Older Pedestrians and Deadly Atlanta Pedestrian Accidents. Learn More.
In 2008, researchers at the University of Georgia published a study that found that regular walking decreases an older adult’s risk of disability and increases their likelihood of maintaining independence by 41 percent. Walking is excellent exercise, but walking can also be deadly.
In 2009, there were 4,092 pedestrian fatalities in the United States. Nearly one-fifth of the victims were over the age of 70. While children are more likely to become victims of pedestrian accidents, the fatality rate for pedestrian accident victims is higher for pedestrians ages 70 and over than for any other group. In fact, the fatality rate for pedestrians over the age of 70 is twice the fatality rate for victims younger than 70.
• Older pedestrians may have difficulty seeing. • Older pedestrians may have impaired hearing. • Stiff joints or arthritis can make it difficult to turn one’s head to look for traffic. • Elderly pedestrians often walk slower than other pedestrians. • Pedestrians may not be seen if they stumble or fall. • It may be difficult for a pedestrian in a wheel chair to be seen by drivers.
More than two-thirds of percent of pedestrian accident fatalities that involve older American occur at non-intersection locations such as parking lots, driveways, sidewalks and streets. In Georgia, pedestrian accidents often occur where there are no sidewalks or convenient crosswalks.
There are numerous common factors that contribute to pedestrian accidents. Negligence is one of the most common factors. Motorists have a responsibility to adhere to the laws of the road and drive in a safe and observant manner at all times. Pedestrians are killed every day due to a driver's negligence. Some common negligent practices by motorists include:
• Distracted driving • Speeding • Failure to yield to pedestrians • Disregard for traffic control devices such as red lights
Pedestrians who are hit by motor vehicles are at risk for a variety of serious injuries; however, the pedestrians' head, legs, and arms are the most vulnerable. Common pedestrian injuries include:
Atlanta ranks in the top ten American cities for pedestrian accidents. If your loved one was seriously injured or killed in an Atlanta area pedestrian accident, contact the Law Offices of Shane Smith. Atlanta pedestrian injury attorney Shane Smith will make sure your family’s rights are protected and will fight to make sure that the injury victim is fully compensated for all their losses. Call our Atlanta law office at 770-HURT-999 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your Georgia pedestrian accident claim.
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