Fatal traffic crashes kill dozens of people in New York every year, and the circumstances surrounding the accidents are recorded by local, state and federal government agencies, as well as private organizations. Contributing factors such as time of day, age of the victims and other information are often used by these agencies to identify contributing patterns so that safety measures can be developed to reduce the deaths.

This past year, it appears that none of the nationwide methods to make the roads and sidewalks safer for those on foot have been successful. In 2015, 42 percent of all pedestrian deaths, within the first six months, occurred in New York and three other states. Statistics for that time frame also indicate that the year may mark the biggest jump in pedestrian deaths from one year to the next – 10 percent.

Experts point to distractions, alcohol and poor city bus designs as possible explanations for the unusually high rate of pedestrian accidents. It could also be that more people are walking than in past years for their health, or because of better walking weather. Another reason may be the increase of drivers on the road, due to falling gas prices.

Sidewalks and crosswalks are the domain of pedestrians. When people on foot follow traffic laws, they should not have to worry about being struck by vehicles. Unfortunately, this is frequently not the case. Calling a car accident attorney often helps victims of traffic accidents to receive the compensation they are entitled to by law.

Source: Times Union, “Early data suggests pedestrian deaths surged in 2015,” Joan Lowy, Mar. 8, 2016