Texas is among the least safe states for pedestrians, according to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). As many experienced Texas pedestrian accident attorneys know, walking in our state’s cities and rural areas can be dangerous, especially when drivers fail to pay attention to their surroundings.
The NHTSA study ranked Texas as the 10th most dangerous state for pedestrians. Texas was the site of nearly 4,200 pedestrian deaths between 2003 and 2012 – about ten percent of all pedestrian deaths that take place in the United States, according to the NHTSA.
Nationwide, the number of pedestrian deaths has increased even as the number of traffic accidents overall has declined. Today, about 15 percent of all traffic deaths involve someone who was walking at the time. The number of pedestrian deaths in the last ten years totals about 47,000. That’s more than 16 times higher than the number of people who have died in natural disasters, according to the National Weather Service.
How can you help protect yourself and those you love if you’re walking this summer? Consider these safety tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Always cross at the crosswalk. If there is no crosswalk, cross at intersections after looking carefully for oncoming traffic.
- Make yourself more visible by dressing in bright, reflective clothing. Carry or wear a light at night.
- Walk on the sidewalk whenever you can. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the shoulder of the road, facing traffic.
- Teach children to walk safely. Always supervise young children on or near the road.
If you or someone you love has been the victim of a pedestrian accident, please contact Brown Trial Firm, PLLC to get started on the road to recovery today.