Pennsylvania pedestrian fatalities soared in early 2014

On behalf of Dallas Hartman Pennsylvania posts large increase in pedestrian deaths despite nationwide decline

A report recently released by the Governors Highway Safety Association shows that Pennsylvania is becoming an increasingly dangerous place for pedestrians. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pennsylvania recorded a worryingly large increase in the number of fatal pedestrian accidents in the first half of last year. The news comes despite figures also showing a slight drop in pedestrian fatalities across the United States. Analysts have been unable to explain why Pennsylvania’s pedestrian fatalities have risen so dramatically, but they believe increased walking and distracted driving are factors.

Fatalities up 40 percent

The report found that Pennsylvania’s pedestrian fatalities rose 40 percent in the first six months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. From January to June of 2013, there had been 53 pedestrian fatalities in the state. In the same period the year later, however, that figure jumped to 74, representing a 40 percent increase in pedestrian deaths. Final figures for all of 2014 have yet to be released.

What makes Pennsylvania’s dramatic increase all the worse is that it is out of step with national trends. During the same period studied, pedestrian fatalities across the U.S. actually declined by three percent, from 2,141 in the first half of 2013 to 2,082 in the same period last year. Pennsylvania has also posted an increase in pedestrian fatalities in three of the past four years.

Distractions and exercise

Experts were at a loss to explain Pennsylvania’s increase in pedestrian deaths. They noted, however, that there has been a broad movement to get people to exercise more by walking, which could increase the number of opportunities for accidents to happen, according to the Tribune-Review. Also, distractions from devices like smartphones are leading to more collisions involving pedestrians. Of course, such factors are not unique to Pennsylvania, so they only go so far in explaining the particularly worrying increase here.

The figures also show that elderly people are at the highest risk of dying in a pedestrian accident. Also, in 2013 the vast majority of fatal pedestrian accidents (70 percent) happened in the evening or early morning hours, between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Finally, winter tends to be the most dangerous season for pedestrians given the slippery roads and fewer daylight hours.

Pedestrian accidents

Walking and biking are great ways to exercise and enjoy the outdoors, but with so many congested roads and drivers frequently not paying attention to their surroundings, the potential for an accident is high. When these accidents happen, it is almost always the pedestrian who suffers the worst in terms of injuries.

Anybody who has been injured in a pedestrian or bicycle accident should contact a personal injury attorney immediately. In the aftermath of an accident, it is important to act fast to make sure compensation, which can help cover medical bills and time taken off of work, is available. While an accident victim focuses on recovering, an experienced attorney can focus on fighting for the compensation that such a victim may deserve.