Many Minnesota residents enjoy walking as a form of exercise and getting places. Unfortunately, this also leads to pedestrian accidents as drivers fail to see them or engage in unsafe behaviors behind the wheel.
Pedestrian deaths
More than 70,000 pedestrians are hit by motor vehicles annually. Sadly, pedestrian accidents resulting in fatalities have increased in recent years. Nearly 7,400 individuals were killed while walking outside in 2021, a 13% increase from 2020. Out of those pedestrian deaths, car crashes made up 17% of those incidents.
Although approximately 22% of pedestrians struck by vehicles suffer severe injuries, around 9% die, also, while it’s been reported that pedestrian accidents are more likely to result in fatalities when drivers are traveling 40 miles per hour or faster, even speeds as low as 25 miles per hour can kill.
Most pedestrian deaths stemming from motor vehicle crashes affect victims ranging from 20 to 69 years old. Urban areas account for the largest instance of these tragedies.
Common injuries sustained in pedestrian crash accidents
According to the United States Department of Transportation, certain injuries are common after a pedestrian accident involving a motor vehicle. Many victims suffer severe lacerations leaving tissue or organs exposed or losing significant amounts of blood. Broken bones and bodily compression sometimes occur as well.
Chest, abdominal and head injuries are common after a pedestrian accident. Many of those who sustain head or brain injuries are rendered unconscious. In addition, some victims suffer severe spinal cord injuries that leave them paralyzed. Burn injuries are also common when a pedestrian has been struck by a motor vehicle.
You can’t control what drivers do, but staying extra alert while walking outdoors could reduce your risk of a pedestrian accident.