There may be various causes of pedestrian accidents. It could be drunk driving or harsh weather conditions.
In any case, it is crucial to understand these factors to improve the protection of pedestrians and minimize the need for a for a pedestrian accident lawyer Houston.
Below are some common causes of pedestrian accidents:
Distracted Walking
When people start focusing on something else while walking, their attention gets directed away from their environment. This diminished awareness can result in several issues and potential hazards:
Diminished Awareness: Distracted pedestrians pay little attention to such features as approaching automobile, traffic signal signs, pedestrian signal signs, or barriers such as an uneven surface or an object on the walkway.
Impaired Decision-Making: If people are engrossed with their gadgets, their capacity to immediately decide whether to cross the road or avoid an object is also affected. They may not respond appropriately to prevent accidents from happening.
Crosswalk and Intersection Risks: The distracted walkers might not pay attention to traffic signals at crosswalks or intersections and this will cause them to have some collisions with drivers who have the right of way. This can lead to accidents and collisions.
Potential for fall: Walkers can trip and thus fail to notice the bumps, gaps, or other irregularities in the design of the pavement.
Risk to others: This is because, although distracted walking is a hazard to individual safety, it also poses a risk to other people walking on roads since they have to bend or twist in order to avoid a collision. This may require the help of a pedestrian accident lawyer Houston.
Emergency Situations: The distracted pedestrians do not have effective response mechanism to an incident such as traffic mishap or a looming danger.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents:
Distracted Driving
This type of negligence may be explained as reckless conduct where the driver is distracted from the road to engage in such activities as texting, using a cellular phone, eating or anything that draws the attention of the driver from the road. This distracted condition makes it possible for drivers to not see the lack of pedestrians that could be in the vicinity; thus exposing them and the motorists they would be intending to cross the road to great danger.
Texting and Mobile Device Use:
Other common distractions while driving include the use of mobile devices such as texting. This takes their focus off the road since their hands come off the wheel, their sight shifts from the road while their concentration is no longer on driving. This drastically hinders their capacity to identify pedestrians and react to threats in the road environment.
Eating and Drinking:
Even a minor distraction such as driving while taking a sandwich or taking a sip of a soft drink cause distraction and slow down reaction time. Some drivers may eat or take a drink and this may cause them to not pay much attention to the road and may even fail to notice pedestrians.
Multitasking:
Activities like adjusting the volume of the radio, use of GPS in the car, or attending to children or pets within a car will otherwise divert the attention of a driver from the road. This can therefore lead to the overlooking of pedestrians.
Risk to Vulnerable Road Users:
Again cyclists and pedestrians are more at the mercy of distracted driving because they are directly exposed to vehicle traffic unlike when they are in a car. This goes to show that drivers have to be keen and ensure that there is no way through which a collision between car and the pedestrians will occur.
Speeding
Rushing entails driving at velocities beyond the posted speed limit or at a rate that is incompatible with the road conditions, and this hinders a driver’s ability to address occurrences of the mishap and slow down or come to a standstill for pedestrian safety.
Diminished Reaction Time:
The period that elapses between the time a driver perceives an object in the traffic environment such as a pedestrian crossing the road and the time he has to react to that object is significantly longer when the car is in motion at high speeds than when it is in motion at a reasonable and safe speed. This reduction in the time taken to respond can make the task of applying the brakes or swerving out of the way a difficult proposition.
Expanded Braking Distance:
The distance travelled by a vehicle from the time the driver perceives the hazard to the time he/she responds to the hazard and applies the brakes is known as the braking distance. This braking distance becomes larger at higher speeds because of the increase in the speed and kinetic energy of the car.
Thus, even if the driver responds immediately upon his/her noticing the pedestrian, the car may not stop at the pedestrian and, therefore, increase the likelihood of an accident. In the end, one might require the services of a collision attorney in such cases.
