Reports from several traffic safety organizations show the rise in pedestrian injures and deaths in the past year. A look at detailed information from Pennsylvania shines a clearer light on these often severe accidents.
It shows that pedestrian accidents do not always indicate a clear trend of up or down each year.
Pedestrian accidents are often fatal
The 2020 Pennsylvania Crash Facts and Statistics show that while pedestrian-related crashes account for 2.7 percent of total reported crashes, and they account for 12.9 percent of all traffic fatalities. From 2016 to 2020, crashes involving pedestrians fluctuated from a high of 4,201 in 2016 to a low of 2,831 in 2020.
Pedestrian-related fatalities also fluctuated during this period, ranging from a high of 201 in 2018 to a low of 146 in 2020. People running or jogging saw higher accidents involving vehicles than other pedestrians. In 2020, nearly twice as many males as females died from pedestrian-related accidents.
Older pedestrians are more likely to die
Though involved in fewer crashes, the elderly suffered higher rates of fatalities than younger persons. In 2020, at least 45 of the 146 pedestrian deaths fell into the age category of older than 65. The figure amounts to more than 30% of the fatalities recorded, while casualties of people under 19 years old amounted to just over 5 percent of the total. Most injuries to pedestrians occurred during the day. However, saw a higher percentage of fatalities.
More recent trends show a significant increase in pedestrian accidents across the U.S. If you or a loved one has been struck by a vehicle, talking to an experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand your options.
