Pedestrians are dying in motor vehicle accidents more and more in this country, according to new statistics released this month by the National Complete Streets Coalition and Smart Growth America, in a report entitled “Dangerous by Design 2019.” Among their findings:
Every hour and 46 minutes, someone dies in a pedestrian accident in the United States. The number of pedestrian fatalities has jumped 35% in the past ten years.
From the 2019 Study: “It’s the equivalent of a jumbo jet full of people crashing—with no survivors—every single month.”
Fatal Pedestrian Accidents in Indiana and Illinois
Reading the report, there may be some comfort in finding that Illinois and Indiana fare better than some other states in the number of tragic pedestrian accident deaths. In its “Pedestrian Death Index” (PDI), Florida ranks as the most dangerous state for walking, followed by Alabama, Delaware, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
However, this is far from a dismissal of the danger to anyone walking the streets of Indiana or Illinois. Pedestrians are harmed, and killed, in our locality at an unacceptably high rate.
Consider the following recent examples, pulled from news coverage in just the past two weeks:
1. Chicago, Illinois: Pedestrian Hit in Crosswalk While Crossing Street
Last week, a pedestrian was hit by a flatbed truck as she crossed the street at the intersection of LaSalle Drive and Grand Avenue mid-morning (11:30 a.m.) on September 17, 2019. The semi-truck was turning left as the woman was crossing within the street’s crosswalk and having the right of way. Sadly, reports confirmed that the pedestrian victim was pregnant and only 29 years old at the time of her passing. Her baby, born prematurely, died four days later.
For more, read: “Woman Hit, Killed By Flatbed Truck In River North; Friends Say She Was Pregnant,” written by Megan Hickey and published by Chicago’s CBS2.
2. Chicago, Illinois: Pedestrian Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver Within Blocks of Pregnant Pedestrian Fatality
The day before the pedestrian accident described above, a man was crossing Ohio Street when a Toyota Camry hit him and failed to stop, the driver deciding to speed away, going eastbound on Ohio and later seen escaping on Lake Shore Drive. The man was pronounced dead upon arrival at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Police are investigating the identity of the hit-and-run driver.
For more, read: “Drivers killed two pedestrians within 2 days on highway-like streets in River North,” written by John Greenfield and published by StreetsBlogChicago on September 17, 2019.
3. Deerfield, Illinois: Pedestrian Killed in Parking Lot Hit-and-Run Accident
Earlier this month, a 53-year-old woman was found by police and paramedics lying in a parking lot on Waukegan Road in Deerfield, Illinois. She later died from her injuries, and the police located and took the driver into custody. Reports were that formal charges were pending toxicology testing.
For more, read: “Hit-and-Run Driver Held After Fatally Striking Woman,” written by Jonah Meadows and published by Patch on September 13, 2019.
4. Aurora, Indiana: Pedestrian Struck and Killed on U.S. 50
Yesterday morning, traffic came to a halt on both sides of an Indiana highway after a man was hit and killed by an unknown vehicle as he was walking along U.S. 50 near Sycamore Estates Drive in Aurora.
For more, read: “Update: US 50 Reopens after Fatal Pedestrian Strike,” written by Mike Perleberg and published by on September 23, 2019.
5. Indianapolis, Indiana: Pedestrian Critically Injured in Hit-and-Run Accident on 30th Street
Over the Labor Day weekend, around 9:30 p.m. on Monday evening, police discovered the pedestrian victim of a hit-and-run pedestrian accident on East 30th Street in Indianapolis. He was transported by EMS to a local hospital, alive but in critical condition as police began investigating the identity of the hit-and-run driver.
For more, read: “Pedestrian Critically Injured in east side hit-and-run,” published by Fox59 on September 2, 2019.
The Danger of Serious or Fatal Pedestrian Accidents in Illinois and Indiana
Pedestrian accidents are always instances where a vulnerable human being is struck by a heavy motor vehicle, and the resulting impact, even at low speeds, can be deadly. Today, pedestrians are even more at risk of being hit by drivers who are driving distracted, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or otherwise failing in their duty of care to those walking along the roadway, or using crosswalks.
We have discussed the dangers to pedestrians in our part of the country before, see e.g.:
- The Primary Cause of Fatal Child Pedestrian Accidents is the Vehicle;
- Take a Walk in Indiana and Illinois and Risk Dying in a Pedestrian Accident; and
- Distracted Drivers and Danger of Fatal Pedestrian Accidents in Parking Lots and Garages.
In these tragedies, it is vital that accident victims and their loved ones have a thorough investigation of the incident to determine all the factors that have contributed to the incident. Distractions for the driver must be considered as well as his or her state of intoxication (drugs or alcohol). Additional issues including road hazards like overgrown shrubbery or inadequate lighting can result in liability for those entities responsible for repair and maintenance of roadways, parking lots, etc.
Legal claims can be pursued under the laws of Indiana and Illinois to make all liable parties take responsibility for what has happened.
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Walking in Indiana and Illinois can be dangerous and deadly for pedestrians. Please be careful out there!
