The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently proposed new vehicle design guidelines and safety testing regulations intended to reduce the number of pedestrian accidents, which have reached record highs in recent years nationwide and many states, including Indiana.
"We have a crisis of roadway deaths, and it's even worse among vulnerable road users like pedestrians," Sophie Shulman, NHTSA's Deputy Administrator, said in a statement released by the federal traffic agency.
Pedestrian accidents reach record high nationwide
The recent push to revise federal vehicle design and testing guidelines comes in response to a surge in recent years in the number of pedestrian accidents overall. Between 2013 and 2022, the number of pedestrian deaths nationwide increased by 57 percent, from 4,779 to 7,522 deaths, according to NHTSA accident data.
The year 2022 was especially bad since it was the most pedestrian fatalities in a single year nationwide since 1981. "Every day, 20 people go for a walk and do not return home," Governors Highway Safety Administration (GHSA) Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Adkins said in a statement in response to the record-setting death toll in 2022. "These are people living their daily lives – commuting to and from school and work, picking up groceries, walking the dog, getting some exercise – who died suddenly and violently."
How bad are pedestrian accidents in Indiana?
Like the rest of the country, pedestrian accidents have consistently gotten worse in Indiana in the past decade. In 2022, there were 114 pedestrian deaths statewide, the most in a single year since 2013, according to NHTSA accident data.
To put such numbers in perspective, there were 76 pedestrian deaths in Indiana in 2013, according to the NHTSA. That's a 50 percent increase in fatalities between 2013 and 2022.
What changes are being proposed to prevent pedestrian accidents?
NHTSA researchers found that taller vehicles (like SUVs and pickup trucks) cause significantly more fatalities when they are involved in accidents with pedestrians. As a result, the NHTSA wants vehicle manufacturers to consider pedestrian safety when designing and testing vehicles for consumers. If adopted, the NHTSA says its proposed rule changes would save the lives of 69 pedestrians each year nationwide.
"This proposed rule will ensure that vehicles will be designed to protect those inside and outside from serious injury or death," Shulman said. "We will continue to work to make our roads safer for everyone and help protect vulnerable road users."
What are the common causes of pedestrian accidents?
Pedestrian accidents happen for many different reasons. However, certain contributing factors cause more pedestrian accidents than others, including:
- Speeding remains the leading cause of pedestrian fatalities and injuries.
- Drunk driving, which caused 48 percent of pedestrian deaths in 2022, according to the NHTSA.
- Not sharing the road with pedestrians, especially pedestrians walking alongside a street.
- Violating traffic laws, especially not stopping for pedestrians in a crosswalk or yielding to pedestrians when making a left-hand turn at an intersection.
- Distracted driving, especially texting while driving.
Hit by a car and injured? Contact an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer today
Claims involving pedestrian accidents in Indiana might seem straightforward at first. After all, in most cases, a negligent driver caused the accident. Therefore, their insurance company should take care of the injured pedestrian's medical bills, lost wages, and other accident-related expenses. However, that's not how things always work. Unfortunately, injured pedestrians often need to fight the at-fault driver's insurance company for the money they rightfully deserve—and the insurance company has the advantage.
That's why you need an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer from Glaser & Ebbs, Attorneys At Law, to protect your rights and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve under Indiana law. Our dedicated legal team knows how to handle claims involving injured pedestrians, and we will aggressively pursue the compensation you are entitled to.
Don't leave your future in the hands of an insurance company that only cares about its bottom line. Contact Glaser & Ebbs today for a free consultation, and let us fight for you while you focus on your recovery. We have six offices conveniently located throughout Indiana, including Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. We also work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case.
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