A new study on pedestrian deaths is going around, and it contains some disturbing news for residents of the land of enchantment. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), New Mexico has the highest pedestrian fatalities per populations of 100,000 people.
To conduct the study, the GHSA looked at data from the first 6 months of 2018. They pulled this information from State Highway Safety Offices in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, then created projections built around anticipated underreporting and longstanding trends of pedestrian deaths in the first and second halves of the year. While the overall number for New Mexico is fairly low, it is high in relation to the state’s larger population.
The GHSA also found that pedestrian deaths are up across the map, estimating there were a total of 6,227 pedestrian deaths in 2018 in total. This is a significant rise from a decade ago, when pedestrian fatalities totaled 4,109 in 2009, as well as an overall increase 4% from the previous year, when pedestrian deaths hit 5,977 in 2017. Over the last decade, pedestrian deaths have risen a staggering 35% in total, with 2018 reaching the highest year for pedestrian deaths in 28 years, since 1990.
There is a lot of speculation as to why the rate of pedestrian deaths has risen so suddenly, with experts blaming various factors. For one, the last decade-plus has marked a significant upswing in the popularity of SUVs, which are larger and have more power to inflict significant damage to a person. Another reason is that general distracted driving has risen, with many blaming technology as the chief reason people are not paying proper attention behind the wheel. Another factor still may simply be general population growth, and the way modern cities are laid out. As more people flock to urban areas, there are more drivers and commuters in total, presenting more opportunities for pedestrians to get hurt.
Whichever way you want to interpret this news, one thing it clearly demonstrates is a need for skilled personal injury attorneys. At Michael J. Doyle, Attorney at Law, our Albuquerque accident lawyer has the skills and experience necessary to argue for maximum compensation on your behalf. We routinely represent clients injured in severe traffic mishaps, from pedestrian accidents to bicycle accidents.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Hire an attorney to help you fight your case, by dialing (505) 219-2176 or contacting us online. We operate on a contingent fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win.