Pedestrian-Vehicle Accidents on Rise in North Texas Area

A recent news article reported on the increased dangers facing pedestrians these days. In an analysis of Texas Department of Transportation data by The Dallas Morning News, crashes where vehicles hit pedestrians in Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton, and Rockwall Counties showed a 10 percent increase between 2009 and 2013.

Pedestrian fatalities in the five-county area also rose steeply over the past five years; 63 deaths occurred in 2009 and 83 deaths occurred in 2013. That’s a 32 percent increase. Pedestrian accidents in Dallas County accounted for the majority of those fatalities. With 52 deaths in Dallas County in 2013, the county’s death rate jumped almost 68 percent over the death rate in 2009.

Approximately 4,000 pedestrians die each year from crash-related injuries in the United States. This represents about 13 percent of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. Elderly pedestrians face a greater risk than younger pedestrians, according to a recent government report. This report showed that death rates for male pedestrians age 75 or older were more than double those of people under age 35. Death rates for female pedestrians age 75 or older were more than double the death rates of all pedestrians under age 65. As the United States population continues to age, this trend will likely continue. To combat this problem, communities can focus on ways to make their areas more walkable and on keeping seniors more active.

To learn more about pedestrian-vehicle accidents, you should contact a personal injury attorney in your area. This article is presented by the Dallas pedestrian accident lawyers at Eberstein & Witherite, LLP. For inquiries, call 214.378.6665.