Pedestrian Fatalities Continue to Rise in the United States

The number of drivers on the road decreased during the pandemic, but the number of pedestrians killed increased by nearly 5 percent. Pedestrian fatalities continue to rise in the U.S. In 2020, an average of 18 people lost their lives each day due to pedestrian accidents, for a total of approximately 6,500 fatalities. That does not include the tens of thousands of other pedestrians who were seriously injured but did not die in such collisions.

What is behind these grim statistics? Put much of the blame on the way our streets are designed.

A pedestrian accident lawyer at Kogan & DiSalvo can help if you or a family member were impacted by a motor vehicle while walking.

Florida Ranks Second for Danger to Pedestrians

Modern roads are indeed dangerous by design. They are engineered to move motor vehicles quickly, with little consideration for pedestrians. Estimates for 2021 pedestrian deaths, at 7,485, would make these fatalities the highest in 40 years.

Florida has the dubious distinction of being second in the nation, behind only New Mexico, as the most dangerous state in the country for pedestrians. The Daytona Beach region does rank nationally for the most dangerous metropolitan area for pedestrians.

Other Florida areas on the list include:

• Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater–4
• Jacksonville–6
• Orlando, Kissimmee, Sanford–8
• Palm Bay, Melbourne, Titusville–12
• Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach–14
• North Port, Sarasota, Bradenton–19

Keep in mind these are national rankings. That means Florida has eight of the top 20 most dangerous areas in the country for pedestrians. In comparison, California has more cars, but only four cities in the top 20. None are ranked higher than 7.  

There’s even more bad news. None of these metropolitan areas are improving. All have become significantly more deadly. 

Those Most Affected

Dangerous road design affects every community, but some are especially vulnerable. Older adults suffer higher rates of being struck and killed. So do those of all ages walking in low-income neighborhoods.

People of color are more likely to die in pedestrian accidents. Statistically, 1.2 Asian-Americans die in pedestrian accidents per 100,000. White, non-Hispanic victims make up 1.5 pedestrian deaths, while Hispanic victims make up 1.8. The number jumps to 3.0 for Black people and an extremely high 4.8 for American Indians or Alaska Natives.

Low-income neighborhoods are less likely to have parks available for safe walking. They are also less likely to have crosswalks or sidewalks, or other elements of safe street design for pedestrians. In addition, many of these neighborhoods are located on or near major roadways designed for high-speed traffic. These conditions just make walking much less safe for the average pedestrian.

Contact a Florida Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

If you were injured in a pedestrian accident, or a family member suffered a fatal accident as a pedestrian, contact the experienced lawyers at Kogan & DiSalvo. Schedule a free, no-obligation appointment to discuss the case. Because we work on a contingency basis, there are no attorney fees unless you or your family receive compensation.