Every year, thousands of pedestrians are killed in U.S. car accidents, and statistics show that children and senior citizens represent the demographics most likely to be killed in pedestrian accidents in the United States. While considerable attention is paid to the risks of Tennessee car accidents for vehicle occupants, equal focus should be directed towards the risk of injury and death to pedestrians resulting from motor vehicle accidents in Tennessee and throughout the United States. If you have been injured in a TN pedestrian accident, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal collision, contact our qualified lawyers at Michael D. Ponce & Associates to discuss your legal options. You may have grounds to file a personal injury or wrongful death suit against the person or party found at-fault in the accident, in order to pursue financial compensation for your losses.
Despite the fact that adults over the age of 65 make up only 13% of the U.S. population, senior citizens accounted for 20% of the pedestrian accident deaths that occurred in the United States in 2011. Children, too, are at a higher risk of being injured or killed in a pedestrian accident in this country, and statistics show that, in 2010, 23% of pedestrians injured in motor vehicle accidents were children under the age of 16. That same year, children also accounted for 7% of all pedestrian fatalities. In Tennessee in particular, the risk of pedestrians being injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident is high. According to the Tennessee Department of Safety, approximately 1,175 pedestrians were involved in Tennessee car accidents in 2009, and experts are now warning pedestrians to be aware of the risks of walking near roads throughout the state.
Despite the fact that marked crosswalks are designed to provide pedestrians with a safe opportunity to cross a busy road, statistics show that marked crosswalks are not necessarily any safer for pedestrians than unmarked areas of the road. According to the Federal Highway Administration, pedestrians may actually have a higher risk of being involved in a car accident when walking in a marked crosswalk on roads with more than two lanes. In light of this data, pedestrians in Tennessee and throughout the country are encouraged to remain aware of oncoming traffic and negligent drivers, even when using a marked crosswalk and obeying traffic signals, to reduce the risk of pedestrian accident injuries and deaths.
In 2011, pedestrians accounted for 14% of all fatalities resulting from motor vehicle accidents in the United States. In total, more than 4,400 people were killed in U.S. pedestrian accidents that year. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a serious accident in Nashville, or elsewhere in Tennessee, consult our knowledgeable attorneys at Michael D. Ponce & Associates today for legal help. You may be entitled to reimbursement for your injuries, medical expenses, and pain and suffering, which our skilled lawyers can help you pursue. With a reputable personal injury attorney on your side, you may be able to recover fair and timely compensation for your losses and protect yourself and your family from additional harm.
