Pedestrian accidents in Manhattan, NY
Pedestrian accidents rarely, if ever, result in “minor” injuries. When a car weighing close to two tons slams into the human body and then propels it to the ground, the injuries could be catastrophic, if not deadly.
Manhattan County Pedestrian Accident Statistics
In Manhattan County, pedestrian accidents happen frequently. According to recently released analytics, nearly 4,000 people suffer injuries annually in traffic accidents. Also, another 250 people are killed in crashes in Manhattan City every year. Roughly once per hour someone dies or is severely hurt in a collision in Manhattan County.
Manhattan County’s youngest and oldest are at the highest risk of getting struck by a motor vehicle. In Manhattan County, pedestrian accidents are the top cause of premature death due to an injury for children 14 years-of-age or younger and the second leading cause of death by injury to seniors is a pedestrian accident.
Injuries in Manhattan County Pedestrian Accidents
Getting hit by a car is a life-threatening event. The pedestrian accident lawyers with Parker Waichman LLP have counseled pedestrian accident victims and their loved ones after they suffered, critical injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries,
- Broken bones in the extremities, spine, and torso,
- Limb amputation,
- Injuries to the spinal cord including paralysis,
- Internal bleeding and organ damage,
- Punctured or deflated lungs,
- Severe lacerations,
- Scarring and disfigurement, as well as
- Wrongful death.
Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Manhattan County
There are many causes of pedestrian accidents. People out walking encounter several hazardous situations while walking. Pedestrian collisions can be the fault of the person walking. Factors contributing to a pedestrian causing an unavoidable accident are walking without proper reflective clothing, taking risks crossing, being drunk or high, texting while walking or otherwise playing with a cell phone, are all factors that contribute to the pedestrian accident. Notwithstanding, the careless drivers cause accidents by:
- Traveling at excessive speed,
- Carelessly backing,
- Poor visibility,
- Texting while driving or failing to pay attention to the road,
- Driving drunk or high,
- Not turning properly,
- Changing lanes dangerously,
- Running stop signs and “blowing” red lights, and
- Any other behavior that endangers the public like driving on a sidewalk or parallel parking without paying attention to the surrounding pedestrians.
Speeding is a common reason for pedestrian accidents. Analysis performed by the New York City Department of Transportation suggests that a person is twice as likely to die when colliding with a car traveling at 30 miles per hour than if struck at 25 miles per hour. Additionally, driving at slower speeds can prevent striking a pedestrian because research shows that a car traveling 25 miles per hour can stop 45 feet sooner than at 30 miles per hour.
Turning also causes numerous collisions with pedestrians. Traffic studies indicate that one out of every four pedestrian accidents occurs because of a turning vehicle in Manhattan County. The threat of being struck by a car turning left is three times higher than a vehicle making a right turn. That threat may be reduced if drivers slowed their driving speed to five miles per hour or slower while executing a turn.
Low or poor visibility for motorists threatens pedestrians as well. Calculations demonstrate that more pedestrians are hit in September to January than the first eight months of the year. Walking at dusk or later contributes to those trends. Naturally, in Manhattan County, situated in the Eastern Time zone, office workers traditionally start their treck home around 5 p.m., just as it is getting dark, which is the most difficult time to see, or just after dark.
Free Pedestrian Accident Injury Case Review With Parker Waichman LLP
If you or a loved one have been harmed in a pedestrian accident, call Parker Waichman LLP to help you understand your legal options and your potential recovery. Call Parker Waichman LLP for your free consultation by calling 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).
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