New York City is a city where lots of people walk. Pedestrian traffic is heavy almost all the time, in large part because walking can actually be an easier way to get around than trying to cope with driving in city traffic. While New York is an extremely walkable city, the fact that you can get a lot of places on foot does not necessarily mean the city is safe for pedestrians, In fact, according to Business Wire, some of the most walkable cities are actually the most dangerous for people who get around on foot.
When and if a pedestrian accident happens, victims need to be aware of their rights to recover compensation for the tremendous damages the accident can cause. A New York personal injury law firm like Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff can help pedestrians who are injured and the family members of pedestrians who are killed in motor vehicle collisions. We work hard to ensure pedestrians know their rights and we help ensure that those individuals who suffer losses because of negligent drivers get just compensation for their damages.
The Most Walkable Cities are the Most Dangerous for Pedestrians
The recent studies noted by Business Wire demonstrate the dangers of pedestrian accidents in walkable cities come from an online survey conducted by the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. The study took place in June of 2016, and it involved more than 2,000 people answering questions online.
Of the survey respondents, 57 percent indicated that they believe New York City is the most walkable city in the United States. However, at the same time as the respondents indicated New York City was walkable, they also indicated it may not be very safe to walk there. There were lots of possible problems which made walking less safe in New York. For example, three quarters of survey respondents said they believed that New York City was the city where they were most likely to see distracted pedestrians.
Like distracted driving, distracted walking can be dangerous. Motorists who aren’t paying attention could bump into buildings, objects, and other people. People who are on smart phones also take longer to go across the street, and may not pay attention the whole way across. Even those who check for cars before they start walking can sometimes end up checking their phone and becoming distracted in the middle of an intersection. Those who do not pay attention while walking could also be more likely to inadvertently get into the path of traffic.
Of course, distracted walkers are not the only people who are at risk- and even pedestrians who do everything right could be in danger of distracted driving accidents or other car/pedestrian collisions in New York City. When a driver engages in high-risk behavior, from speeding to distracted or drunk driving, the driver should be held accountable for causing harm. Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff can provide help in determining if a driver should be held accountable for a pedestrian accident that caused damages to occur.
