If you love taking an evening walk in Louisville, you may want to know about the fact that fatal pedestrian accidents are on the rise in the city. Up to mid-August 2017, there have been 18 crashes between people and vehicles. Nineteen people died as a result. In 2016, there were only 24 crashes in all, so 2017 is looking to be a record year.
Deaths from these crashes are increasing, but statistics have shown that the actual number of crashes has been decreasing over time. The number of crashes between vehicles and bicycles has also declined. What's the problem with pedestrians, then, that is making them such a major target?
City officials have taken a grant to determine why pedestrians are still suffering fatalities when other road users are seeing declines. In most cases, they determined that inattention was the reason for drivers hitting pedestrians. This, along with drivers who failed to yield to pedestrians, led to many of the collisions in the city.
Louisville isn't the only place seeing a rise in pedestrian fatalities. In the United States as a whole, pedestrian fatalities are rising. They're up 11 percent from 2015 to 2016, according to a study that was released in 2017.
As a pedestrian, these statistics are shocking. It's not always safe to be on or near the roads. You can attempt to stay safer by always using crosswalks and avoiding crossing the roads during busy times of the day or night. If you still end up in an accident, you can pursue compensation from the negligent driver.
Source: WDRB, "SUNDAY EDITION | Fatal pedestrian crashes on rise in Louisville," Marcus Green, Aug. 27, 2017
