Pedestrian injuries have made too much news in the Treasure Valley of late. Florence and Robert Goar died from the injuries they suffered after being hit by a car while in a crosswalk in Meridian. Pedestrians have been hit by cars in downtown Boise and near St. Alphonsus Hospital. These incidents highlight the danger pedestrians are exposed to as the winter rolls into spring and more people get out. The death of the Goar’s led to community members having a Walk of Silence to remember and memorialize them.
Often these incident arise due to reasons of distracted driving. A pedestrian injury claim is the last thing a person or family wants to face.
Pedestrian Safety Is Getting Greater Focus
Unfortunately, pedestrians are one of the few roadway user groups that continue to see an increase in fatalities and injuries each year. Even at relatively low speeds, collisions involving cars can be catastrophic for pedestrians. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is hoping to raise awareness about pedestrian safety through their campaign “Everyone is a Pedestrian.” In addition to safe walking tips, the NHTSA is calling on drivers to make a commitment to distraction-free driving. Motorists need to be on the lookout for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycle riders and other vulnerable roadway users.
Some Shocking National Pedestrian Injury Statistics
In 2017 there were 5,977 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in the United States. And there were 5,890 recorded traffic crashes that had one or more pedestrian fatalities.This is up from 2013, when there were 4,735 pedestrian fatalities in the U.S.
Almost twenty percent (20%) of the children who dies in crashes were killed as pedestrians in 2017. In that year, Ninety-one percent (91%) of the pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes that involved only a single vehicle.
Pedestrian Safety Laws in Idaho
Idaho has adopted a number of statutes that apply to pedestrians. These are found in the Idaho Code at Title 49 section 701 to section 710. For example pedestrians must obey traffic control devices and cannot “leave a place of safety” and walk into the path of a vehicle. If two adjacent intersections have marked crosswalks, the pedestrian is not allowed to cross mid-block. These statutes and others try to develop rules for sharing roadways. It is important to note, there are those who assert, with substantial justification, that structural design elements of roadways place pedestrians at unnecessary risk and overly favor vehicles.
Pedestrian Injuries in Boise
While less than 7% of the traffic fatalities in Idaho were pedestrians, they are one of the most vulnerable roadway user groups. Pedestrians suffer from devastating and fatal injuries in accidents involving cars and trucks. Victims might be in the hospital and out of work for an extended period of time. After any type of injury accident due to somebody else’s negligent, dangerous or distracted behavior, it’s essential to get in touch with a personal injury attorney who can offer you simple and accessible information and guidance for understanding your injury claim or possible lawsuit.
If you have been injured or if you have lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident in Boise or in any of the surrounding communities, contact us for a case review and evaluation.
