Articles Posted in Pedestrian Accident

Soaring oil prices have led millions to seek an alternative to gas-guzzling vehicles. However, in their purchase of the more environmentally-friendly hybrid electric cars, drivers of these vehicles may be more prone to involvement in a Chicago pedestrian accident.

The reason is outlined in a study recently released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Essentially, as our Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers understand it, it’s this: Hybrid vehicles make less noise. That means pedestrians are less likely to hear a hybrid vehicle when it’s backing up, turning or pulling into or out of a parking space or driveway.

In fact, when moving at slower speeds, hybrids are two times more likely than a gas-powered vehicle to strike a pedestrian.

At particular risk, according to study officials, are blind pedestrians. And those dealing with big-city traffic already face similar risks: If you don’t hear a vehicle above the din of traffic, you are more likely to be victimized by a driver who fails to yield or does not pay attention.

Advocates are calling for regulations that would require hybrid cars to install a sound-emitting device or sound-creating feature, so pedestrians could be alerted to oncoming traffic, according to a recent article on MSNBC.

The chairwoman of the National Federation of the Blind’s Committee on Automotive and Pedestrian Safety said she conducted an unofficial test herself in a parking lot, to see whether she could hear an approaching hybrid vehicle. Years of relying on her ears had given her a keen sense of hearing, which she was confident would detect the car.

It wasn’t enough.

“To my great dismay, I couldn’t hear it,” she was quoted as saying.

It’s likely to be an issue of increasing concern, as more and more, people are turning to hybrid vehicles. In fact, automotive research firms indicate that registration for new hybrid cars and trucks were up almost 50 percent across the country in the first six months of 2007, compared to the same time frame the year before. Almost 500,000 Priuses have been sold since they were released in 2000, and there are almost 900,0000 hybrid cars on the road today.

That number is only expected to increase.

The National Federation of the Blind has made several pleas to auto manufacturers, asking them to install some sound devices on hybrid cars. Some, like the makers of the Chevrolet Volt, have listened. Others have been slower to react.

A Toyota spokesman, however, said part of the appeal of Prius was the fact that not only did it have low carbon emissions, it also had a reduced level of noise pollution. He didn’t completely dismiss the concerns posed by the federation, but said the future would be about striking a balance.

But in fact, it’s not only blind people who have had close calls. One California woman in her 50s said she has 20/20 vision and has almost been hit by a hybrid – twice.

“I never realized how dependent I was on my ears until I almost got hit,” she was quoted as saying.

Until car manufacturers and regulators take action on this issue, it’s important for both motorists of hybrids and pedestrians to be aware of the problem, and travel with the appropriate caution.
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As our Chicago pedestrian accident attorneys recently reported, pedestrian accidents are a growing concern for safety officials. Despite record-low numbers of traffic fatalities in 2010, the number of serious and fatal pedestrian accidents actually increased.

Transportation For America recently released a study that attempted to pin some of the blame on pedestrians — specifically the growing popularity of headphones.The truth of the matter is that a vast majority of pedestrian accidents are the fault of the driver. Many components can contribute to these accidents, including drowsy driving, distracted driving, speeding and failing to obey traffic devices. Fatal pedestrian accidents caused by drivers are completely preventable.

Our Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers understand that traveling while engaging in distractions is never a good idea, whether you’re driving or walking. This is especially important along busy roadways, like the ones in our Chicago area. When traveling in these areas, you need all of your senses to travel safely. From 2000 to 2009, there were nearly 50,000 pedestrians who were killed while walking along U.S. roadways. But according to The University of Maryland, just 115 of these deaths were blamed on pedestrians wearing headphones. Driver distraction is much more likely to lead to serious or fatal pedestrian accidents.

You may remember the distracted pedestrian story from 2008 in which Barack Obama’s adviser, Valerie Jarrett, confessed that she fell off a Chicago curb while she was texting on her Blackberry.

“I didn’t see the sidewalk and I twisted my ankle,” said Jarrett. “It was a nice wake-up call for me to be a lot more careful in the future, because I clearly wasn’t paying attention and I should have.”

There are a number of ways to help reduce pedestrian accidents in Illinois. We need safer crosswalks. We need more driver awareness. Until we live in the “perfect” world with protected sidewalks for all, we’re asking for pedestrians to put their best foot forward in an attempt to help reduce the risks for an accident along our roadways and our sidewalks.

Pedestrian Safety Tips, from the City of Chicago:

-Always use a sidewalk or a path when one is available. If you have no other choice but to walk along the street, remember to do so while facing oncoming traffic so you and oncoming drivers can see one another. Just be sure to walk as far away from traffic as possible.

-Remember that other vehicles and standing objects can hinder a driver’s view. Make sure that you can see the driver before making any movements in the street.

-Make a plan to walk along routes that are clear of dangerous crossings.

-Make sure to look in all directions for oncoming traffic before crossing a street.

-Never rely on traffic signals.

-Keep a lookout for turning vehicles. In these instances, drivers are concentrated on making turns and not on pedestrian traffic. Look in all directions for these drivers as they come from all different directions. Always make sure that a turning driver sees you.

-Make sure that you understand the meanings of the crosswalk signals.
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is working diligently to get backup cameras installed on motor vehicles across the country to help reduce the risks of car-pedestrian accidents in Chicago and elsewhere. These rear-view cameras are used to help drivers to see pedestrians, especially the elderly and young children, while reversing a vehicle.Our Chicago pedestrian accident attorneys understand that Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s is a dangerous time for back over accidents. These accidents are a common occurrence during family gatherings and in busy parking lots during the holiday season. Motorists are urged to be extremely careful when backing up in a motor vehicle. Make sure that you know that nothing is behind you before slamming it into reverse and hitting the gas.

The NHTSA is looking to make backup cameras a requirement on all minivans, pickup trucks, passenger cars, buses and vehicles with a gross weight of up to 10,000 pounds. These cameras would turn on and would display images from the back of the vehicle to drivers whenever the vehicle is in reverse.

The Administration of the NHTSA, David Strickland, is hoping that backup cameras will significantly reduce the risks of backup accidents. He says that all ages are at risk for one of these accidents, but especially young children and the elderly. Strickland also reiterates that this technology is a useful tool in preventing injury, but nothing is more effective in making safer roadways than driver attention.

Drivers are urged to always know and to physically see where children are and to make sure there is no one behind your vehicle before backing up.

According to the NHTSA, there is an average of nearly 300 fatalities and about 20,000 injuries every year because of back-over accidents that involved motor vehicles. Of these accidents, nearly 230 fatalities involved a vehicle that weighed less than 10,000 pounds. Both young children and elderly pedestrians most often fall victim to these accidents. Nearly 45 percent of the deadly accidents that involved a light vehicle happened to a child under the age of 5. This is an abnormally high percentage for any type of accidents. Pedestrians over the age of 69 accounted for nearly 35 percent of these accidents.

Throughout the remainder of the year and during the holiday season, parking lots will be full of shoppers and driveways will be packed with friends and family members. Drivers are asked to be cautious of their complete surroundings before backing up, regardless of where the vehicle is located. Always walk behind the vehicle to make sure nothing’s there before reversing.

Have a safe, injury-free and Happy Holidays!
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