Why Are Pedestrian Deaths Increasing in Missouri and Illinois?

Pedestrian deaths are on the rise across the U.S. according to the latest study performed by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). They estimate the number of fatal car accidents involving a pedestrian increased by 10 percent last year as compared to the year before. For Illinois and Missouri, those numbers are even higher. Illinois recorded a 24 percent increase in pedestrian deaths, while Missouri saw an unbelievable 80 percent rise in these kinds of fatal accidents in 2015.

What Is Causing More Pedestrian Deaths?

The GHSA believes that the increased number of pedestrian fatalities is due to several factors, including:

• More traffic. Gas prices have dropped, which means more people are comfortable driving their cars more often.
• More pedestrians. More people are taking walks either to improve their health or to help the environment.
• No pedestrian safety improvements. Cars are getting safer every day, and new technologies can often protect drivers and passengers from injury in the event of a crash. However, there is little that can be done to protect pedestrians from harm when they are involved in car accidents. Even when a pedestrian survives being hit by a car, serious personal injuries are often the result.
• Distracted driving. Technology may be making cars safer, but it is making cell phones more dangerous. Drivers who text, tweet, email or use their phones in any other way while driving are often too distracted to notice pedestrians crossing the road, putting themselves and those around them at risk.
• Distracted walking. Pedestrians using their cell phones can be just as unaware of their surroundings as distracted drivers. Pedestrians distracted by cell phones wandering out into traffic or failing to check for oncoming traffic before crossing may be at least partly to blame for the incredible increase in pedestrian deaths due to car accidents. Even listening to music while walking or running can be dangerous, because it can keep you from hearing sirens or other warnings of danger.

Our pedestrian accident lawyers help residents of both Illinois and Missouri seek compensation for their injuries if they are involved in a car crash while walking or running. Call for a free consultation today.