Pedestrian related accidents can be horrific and are unfortunately not uncommon on U.S. roads. In fact, 4,743 pedestrians were killed and approximately 76,000 more were injured in 2012, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The death toll in 2012 accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities in motor vehicle crashes all over the country. At least 612 of these deaths occurred in the State of California.
Under California law, pedestrians traveling on foot have the right of way and motorists must make a complete stop when encountering individuals crossing the road on marked or unmarked crosswalks. Despite these rules of the road, pedestrians are often at risk of serious injuries because of the actions of negligent drivers. Pedestrian related accidents are often caused by distracted driving due to use of cellphones while driving, running a red light, unnecessary speeding, intoxicated driving, and failure to observe a marked crosswalk or traffic control device protecting helpless pedestrians.
