Contact information for Michael Levine Esq. (Motorcycle Mike)
The Hard Reality of Pedestrian Accidents
Who is getting killed in pedestrian accidents?
A detailed breakdown of the age, gender, and location of pedestrian crash victims is available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) fact sheets. Some of the alarming statistics are:
• In 2021 there were an estimated 60,577 pedestrians injured in traffic crashes, an 11-percent increase from 54,771 pedestrians injured in 2020.
• In 2021 fifteen percent of the children 14 and younger killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians.
• In 2021 seventy percent of the pedestrians killed in traffic crashes were males.
• Alcohol involvement (blood alcohol concentration [BAC] of .01 grams per deciliter [g/dL] or higher) – for the driver and/or the pedestrian – was
reported in 49 percent of all fatal pedestrian crashes in 2021.
• More pedestrian fatalities occurred in urban areas (84%) than rural areas (16%) in 2021.
• In 2021 sixteen percent of the pedestrian fatalities occurred at intersections, 75 percent occurred at locations that were not intersections, and the remaining 9 percent occurred at other locations.
• More pedestrian fatalities occurred in the dark (77%) than in daylight (20%), dusk (2%), and dawn (2%) in 2021.
• Nearly 1 out of every 4 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in 2021 (23%) were struck by hit-and-run drivers.
BY CITY: The number of pedestrian fatalities was highest in Los Angeles (142), followed by New York (115), and Houston (103).
Pedestrians encounter danger any time they walk on or near a roadway. Protect yourself and stay alert around vehicles.
What can pedestrians do to stay safe?
- Always use sidewalks. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic.
- Always use crosswalks. Look left, then right, then left again before crossing.
- Yield to vehicles.
- Don’t be distracted when crossing roadways – stay off your phone and remove headsets/earbuds.
- Don’t assume traffic will stop for you.
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing.
- Walk to the right in crosswalks to allow others to pass on your left.
- Look left and right before exiting a bus.
- Be aware that parked cars or other obstacles can block your view of oncoming traffic.
- Exit your car on the curb side of the street if possible.
What if there is no crosswalk?
- Check for a crosswalk further up or down the street.
- Don’t jaywalk. If you’re hit while jaywalking, the driver may not be liable, and insurance may not cover your injuries.
What can drivers do to keep pedestrians safe?
- Always stop for pedestrians.
- Reduce your speed when approaching crosswalks.
- Stop and yield the right of way to pedestrians when turning.
- Be careful when passing buses or stopped vehicles.
- Stay alert and put your phone away. Pedestrians may enter your path suddenly.
- Obey the speed limit and drive to conditions.
Let Us Make Justice Work for You
If you were seriously injured while out and about on foot in New York City or elsewhere in our state, you’ll likely face a long, uphill battle of recovery. If you lost a family member in a fatal pedestrian accident, you may be plagued with questions of “Why?” as well as grappling with expenses and practical losses that go along with the emotional pain of losing a husband, wife, mother, father, son or daughter in an accidental death.
Michael Levine Esq. has decades of experience, and a track record of numerous favorable outcomes for pedestrian accident victims in New York. He is prepared to fight to ensure that you receive all available compensation, at maximum levels. This compensation can help you cope with the expenses and losses associated with a serious injury such as a shoulder or knee injury, a broken leg, a brain injury or a spinal cord injury.
All personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no fees to us unless we recover compensation for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a typical pedestrian accident?
The most common pedestrian accident involves a pedestrian crossing a street in a walkway/crosswalk and being struck by a motor vehicle. Injuries can be very severe with even a lower impact accident.
What should I do if I’m injured in a pedestrian accident?
The pedestrian who is struck by a car turning in front of him/her needs to attempt to document the incident as best as can possibly be done. This includes taking photos, or having someone take them on behalf of the pedestrian; identifying all witnesses to the incident; calling the police; determining where in the intersection the impact took place; verifying that the walk/do not walk sign was working at the time; and notifying the insurance carrier for the driver of the incident, since the carrier is responsible for the injured party’s bills under the no-fault law in NY.
For more pedestrian crash facts & Safety info, check with these organizations and resources:
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