Reduced Control:
Excessive speed usually reduces the degree of control that a driver can muster hence the risks associated with speeding. The control of velocities also makes it challenging to maintain stable steering and maneuvering through turns, which in combination with other factors, makes it difficult to avoid pedestrians who might cross the road suddenly.
Magnitude of Impact:
When an accident occurs, the force applied is directly proportional to the vehicle’s velocity at the time of an impact. Increased speeds lead to more aggressive and even fatal crashes on the roads and tracks. Unfortunately, in such situations, pedestrians are vulnerable since they do not have the protection of the car and its equipment.
Failure to Yield
Failure to give way is perhaps the main and often overlooked cause in pedestrian accidents particularly where drivers do not afford pedestrians the priority when exercising their right of way at a pedestrian crossing, road junction or any/other marked crossing place.
Right-of-Way Regulations:
In traffic codes, the right-of-way refers to who has the legal right of way in a given traffic situation. As a rule, the pedestrian has priority at such areas unless there are traffic lights or signs to the contrary. If drivers fail to respect this right-of-way, it is possible to encounter dangerous conditions on the road.
Pedestrian Vulnerability:
Drivers and passengers are safer than pedestrians when using roads since they have the vehicle to shield them. It is upon drivers to ensure that pedestrians are given priority by way of honking and stopping wherever traffic laws require them to.
Intersection Conflicts:
The statistics show that many of the pedestrian accidents occur at the intersections because drivers ignore the pedestrians’ rights of way.
Such accidents often occur with a pedestrian who is legally walking on the road, while drivers either do not pay attention or purposefully disobey the rules of the road, failing to recognize the pedestrian’s right of way.
This can lead to impacts of fair to high level sometimes even causing the death of the pedestrian involved in the accident.
Crosswalk Hazards:
Crosswalks are marked areas where pedestrians are allowed to walk within them to help them cross roads safely. If drivers fail to give way to pedestrians within these specifically designated walkways, then it negates the importance of the crosswalk safety measures, and the general likelihood of collisions increases.
Running Red Lights and Stop Signs
When drivers disrespect traffic lights and road signs, they endanger those who have the right of way, including jaywalking passengers. Another reckless action is the driving through a red light and through a stop sign which is risky and likely to cause an accident with the pedestrians.
Traffic Control Devices:
Signs and signals are some of the most important and basic things that are necessary to observe on the roads. They are meant to control the traffic and allow people and motorists to cross roads safely during intersections as well as pedestrian crossings. Overlooking these signs goes against this order and poses a risk to the lives of pedestrians.
Pedestrian Right-of-Way:
Again, the right-of-way is given to pedestrians in certain conditions, for example when they are at the marked crosswalks or at the intersection with pedestrian walking symbol. Anytime drivers ignore red lights or stop signs, they become reckless and in effect deny pedestrians their legal rights to cross the road.
Intersection Collisions:
Frequently when running a red light or a stop sign drivers get into accidents at an intersection. These collisions can also be very disastrous to the pedestrian who may be knocked down by the car which is in motion at a very high speed.
Unpredictable Behavior:
Normally, people on foot use traffic light and other signs to determine when they can and cannot cross a road. This is very dangerous especially when drivers decide to run through red lights or stop signs without any notice and it becomes hard for the pedestrian to avoid the oncoming vehicles.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Poor Visibility:
One major risk stem from lowered visibility because this makes it difficult for those controlling vehicles and pedestrians to notice each other. This increases likelihood of an accident occurrence is further compounded by factors such as fog, rain or snow and during nighttime when natural light is scarce.
In such situations, the diminished visibility factor adds to the risk on the roads, and it becomes the responsibility of everyone on the road to be very careful and observe all the necessary precautionary measures to curb the high incident of accidents.
Jaywalking:
Jaywalking on the other hand is the act of crossing the streets at any area that does not have a pedestrian crossing sign or even in the face of traffic control signals. This behavior is dangerous mainly because it startles the drivers due to their inability to anticipate movement from the pedestrian.
