Residents of Georgia will want to be careful as more and more pedestrians are being killed in this country. In 2019, this state saw one of the highest numbers of pedestrian fatalities along with Florida, Texas, California and Arizona. Together, these five states, which compose about one third of the U.S. population, accounted for an estimated 47% of fatalities.
This was just one of the findings of the Governors Highway Safety Administration (GHSA) in its preliminary analysis of traffic deaths in 2019. It estimates that 6,590 pedestrians died that year: 5% more than in 2018 and 60% more than the 4,109 who died in 2009. By contrast, all other traffic deaths rose 2% from 2009 to 2018.
After seeing a decline starting in 1988, pedestrian fatalities began rising in 2009. There are several reasons for this, and the GHSA report proposes a few. One is the greater number of drivers distracted by phones and other technology. Another is the warmer weather that invites more people outdoors.
The GHSA notes that in 2009, 48% of new vehicle sales were light trucks, including SUVs. By 2019, though, the percentage rose to 69%. These vehicles are known to be deadly in pedestrian collisions, and with more of them on the road, it’s reasonable to see them as a contributing factor, too.
Many pedestrian accidents end, if not in death, in serious injuries that may cause victims to lose their job and have a diminished capacity to earn a living. If victims were not to blame for the accident, then they are entitled to compensation, and they can seek this by filing a claim against the driver’s insurance provider. The process can be complicated without a lawyer, though. It may be wise to have a lawyer evaluate the case in light of Georgia’s negligence law.
