The United States faces a growing and troubling problem when it comes to injuries and deaths from pedestrian accidents, and this trend is especially true in Washington state.
In the Evergreen State, pedestrian crashes occur most frequently in urban areas where pedestrian activity and traffic volumes are high. Rural areas can have their own set of complications for pedestrians as well. In those less-populated areas, there are often no sidewalks, shoulders, or paths that serve as a guide for pedestrians to use, which significantly increases the odds of a collision.
Weekends are understandably associated with a higher frequency of collisions involving a pedestrian — almost half of all reported pedestrian collisions occur on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. There also appear to be seasonal trends when it comes to the frequency of these types of accidents. September through January have the highest numbers of nationwide pedestrian fatalities due to fewer daylight hours, as well as weather conditions.
Pedestrian Accident Factors In Washington State
Interestingly enough, child pedestrian collisions are most common in May, June, and July, which many traffic safety experts claim is due primarily to summer vacation and the increase in children participating in outdoor activities. Below is a list of pedestrian statistics for Washington State to help you be aware of why collisions take place and what to look out for when walking down the street.
- Each year in Washington State, pedestrian fatalities account for 12 to 14 percent of all fatal motor vehicle accidents.
- In 2021, 142 of 2,211 pedestrian accidents in Washington State were fatal. There were 1,950 that involved a suspected injury, and of those, 425 were serious injuries.
- In Washington State, 60 percent of collisions are located on city streets, where people are expected to travel on foot.
- In Washington State, most fatal accidents occur in December and January.
- According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, more than 30 percent of fatal collisions are on state roads that are typically considered regional or trans-regional facilities dedicated principally to vehicular traffic and designed accordingly.
- Highway 99 (Aurora Avenue North) was the site of 43 percent of the pedestrian accidents in King County and 16 percent for Washington State as a whole during a five-year period.
- From 2008 to 2012, 90 pedestrians were killed and an additional 582 pedestrians were seriously injured in King County. Pedestrian fatalities accounted for 21 percent of all traffic fatalities in the county.
- Pedestrian deaths had been declining steeply since 1975 but in 2021 accounted for nearly a quarter of fatal accidents in Washington.
More Pedestrian Accident Statistics
We have analyzed a collection of pedestrian-motor vehicle collision data from the Washington State Department of Safety, Centers of Disease Control and Prevention motor vehicle safety, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Here is a compiled list of useful pedestrian accident statistics pertaining to collisions throughout the United States:
- Pedestrians aged 65 and older accounted for 19 percent of all pedestrian deaths.
- Nearly 1-in-5 children (14 years old and younger) who were killed in traffic-related crashes, was a pedestrian.
- Alcohol impairment (for the pedestrian or the driver) is involved in 49 percent of fatal pedestrian collisions.
- Most pedestrian deaths occur at night, in urban areas, or non-intersection locations.
- On average, a pedestrian was killed every 2 hours and injured every 8 minutes in traffic crashes in the United States.
- Pedestrian deaths accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes.
- Twenty-six percent of pedestrian fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes occurred from 6-9 p.m.
- One-in-5 of the pedestrians killed are struck in crashes that involved hit-and-run drivers.
Consulting With An Attorney After A Pedestrian Accident
Knowledge is power and those who have a better understanding of what impacts the odds of being involved in a pedestrian accident are therefore better prepared to protect themselves from serious injury as a result.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident and are unsure of your legal options, it may be beneficial to consult with an experienced Seattle pedestrian accident attorney about your case. Davis Law Group, P.S., works on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no obligation for simply discussing your case with our legal team. Let us help you get your life back on track and recover the fair level of compensation that you deserve. Call our office today at (206) 727-4000 or contact us online with the form on this page.