As you can probably guess, this makes jaywalking one of the most frequent reasons for pedestrian accidents. To a large extent, when pedestrians are involved in the act of jaywalking, the result is the disruption of the usual order of things whereby drivers are caught off guard since they never expect to find anyone crossing the road at such a section or at such a time of the day.
They said that this lack of anticipation could lead to dangerous behavior that could even lead to accidents and injuries.
For the safety of all road users, those who walk the roads need to use the crosswalks and obey the traffic signals. This contributes to a better organized and predictable traffic flow and therefore minimizes the occurrence of accidents which in turn improves on general traffic safety.
Intoxication:
Alcohol and pedestrian or driver usage notably increase the odds of involvement in accidents. This increases the risk due to alcohol or drug affecting the worst areas in a person such as his judgment, coordination, and response times.
A person cannot make rational decisions when drunk hence resulting to an impaired ability to determine how to handle any situation. This impaired judgement can be taken to a point that a pedestrian will cross the road ignoring the traffic sign or signals, or underestimate the speed of the approaching vehicle.
To the drivers, intoxication weakens their capacity in handling their movements and responsiveness thus making it hard for them to maneuver their car. Risk taking is also likely to be higher due to slower reflexes and lower levels of coordination to cope with situations that are incidental on the road.
Of course, such states entail a significant risk for both, the pedestrian and the driver, since they hinder basic mental and physical abilities. This makes it one of the most frequent reasons why pedestrians get involved in accidents.
Reckless or Aggressive Driving:
Aggressive and reckless driving can be described as any actions that involve being close behind other cars, instances of road rage, and sudden movements. Such actions can result in the development of emergent conditions within proximity of the road, particularly for the pedestrians who have to cope with such drivers.
Tailgating occurs when drivers get close to the vehicle ahead than what is safe or comfortable for them to feel. This element of aggression cuts down the time one has to prepare for any eventuality thus giving very little margin for error. Vulnerable road users such as pedestrians may be at risk if they are close to a car that is involved in tailgating due to the high risk of crashing that the driver exhibits in the process.
Road rage particularly acts of anger and aggression by drivers, are erratic and tend to trigger further annoyance. Such confrontations may endanger pedestrians who may be nearby at the time, as aggressive drivers are likely to take dangerous actions that will endanger all users of roads.
Aggressive driving behaviors, such as frequent and unpredictable changes in speed, position, or direction, increase the risk levels in the road environment. This poses a risk to pedestrians as they cannot predict the behavior of aggressive drivers especially when crossing roads or walking close to the carriageway.
In conclusion, reckless and aggressive driving behaviors is one of the key reasons that can lead to pedestrian accidents and may warrant hiring a pedestrian accident attorney Houston.
Poor Road Design:
Inadequate road design involves various aspects of road infrastructure such as lack of sidewalks, poorly marked cross roads, and poor lighting all of which can lead to increased pedestrian vulnerability.
When we speak of poor road design, we are pointing towards cases where layout and characteristics of roads and streets fail to provide enough protection and comfort to pedestrians. This can be observed where there are no sidewalks and the pedestrian is forced to walk on the road thereby exposing them to dangers from vehicle. It also becomes dangerous as most of the roads are not exclusive for walking, especially areas that experience high traffic congestion.
Furthermore, crosswalks that are not well marked or delineated confusing to both pedestrians and drivers involved in an accident. Well-defined and visible crosswalk markings help to avoid confusion of where pedestrians are supposed to cross and where drivers should give way. When these markings are missing or worn out, chances of an accident and confusion amongst the road users are likely to happen.
Another aspect that characterizes poor road design is inadequate lighting.
Illumination during the night and other poorly illuminated areas makes it difficult for drivers and the pedestrians to have a clear view of each other. This lowered visibility can lead to accidents, since it prevents drivers from accurately identifying pedestrians. Of course, this is why poor road design is considered one of the most prevalent reasons for pedestrian accidents.
