Pedestrian accidents are a common sight on the roadways of New York City. Data from the Department of Transportation (DOT) shows that every year, at least 100 pedestrians are killed and thousands are injured in accidents involving motor vehicles and pedestrians.
In this article, we have answered the most commonly asked questions regarding pedestrian accidents in NYC.
Snowfall, poor visibility, extremely low temperatures, and shorter days are the common characteristics of winter in New York. These conditions can be dangerous for drivers and play their part in an increasing number of car accidents during the season.
Drivers must exercise caution while driving during winter as accidents related to snow are fairly common. According to the National Safety Council, the winter weather is responsible for roughly 300,000 accident injuries every year, along with more than 1,500 deaths.
Unfortunately, many streets and areas across New York are particularly well-known for their dangers in winter weather. While snow, ice, and hail can make conditions significantly worse for drivers and pedestrians alike, the shorter days and colder temperatures also play a significant part in the accidents that occur during this time.
If you or someone you care about has been critically injured in a winter car accident, there might be grounds for you to raise a claim with the assistance of a New York winter weather car accident lawyer.
New York City is generally considered the most walkable city in the country. No other city in the country boasts of so many walkable urban spaces as NYC does. Data from the US Census shows that over 60% of NYC residents walk or take transit to work, rather than relying on a personal vehicle.
Unfortunately, NYC also happens to be a city where a large number of pedestrian accidents take place every year. In 2018, 114 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents, accounting for 57% of all traffic-related fatalities in the city.
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that the pedestrian fatality rate in NYC is higher than that of any other city in the country. This is one of the reasons why NYC came up with Vision Zero – a policy which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities altogether.
The Vision Zero policy was implemented in NYC back in 2014. While some progress has been made, pedestrians still continue to bear the brunt of traffic accidents in most cases.
New York City is known for its pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. Data from the US Census Bureau shows that nearly 10% of NYC residents walk to work every day. Unfortunately, the city’s heavy pedestrian traffic increases the risk of motor vehicle – pedestrian collisions considerably.
Every year, hundreds of pedestrians are killed, and thousands are injured in motor vehicle crashes in NYC. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that pedestrians account for 48% of all traffic-related fatalities in the city.
Teenage drivers are involved in many car accidents in New York. These accidents may result from lack of experience, following other drivers too closely, failing to yield the right-of-way, failing to pay attention to the road, unsafe driving, and speeding.
Moreover, failure to properly use seatbelts causes serious injury or death for many teenage drivers. This is in spite of the law that mandates proper use of seatbelts while riding in a vehicle with a junior licensed driver.
The rate of teen car accidents is higher than that of any other age group according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drivers between 16 and 19 years of age are at fault more frequently than older drivers with more experience. Teenagers might have less regard for the risk associated with a particular driver behavior or underestimate how long it takes to complete the maneuver.
They are also more likely to drive over speed limits and be distracted by conversations or texts. There is a higher chance that teenage drivers would disregard dangerous road conditions or fail to deal with them properly. The New York State Graduated Driver Licensing Law restricts unsupervised night driving for junior permit holders and junior licensed drivers.
