Phoenix has a sobering history of being a dangerous place for pedestrians.
Last year Phoenix New Times reported that only five other cities in the country had more pedestrian deaths than Phoenix in 2012. Based upon National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, Phoenix had 39 pedestrian fatalities, approximately 25% of the 151 people killed in traffic accidents. The cities exceeding Phoenix in pedestrian deaths were New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston and Dallas.
Pedestrian deaths are more likely to occur in urban areas, at non-intersections, and at night. Pedestrians and cyclists are victims, often due to distracted driving by motorists, drivers who are texting or on their cell phone.
In 2011 there were over 4,000 pedestrian deaths, an increase from 2010, according to NHTSA. It was also reported that in 2011 an estimated 69,000 pedestrians were injured, 11,000 of these injured were age 14 and younger.
Phoenix was also reported to have the seventh highest rate amongst American cities of deaths of people dying in car crashes (over 10 per 100,000 people).
Paul Englander is an experienced personal injury and pedestrian accident lawyer in Phoenix, AZ. If you have any questions or you or a loved one were involved in an accident as a pedestrian, don’t hesitate to give us a call today.