Is Kentucky A Dangerous State For Pedestrians?

Have you been injured? Call or text Hessig & Pohl at 502-777-1111

When there is a car accident involving a pedestrian, many assume that the car driver is the one responsible. That is not always the case. There are instances when the pedestrian may be responsible for the collision and may be deemed to be partially at fault or totally responsible for the accident. Across the nation from 2008 and 2017, drivers hit and killed 49,340 people, or more than 13 people per day.

In 2017, in Kentucky, there were 782 traffic deaths and 83 pedestrian fatalities. In 2019 there were 610 pedestrian deaths, making Kentucky one of the top 20 (in 20th place) most dangerous places to walk. From 2008 to 2017 pedestrian fatalities shot up by 35 percent nationwide. On average, a pedestrian died in a crash in the United States every 88 minutes.

In Kentucky, drivers and pedestrians are obligated and have a duty to act reasonably. If, for some reason, a driver or pedestrian breaches their duty of care, they may be held liable for causing an accident and that applies even if the negligent individual was the only one hurt. Put another way, even pedestrians may be held liable for accidents involving a motor vehicle.

There are a number of ways that a pedestrian may cause an accident, and those may include:

  • Crossing when drivers have an obstructed view
  • Jaywalking
  • Impaired walking
  • Wearing dark clothes at night
  • Distracted walking
  • Darting out into the road
  • Pedestrians trying to intentionally distract a driver
  • Pedestrians throwing objects onto the road
  • Walking on interstates or other restricted areas

According to data analyzed by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) from 2008 to 2017, 75 percent of pedestrian accidents happened at night, 32 percent of pedestrians and 17 percent of drivers had blood alcohol contents over 0.08, and 72 percent of pedestrian deaths did not happen at intersections.

If you or someone you love has been involved in an accident as a pedestrian, our attorneys at Hessig & Pohl can help. Hessig & Pohl will help determine fault in your accident and gather evidence to prove another party’s fault if that is the case. It is important to remember that Kentucky has a choice no-fault insurance system and that means the question of fault typically does not matter when seeking compensation. It is not always easy to determine who was at fault in a pedestrian accident. Talk to an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer at Hessig & Pohl right away. Call or text us today at 502-777-1111.

by HP Migration | Oct 2, 2020 | 

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