New government data shows that the age of pedestrians is rising. This is because the baby boomer generation is reaching retirement, leaving more elderly individuals in America than previous generations. Elderly pedestrians run a higher risk or injury in a pedestrian accident and with more senior citizens roaming the streets, the general potential for these accidents goes up.
An analysis of data collected between 2001 and 2010 shows that traffic-related deaths for men and women over 75 are double the date of traffic-related deaths for people that are 34 and under. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that there are about 34,000 traffic-related deaths per year, and approximately 4,000 of these are pedestrian accidents. The CDC says that older individuals take fewer walks then young people, but they are more likely to die or suffer severe injuries if they are hit by a car when out walking.
Increasing frailty leaves the elderly more vulnerable to being hit by traffic. This is because studies show that aging can decline a person's mental capabilities, vision, and physical mobility. As a result, elderly individuals may not make it across a crosswalk before the signal changes, or may step out to cross a road when a car is approaching. These mistakes can often end in terrible pedestrian accidents.
Government data shows that more than 47,000 Americans died in pedestrian-related accidents between 2001 and 2010. Males have double of the risk of being hit and killed in these accidents that females do. Researchers suggest that this is because males walk in more dangerous settings or will take more chances when walking than females do. About three-fourths of all of these pedestrian fatalities occur in cities.
The CDC declares that pedestrian deaths can be prevented. If individuals take the time to look where they are going, and if drivers focus on the road rather than distractions inside the vehicle, this can help to reduce the amount of pedestrian accidents that occur each year. If you were injured in a pedestrian accident or if your elderly loved one was harmed or killed in a collision of this nature, then talk to a Hartford injury attorney at David A. Zipfel & Associates, LLC today for assistance.