Rhode Island Accident Lawyer Blog
According to The Providence Journal, a 30-year-old Cumberland woman walking to work on August 24 died after being struck by a Peter Pan bus. The bus struck Michelle Cagnon as she crossed East Approach in front of the Alex and Ani City Center ice skating rink. It appears that the Peter Pan bus was turning left onto East Approach from Washington Street when it struck Cagnon while she was in the crosswalk. This tragic accident is the fifth bus accident in Providence this year.
Pedestrian Deaths on the Rise
During 2013, 4,735 pedestrians were killed and 66,000 pedestrians were injured in pedestrian accidents throughout the United States. This equates to approximately one pedestrian death every two hours and one pedestrian injury every eight minutes. While this number represented a slight decrease in pedestrian deaths from 2012 to 2013 (a two percent decrease), a new study paints a much darker picture.
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association’s (GHSA) annual study entitled Spotlight on Highway Safety Report, pedestrian deaths from traffic accidents rose by an estimated 10 percent last year. This is the largest year-to-year increase in pedestrian fatalities in nearly forty years.
The actual data gathered for pedestrian deaths in the first six months of 2015 versus the first six months of 2014 reveals a six percent increase. However, researchers conducting the study anticipate the actual rise in pedestrian deaths to be closer to ten percent due to underreporting, which is common when analyzing preliminary data.
According to Richard Retting, the co-author of the study,
“We are projecting the largest year-to-year increase in pedestrian fatalities since national records have been kept, and therefore we are quite alarmed. Pedestrian safety is clearly a growing problem across the country. It is important to understand the data underlying these crashes so states and localities can apply the right mix of engineering, education and enforcement to counteract this troubling trend.”
Factors Contributing To The Rise In Pedestrian Accidents
Several factors cited as contributing to the increase in pedestrian deaths are:
- Increase in motor vehicle traffic
- Distracted drivers and distracted pedestrians (i.e. cell phone use while driving and walking)
- The continued exposure to injury and death pedestrians face in a traffic accident
- An increase in the number of people walking for economic, environmental, or health reasons
For more information and safety tips, visit the NHTSA’s “Everyone Is A Pedestrian.” The CDC’s “Walk This Way!” page also has useful information.
Recovering Compensation For Injuries In A Pedestrian Accident
Regardless of the reason for the increase in pedestrian accidents, the reality for accident victims remains the same. Tragically, many victims face months or years of painful medical procedures and treatments. In addition, the victim must endure physical therapy to recover from the traumatic injuries suffered in a pedestrian accident. For some victims, their injuries result in permanent disabilities or death. The cost of this treatment can quickly add into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. When combined with other damages, including lost wages, the cost of a pedestrian accident can be staggering.
Our judicial system cannot undo the damage done by a pedestrian accident. Therefore, our judicial system provides a way for victims to receive monetary compensation for their injuries, damages, and losses. Our Rhode Island pedestrian accident attorneys offer free case evaluations. Contact our office to learn more about compensation for a pedestrian accident lawsuit.
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401-552-5000
or use our online contact form to schedule your free legal consultation with a Rhode Island pedestrian accident attorney. If you cannot come to us, we will come to you!