUI-related pedestrian accidents can lead to serious injuries as well as fatalities.
  5. Jaywalking: Crossing the middle of the street in oncoming traffic is a common factor that leads to pedestrian accidents. California recently passed the Freedom to Walk Act, effectively decriminalizing jaywalking. However, pedestrians should still be aware of the increased risk of accidents when failing to use marked crosswalks.
  6. Motor vehicles failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians: Separate from jaywalking, car, truck, motorcycle, and even scooter drivers are often guilty of not yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks. When motorists fail to look out for those moving on foot, the result can be serious and even fatal pedestrian accidents.
  7. Not obeying posted traffic signals: When a motor vehicle driver fails to obey a traffic light, stop sign, or even the posted speed limit, a pedestrian can be seriously injured in an accident. Reckless driving and speeding are two examples of actions on the part of drivers which can lead to a failure to obey traffic signals and, as a result, injure pedestrians.
  8. Failing to properly signal when turning: Proper use of your vehicle’s signals can help avoid pedestrian accidents – particularly when driving at night. Making a turn without signaling is a common cause of pedestrian accidents.
  9. Defective roadway conditions: A pothole or other type of roadway defect is a common factor leading to pedestrian accidents. Drivers may swerve to avoid potholes or construction zones and end up striking a pedestrian in the process. Moreover, potholes and roadway defects can cause pedestrians to slip or trip and fall – often resulting in serious injuries.
  10. Inexperienced driving (teenage driving): Teenagers and young people are more prone to causing car accidents, often as a result of simple inexperience. That said, teenagers are also considered more likely to drive while distracted – often due to texting while driving. An inexperienced driver is a common cause of pedestrian accident injuries and deaths.

What is a California Pedestrian Accident Injury Civil Claim?

When you’re injured as a pedestrian due to another driver’s negligence or carelessness, you may be eligible to recover financial compensation for various types of damages:

  • Hospital and medical care expenses (past and future)
  • Punitive damages
  • Emotional or psychological harm
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost wages or diminished future earning capacity
  • Reduced quality of life

The best way to ensure that you recover the maximum financial compensation you deserve in a cash settlement after a Los Angeles, California, pedestrian accident injury is by contacting the experienced lawyers at Dordulian Law Group (DLG). We will help you file a claim for your pedestrian accident and then fight aggressively on your behalf to secure the financial compensation you need to make a complete recovery – physically, emotionally, and financially.

Contact the Best Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Los Angeles for a Free Consultation

Suffering a pedestrian accident injury can lead to a long and difficult road to recovery. When you choose DLG to fight for justice on your behalf, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that while you focus on what’s most important – your overall health and well-being – we’ll focus on the stressful details, like gathering important evidence, negotiating with insurance companies, proving liability on the part of at-fault parties, etc.

At DLG, we’re led by a former Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County who has successfully obtained over 100 jury trial victories throughout his more than 25-year career. Sam Dordulian brings a level of expertise to your pedestrian accident claim that simply can’t be found at most personal injury law firms.

With a 98% success record and history of recovering more than $100,000,000 in settlements and verdicts, DLG is the absolute best choice you can make when searching for a Los Angeles, California-area pedestrian accident attorney who will fight to ensure you receive the maximum financial damages award you deserve.

Contact us today online or by phone at 866-GO-SEE-SAM for a free consultation and to learn more about all the added advantages available when you choose DLG to handle your pedestrian accident claim. DLG’s team of proven pedestrian accident lawyers provides unparalleled service to each and every client, offering a level of personalized attention and dedication that can’t be matched elsewhere.

Our experienced attorneys can help you pursue a financial award for your personal injury case. Contact us online or by phone for a free consultation today.

And with DLG, you’ll never be forced to accept a lowball offer (a common issue with other settlement mill firms) that will not cover losses like future medical care, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and more. Such losses are often referred to as non-economic damages in pedestrian accident claims – and they can be hard to prove without the right lawyer on your side. But having a skilled, experienced, and proven attorney like Sam Dordulian fighting in your corner can help ensure that you secure all available non-economic as well as economic damages for your claim – ultimately making a substantial difference in the financial compensation you recover.

When you’re injured in a Los Angeles pedestrian accident, don’t settle for anything less than the best team of attorneys around – for your pedestrian accident injury, the best call you can make is to DLG.

Spanish version: Causas y factores de riesgo de accidentes peatonales

Author

Samuel Dordulian

Samuel Dordulian, founder

Sam Dordulian is an award-winning sexual abuse lawyer with over 25 years' experience helping survivors secure justice. As a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for L.A. County, he secured life sentences against countless sexual predators. Mr. Dordulian currently serves on the National Leadership Council for RAINN.




Go See Sam