Everyone has their own preferred method of transportation, but we are all pedestrians at some point throughout our lifetime. Unfortunately, pedestrians were one of the groups that saw an increase in traffic fatalities in 2018. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were over 6,000 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in 2018. This is the highest number of pedestrian deaths that have been recorded since 1990, prompting much concern about the safety of our nation’s pedestrians. In many cases, pedestrian accidents are caused by negligent drivers. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries from a pedestrian traffic accident, an Illinois personal injury attorney can help you take the legal necessary steps to recover compensation.

Recovering Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Many campaigns for pedestrian safety start with educating pedestrians on the steps they can take to be proactive and protect themselves. These include paying attention to one's surroundings, wearing reflective or bright clothing at night, and only crossing the street at designated pedestrian crossings. While these things can help prevent an accident, the fault for many accidents involving pedestrians can be traced back to the driver. Many causes of pedestrian accidents include motorists who were driving under the influence, driving while distracted, speeding, or ignoring traffic lights and signs.

At some point throughout the day, every person is a pedestrian. In urban areas, such as Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, walking can play a big role in how we get from place to place. Being a pedestrian can leave you in a rather vulnerable situation, however, because of the innate lack of protection from cars and other vehicles on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were nearly 6,000 pedestrians killed in traffic accidents in 2017. Though many pedestrian accidents are caused by negligent drivers, there are some things you can do to protect yourself while you are a pedestrian in Illinois.

Being a Proactive Pedestrian

At some point during the day, you are likely to be out of your vehicle and walking from one location to another. Although being a pedestrian victim of a car accident can happen to any person at any time, there are actions that can be taken to help avoid an injury. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe near roadways:

• Always try to be predictable. It is important to always act with caution and utilize any safety options that may be provided, such as crosswalks. If there are no crosswalks available, wait until you are at an intersection to cross the street, since this is where drivers expect to see pedestrians.

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When we think about pedestrians getting hurt in car accidents in Lombard and throughout DuPage County, we often think about negligent automobile drivers and others who are not on foot when the crash occurs. However, sometimes pedestrians can be at least partially to blame for a collision involving distracted walking. We consider the risks of distracted driving with much frequency, and laws are even in place in Illinois to prevent motorists from texting while driving. However, similar laws do not exist to ban texting while walking on city streets, and safety advocates suggest that distracted walking can play a significant role in the rates of motor vehicle collisions involving pedestrian injuries and deaths.

In other words, looking down at your cell phone to text or surf the Internet—or even simply listening to music and avoiding the environment around you—while you are on foot can mean the difference between life and death. Consider the following information provided by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) about distracted walking.

Is Distracted Walking Really a Problem?

Residents of DuPage County can be at risk of a pedestrian accident involving a distracted motorist almost anywhere, from a parking lot in Lombard to a crosswalk in downtown Chicago. Does it seem like you are hearing about more and more pedestrian accidents that result in serious and fatal injuries? According to a recent report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), pedestrian deaths have indeed increased recently. Since 2009, the rate of deadly pedestrian accidents has risen by 46 percent, and pedestrian crashes have become both deadlier and more frequent, according to the report.

While fatal pedestrian accidents are on the rise, the IIHS report suggests that there may be some solutions. Furthermore, curbing distracted walking behaviors can help to keep pedestrians focused so that they can avoid dangerous collisions with automobiles.

Increase in Deadly Pedestrian Accidents in Urban and Suburban Areas

Hit-and-run accidents have been a serious problem in DuPage County, Cook County, and throughout the Chicago area for quite some time now. According to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune, the problem may be getting worse.

Indeed, a new study highlights that deadly hit-and-run crashes are at a historical high. For Chicagoland residents, that news is particularly devastating given the recent string of hit-and-run collisions that have injured and killed motorists and pedestrians alike. For example, last summer a police officer and a civilian suffered injuries in a hit-and-run accident, and a pedestrian was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver while attempting to cross the street last month.

What should pedestrians and motorists alike know about the rising rates of hit-and-run crashes?