Harsh Weather Conditions:
Rain, snow, and icy conditions, for example, compromise both visibility and road surface friction and, in turn, increase the risk of accidents that affect pedestrians.
Weather conditions play a crucial role in influencing the level of vulnerability of road users especially pedestrians. Rain, for example, is a form of precipitation that frequently hinders motorists and other road users from seeing through the thin layer of water droplets. Ice and snow create hard and dangerous pavements which affect both the mobility of pedestrians and drivers due to slippage and difficult car handling.
Poor lighting at night or in rainy weather can be especially dangerous for pedestrians because the drivers cannot see them from a distance. This reduced detection time can result in circumstances where drivers would have been deprived of adequate response time that would enable them to steer away from the path of pedestrians.
Likewise, slush or ice on roads might reduce the road traction and hence the ability of the vehicles to stop or reverse safely, posing a threat to the pedestrians who wish to cross the roads or even walk on the sidewalks.
Inadequate Education and Awareness:
Insufficient education and awareness efforts regarding pedestrian safety results in the failure to know and observe traffic laws by both the pedestrians and drivers.
By pointing to insufficient education and awareness, we are acknowledging the fact that a lot of people might not be able to avail or come across efficient programs and campaigns that educate them on the basics of safe pedestrian behavior and accountable driving. This lack of knowledge and awareness can come out in different ways.
Firstly, the pedestrians may be ill-informed about the standards and practices that apply in traffic, including the right time and right places to cross the roads. This lack of understanding can lead to pedestrian’s carelessness, crossing the roads in the wrong places, or ignoring cross roads signals.
On the other hand, the drivers might not be fully aware of their roles in preventing pedestrian related incidents such as failing to give way to pedestrians at cross roads or while in areas with a lot of pedestrian movements. Due to this, some drivers may not notice or react to pedestrians hence one of the biggest reasons why they are hit by vehicles.
Vehicle Blind Spots:
Truck and bus blind zones also pose considerable barriers to drivers which indeed exposes pedestrians to risks since the driver cannot see through these areas.
Blind zones or blind areas are certain areas around the vehicle that the driver of the vehicle cannot view directly due to obstruction. In the case of large cars like the trucks and buses, these blind spots are usually larger in size because of the size and shape of the car in question.
These blind zones can be especially dangerous for a pedestrian, as he or she may end up in a place invisible to the driver. This is because once a pedestrian occupies the blind spot, the driver cannot easily observe or identify them, especially when turning, switching lanes or performing any maneuver.
People especially the drivers of large vehicles and the pedestrians need to be taught about these blind zones with the aim of increasing safety.
Another recommendation is for drivers to frequently scan blind areas and consider using other mirrors or technologies such as blind zone sensors. On the other hand, the pedestrians should know the areas that they cannot be seen by the driver of the large vehicle, this is an area to avoid by all means.
Age and Physical Condition:
The spatial mobility of people, especially the elderly and the disabled, may pose challenges when navigating streets due to their age or disability, thus making them vulnerable to possible incidents.
Physical challenges are the difficulties that the elderly people or those who face some problems with the mobility. The challenges can therefore present themselves in various forms.
For instance, going by elements such as flexibility, eye-sight, and quickness, elderly people are likely to encounter difficulties in crossing roads safely and respond instantly to emergencies. Likewise, the pedestrians who use mobility devices like wheelchairs or other mobility aids may face issues constructed with curbs, ramps and quality of sidewalks which hinders them to move safely on streets.
These challenges can make them exposed to accidents since they may need more time crossing a road or may find it difficult to move out of the way of approaching vehicles. Further, drivers might not always be sensitive to the special requirement of these person and may injure him or her by an inadvertent mishap if adequate care is not exercised.
