Spring is on the way in Baltimore County, MD, which means more pedestrians will be out and taking advantage of the sun and warmer temperatures. Whether you are taking to the streets for fun, errands, or work, walking is excellent exercise and saves the hassles associated with driving. However, getting around by foot does not necessarily eliminate the risk of getting hurt. Pedestrian accidents are still quite common, as evidenced by the Pedestrian on Foot Involved Benchmark Report prepared by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). If you were hurt in such an incident, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses. While a Baltimore County, MD pedestrian accident attorney can explain the details, an overview on the top causes may help.
Statistics and Trends on Pedestrian Accidents
There were 111 people killed in car-pedestrian crashes in 2017, which is in line with the five-year average of 107. However, the trends on injury-causing pedestrian accidents are somewhat alarming. After reaching a low point of 2,515 in 2013, these incidents have been on the rise. More than 3,500 pedestrians were injured in traffic collisions in 2017, and 433 of these crashes occurred in Baltimore County.
Other notable statistics for 2017 include:
- Most pedestrian accidents happen on Fridays;
- The most dangerous time of day to walk is between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.;
- The age group at the highest risk of being involved in a pedestrian collision is 25-29 years old, at 10.7% of all such incidents.
Causes of Crashes Involving Pedestrians
The statistics on pedestrian accidents reveal some trends behind the fatalities and injuries, but there are other factors at stake. Some common driver-caused accidents occur due to:
- Speeding;
- Drunk or drugged driving;
- Failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk;
- Texting, talking on the phone, and other types of distracted driving;
- Running a red light; and,
- Other forms of negligence.
Of course, some pedestrian accidents happen because the victim who was walking engaged in negligent acts. Examples are failing to use the crosswalk, jaywalking, texting or talking on a cell phone, listening to music through earbuds, and other carelessness.
Compensation for Victims of Pedestrian Accidents
If you were hurt while walking through no fault of your own, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses. By filing a claim with the responsible driver’s insurance company, you can seek monetary damages for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, emotional turmoil, and other losses.
However, you should note that there is a rule regarding contributory negligence in Maryland. You cannot recover any compensation if your own actions were a factor in causing a pedestrian accident. This law puts the focus on your conduct, such as the examples of pedestrian negligence listed above.
A Baltimore County, MD Pedestrian Accidents Attorney can Explain Your Rights
If you were hurt by a motorized vehicle while walking, please contact attorney Michael A. Freedman to discuss your legal remedies. We can tell you more about your rights as the victim of a pedestrian accident after reviewing your specific circumstances.
