Information about pedestrian traffic injuries and deaths in 2014 has been compiled, and the news for Alabama isn’t good. In 2014, nearly two pedestrians were killed for every 100,000 people in Alabama, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. There were a total of 96 pedestrian fatalities, which is almost 12 percent of all traffic fatalities. Many other pedestrians were injured in traffic accidents. This makes Alabama the 8th most dangerous state for pedestrians in the U.S.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian-vehicle accident, contact our Alabama personal injury lawyers with Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C. at (205) 933-1500 to find out how you can obtain compensation for your losses.
Top 10 Most Dangerous States for Pedestrians
Many factors lead to pedestrian injuries and deaths, including a lack of sidewalks, poorly functioning traffic signals, and high speed limits in commuter areas. Alabama isn’t the only state with these issues. According to a Governors Highway Safety Association report, the Top 10 most dangerous states for pedestrians according to rate of deaths per a population of 100,000 people are:
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New Mexico
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Florida
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Delaware
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Nevada
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Louisiana
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South Carolina
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Arizona
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Alabama
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Alaska
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New Jersey
Pedestrian Danger in Alabama
Smart Growth America and National Complete Streets Coalition studied the dangers for pedestrians throughout the U.S. They measured risk according to the Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI), or the rate of pedestrian deaths relative to the number of people who walk to work in a region. PDI demonstrates the safety of people walking. The higher the PDI, the more dangerous an area is for pedestrians.
Between 2008 and 2012, the Birmingham-Hoover metropolitan area was the 6th most dangerous area for pedestrians in the nation with a PDI score of 125.6. Alabama overall scored 125.19, while the U.S. national PDI was only 52.2 for that period. On average, Alabama roads are more dangerous for pedestrians than are other roads throughout the U.S.
Where Pedestrians are the Most at Risk
Many people are hurt or killed walking on arterial roads, which are those meant for a high capacity of cars and are considered “main streets,” according to Smart Growth America. Most fatalities (72.9 percent) occurred on streets with a speed limit of 40 mph and higher. Less than 6 percent of pedestrian deaths happened on roads with a speed limit of 30 mph and under. Although significantly fewer fatalities took place on streets with lower speed limits, injuries were spread out more evenly.
Contact an Alabama Pedestrian Injury Lawyer
Pedestrian-vehicle accidents can result in devastating injuries, or even death. You may have a personal injury claim, or if your loved one was fatally injured, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim. You may be able to recover compensation for the following:
- Medical costs
- Lost income
- Physical pain
- Mental anguish
- Physical impairment
- Disfigurement
- Loss of quality of life
- Punitive damages
An experienced Alabama personal injury lawyer can deal with the legal issues while you focus on recovery. To learn more about your legal options, call the pedestrian injury attorneys of Belt, Bruner & Barnett at (205) 933-1500 for a free consultation.
