In Pennsylvania, pedestrian fatalities make up for a total of 22 percent of all Pennsylvania traffic incidents. These statistics are horrifying and only show that being a pedestrian in Pennsylvania is extremely dangerous. Every week, dozens of people die from getting hit by a motor vehicle.
But why are there so many accidents (especially in big counties and cities)? What are the causes of these accidents?
We talked with experienced and seasoned Philadelphia pedestrian accident attorneys and found out the following.
The Right Of Way
There are many confusions that pedestrians in Pennsylvania have the “right of way”. Most pedestrians (and drivers) misunderstand this, and because of that, accidents and fatalities occur on a daily basis.
Basically, according to Pennsylvania Vehicle Code 21950, drivers have to yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.
So does that mean that pedestrians have the right of way? Well, yes and no.
The law states that only when crossing on the marked crossings, pedestrians have the right of way, or when crossing at an intersection. However, that does not mean that a pedestrian can cross the street anywhere else. Most people are confused with this law and believe that they have the right of way, when in fact, they are crossing the street at an unmarked point, risking their lives in the process.
At the same time, many drivers do not understand the “right of way” law, and when in a rush, they simply do not care about the pedestrians who already started crossing the street. Many accidents occur because of this issue.
Alcohol Consumption
A great deal of all these pedestrian accidents happens at night. Many people enjoy notorious Pennsylvania’s nightlife, and after leaving the bar, they go for a walk. This is where problems start occurring.
After a few drinks, even though a pedestrian may believe that they are fine and under control, they will most likely do something stupid. One of those things could be leaving the curb and walking into the path of a vehicle that is closing in. Another part of the vehicle code states that “no pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard”. Unfortunately, many people break this particular law and are hit by motor vehicles as a result.
Did you know that almost 30 percent of all pedestrians struck by motor vehicles had above 0.08 percent of alcohol in their blood?
Another thing worth mentioning is the fact that almost 40 percent of all pedestrian accidents happened at night, due to low visibility or pedestrians being dressed in black or dark clothes.
If you have been hit by a motor vehicle, contact pedestrian accident attorneys in Philadelphia and schedule a free consultation to receive a free case evaluation and legal guidance. If there is a legal basis for a claim, attorneys will help you file it and help you secure compensation for your:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
Be sure to give us a call today, and stay safe on the road.
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