Driver Fatigue
Driver fatigue is the state of exhaustion where a driver feels very sleepy while behind the wheel, it causes the driver to become less alert and have slow reaction rates. This leads to a reduced state of awareness or slower reactions which enhances the risk of common pedestrian accidents.
Driver fatigue, therefore, refers to potential dangers that may arise from a driver being physically worn out or tired mentally. Overall, fatigue can be defined as tiredness, sleepiness, lack of concentration and weak decision-making abilities.
When referring to pedestrian safety, exhausted motorists are incapable of detecting pedestrians crossing the road or those close to the road. They may be slow in their response; thus, they could end up failing to apply the brakes or swerve accordingly to evade hitting pedestrians who may emerge abruptly on the road.
In addition, sleepy drivers also have problems in maintaining their speed and position on the road which may cause uncertainty and risk factors to the walkers.
For instance, a driver who has dozed off may cause their vehicle to swerve into pedestrian zones or run a red line at zebra crossings.
FAQs
What are the factors involved in pedestrian crashes?
Pedestrian accidents can happen in many ways and from the involvement of both the drivers and the pedestrians. The first major cause is driver distraction and this is attributed to cases where the driver will be distracted by other items like phones or other gadgets.
This distraction can sometimes result in a driver failing to notice signs or respond to them in time, making the chances of killing a pedestrian very high. Another factor is speeding, which is instrumental in greatly minimizing the driver response time and the intensity of harm, given an occurrence of an accident.
They may also cause accidents when they do not give way to pedestrians at crossing points or even at intersections as these are supposed to have the right of way. DUI increases the risk as it entails driving while under the influence of alcohol or other substances, thus reducing reaction time and judgment when involved in an accident.
Night, fog, and rain are other factors that that also contribute enormously to pedestrian accidents. Such conditions limit the visibility of pedestrians by drivers, and this makes it easier to end up in an accident.
How pedestrians are responsible for road accidents?
Drivers are fully or partially at fault in road accidents, but the pedestrians are also capable of endangering themselves through various behaviors.
One of the most prevalent risky behaviors’ is Jaywalking, which refers to crossing a road not at the marked pedestrian crossing or against the traffic light signals; placing the pedestrian in positions where the driver does not expect them.
Another cause is distracted walking where people are texting, listening to music with icons, or doing other actions that make them less conscious of the road and approaching vehicles. Similarly, failing to observe traffic signals that include ignoring the signals for pedestrians or when crossing the road during the “Do Not Cross” signal is also risky.
What are the risk factors for pedestrian accidents?
There are many risk factors that can cause pedestrian accidents, and there are certain groups of people and areas that are more at risk of being involved in an accident. One more non-modifiable risk factors is the age; both children and elderly people can be at higher risk.
A child may not make good decisions on how to cross a road safely, while an old man or woman may be weak in his or her movements, slow in decision making and can easily be knocked down by a vehicle.
Another factor is the location of the incidents, and this is mainly because most incidents occur in urban centers and junctions with heavy traffic flow. Lack of sidewalks or pedestrian crossings also contributes to the overall risk to pedestrians in those areas. Another common risk factor entails the use of substances such as alcohol and drugs in drivers and pedestrians.
Prolonged use of these substances increases the likelihood of accidents because one is less likely to make sound decisions or react quickly.
In addition to raising the risk of an accident happening, speeding also raises the level of harm that a pedestrian or any other person on the road is likely to suffer.
Lastly, driver distraction or pedestrian distraction is another leading cause of the accident, as it hinders one’s perception and assessment of the surroundings and any impending dangers.
Conclusion
Preventing the occurrence of such incidents, requires both the pedestrians and drivers to pay attention, follow traffic signals and exercise caution. Also, better roads and the measures to reduce traffic such as traffic speed humps, higher priority pedestrian crossings, and better lighting reduce the risk of pedestrian accidents as well. In any of these circumstances, it may be necessary to seek the services of a pedestrian accident attorney Houston.
