Five Major Factors That Make Pedestrian Accidents More Lethal

No type of motor vehicle accident is more potentially deadly than pedestrian accidents. In these sorts of accidents, unprotected civilians are impacted by cars, trucks, or other vehicles, often suffering severe injury or death as a result. However, there are a number of factors that make pedestrian accidents much more likely to be fatal. Here are five major factors involved in pedestrian accidents that make them more lethal to accident victims:

1. Speeding
   • The number one issue cited in motor vehicle injuries and fatalities of all types, including pedestrian accidents, is speeding. This is for two major reasons: first, the faster a vehicle is moving, the harder it is for it to stop or maneuver, making it harder for them to avoid a potential accident. Second, the faster a vehicle is moving at the time of an accident, the more force it will impact someone with when a crash occurs, increasing the risk of a potentially deadly injury.
2. Driving at night
   • Poor visibility is another major contributor in pedestrian accidents, where drivers often do not see pedestrians until it is too late to avoid a crash. This is particularly a problem at night, where pedestrians may be effectively invisible to drivers until their headlights catch them. This makes it much more likely that a vehicle will be driving at full speed at the time of a crash, making a serious injury or death more likely.
3. Distracted driving
   • Another commonly cited issue in pedestrian accidents is distracted driving. While this most often refers to texting and driving, it also refers to any other activity someone does behind the wheel when they should be focusing on driving. When people do not pay attention to the road, it becomes far more likely they will get into a serious accident with a pedestrian.
4. Poorly maintained vehicles
   • People who do not properly maintain their vehicles also place themselves at a higher risk of getting into a pedestrian accident. Poorly maintained vehicles often respond worse in situations where maneuverability is important, such as when they need to swerve or stop suddenly to avoid colliding with someone. In a worst case scenario, a poorly maintained vehicle can suddenly suffer a major mechanical failure, which can cause an accident all on its own.
5. Driving under the influence (DUI)
   • Finally, there is always the risk of people who drive under the influence (DUI). DUIs make up a disproportionately high number of deadly accidents, in part because of how dangerously intoxicated people drive. Their combination of poor reflexes, bad judgment, and a lack of ability to control their vehicle mean that encountering an intoxicated driver on the road can become very deadly, very quickly.

The Suffolk County personal injury law firm of McGuire, Peláez and Bennett is conveniently located in Central Islip near the Central Islip Court facility on Long Island. We will work diligently in every way to help you make the best of difficult times. We will help you to process your insurance and no-fault claims without charge to ensure that your medical expenses and property damages are compensated. We will also work with your doctors to monitor your recovery progress to ensure that you are reimbursed for your pain, suffering and economic loss. Please give us a call at (631) 348-1702, or visit our contact page to learn more.