Delaware Named Deadliest State for Pedestrians
We have a lot of highways in Delaware, with the greatest convergence happening in the northern part of the state. We also have a large number of residents, especially in more urban areas, who walk or use public transportation. For other states, this might not be an issue – but in Delaware specifically, there are not enough walkways, sidewalks and crosswalks to allow for safe transport from one place to another. While pedestrian accidents may be common, our approach to the law is not. If you or your loved one suffered a serious injury in an auto accident, please contact Silverman, McDonald & Friedman to learn more about how we can help.
The most dangerous state for pedestrians
It comes as little surprise that DelawareOnline labels our state as the most dangerous one in the nation for pedestrians. According to their research, “More than three-quarters of deaths between January 2005 and December 2014 occurred at night on high-speed roadways, state Department of Transportation data shows. Roughly 2 out of 3 were in Newark County, and in 45 percent of cases, either the driver or the pedestrian had been drinking.” In 2013, 25.5% of traffic accidents led to pedestrian fatalities; only Washington, D.C. and New York had more. As of October of 2015, 36 pedestrians have died.
What is leading to all of these accidents?
Aside from alcohol usage, which played a role in almost half of the pedestrian fatalities over the past decade, the main contributors to these types of accidents (according to the article and to government findings) include:
- Pedestrian actions, such as darting into the roadway while cars are traveling
- Drivers failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks
- Lack of crosswalks along major roadways, enabling safe passage form one side to the other
- Poor lighting along highways, making it difficult for drivers to see people who might be trying to cross the roads
Distraction also plays a major factor, for both pedestrians and drivers. Cell phone usage – whether for making calls, for texting or for listening to music – bears the brunt of the blame, but anything that keeps your attention away from the task at hand can end up causing an auto accident. Please contact Silverman, McDonald & Friedman to make an appointment with a skilled auto accident lawyer at our Wilmington, Seaford or Newark office.
Attorney Jeffrey S. Friedman joined Silverman, McDonald & Friedman in 2001. He graduated from Widener University School of Law, and is admitted to practice law in Delaware and Pennsylvania, and in several Federal Circuit courts. He areas of concentration include auto accident and workers’ compensation cases. Read more about Attorney Friedman here.