PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES – PEDESTRIAN KILLED IN SACRAMENTO CAR ACCIDENT

Another accident added to the number of pedestrian fatalities in Sacramento this week.

CBS13 is reporting that a pedestrian was struck and killed on July 13 in the Fruitridge neighborhood of Sacramento. The pedestrian accident occurred just after five in the morning near Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Fruitridge Road. Details of the accident are unclear. The name of the person who was killed has not been released. Law enforcement officers blocked off the intersection as they investigated the deadly pedestrian accidents.

2019 Was the Deadliest Year in Three Decades for Pedestrians

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is predicting that 2019 will be the deadliest year for pedestrians in more than 30 years. The GHSA is projecting that 6,950 pedestrians lost their lives in 2019. That is a five percent increase over the number of pedestrian deaths from 2018.

Several factors may contribute to the increase in pedestrian accidents in the United States. Factors that could contribute to the number of pedestrian fatalities include:

• The increased use of smartphones;
• The need for safer intersections and road crossings;
• Unsafe driving behaviors, such as speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, and drowsy driving; and,
• The increased number of SUVs and light trucks on the roads.

The GHSA report examines each of these factors, including the data supporting the factors.

California had the highest number of pedestrian fatalities for the first half of 2019 at 519. The state was one of five states that accounted for almost one-half of all pedestrian fatalities in the country. California has been at the top of the list of states with the most pedestrian fatalities for most years.

Pedestrian Safety Tips

Pedestrians cannot control the behaviors of drivers. They do not have control over the construction of crosswalks and intersections, nor do they control what types of vehicles are on the road. However, pedestrians can take steps to reduce their risk of being injured in a pedestrian accident.

Some of the pedestrian safety tips from the NHTSA include:

• Always obey pedestrian traffic laws, signs, and signals when walking and crossing the road.
• Whenever possible, walk on sidewalks instead of on the edge of the road.
• If there is no sidewalk, walk as far off the shoulder of the road as possible on the side of the road facing oncoming traffic.
• Remain alert when you are walking. Distractions can be as deadly when you are walking as they are when you are driving.
• Always cross streets and roads at marked crosswalks or intersections. Even though you are crossing in a crosswalk, look for cars that might be approaching the crosswalk.
• If you cannot cross at an intersection or crosswalk, look for an area that has plenty of light and watch for traffic as you cross the road.
• Always make eye contact with the driver to make sure that he sees you.
• Wear clothing that has bright colors and carry a flashlight to make sure that drivers see you.
• When walking in parking lots or across driveways and exits, look for cars backing up or entering and exiting the area.
• Do not drink or use drugs when you walk.

For more information, you can also visit the Pedestrian Safety page of the California Office of Traffic Safety.

Contact a Sacramento Pedestrian Accident Attorney for Help

If you or a loved one is injured in a pedestrian accident, we want to help. Contact The Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000 or by visiting our website to schedule a free consultation with one of our Sacramento pedestrian accident lawyers.