Monday night a pedestrian was struck and seriously injured by a vehicle near the intersection of 11st and University Avenue in Des Moines. The investigation is ongoing with officers looking into whether the driver of the vehicle was impaired or distracted at the time of the accident. The news follows reports that a pedestrian struck by a dump truck in a downtown crosswalk last month has succumbed to his injuries with further charges in in the wrongful death accident pending.
Unfortunately the number of pedestrian accidents across the country are increasing, with pedestrian deaths hitting a 28 year high. Over six thousand pedestrians were killed in 2018, representing an increase in pedestrian deaths of 41 percent since 2008. Pedestrian deaths now account for a whopping 16 percent of all traffic fatalities, an alarming number that has many worried about the safety of their families – particularly youth – in an age of inattentive driving.
Indeed, many point a finger at drivers distracted on smartphones, not focused on the road as contributing to the rise in pedestrian injuries and fatalities. Anyone who drives can attest to seeing someone on their phone in a neighboring car, leaving many wondering how pedestrians stand a chance when motorists do not have their attention where it needs to be. Add distraction to the fact that many people are not only driving more miles, but driving larger cars which translates into more frequent and severe injuries. Between 2013 and 2017, pedestrian fatalities involving SUVs jumped by 50 percent according to some estimates, with some involving a distracted driver, or even an impaired driver, at the wheel.
Pedestrian Accidents Result in Serious Injuries
Contact an Experienced Des Moines Pedestrian Accident Lawyer for Help
Raising awareness on the danger that distracted driving presents to pedestrians particularly is key to reducing the number of incidents. If you or a family member has been injured in an Iowa pedestrian accident, contact the Des Moines pedestrian accident attorneys of Stoltze & Stoltze PLC for a free consultation at 515-244-1473. You may be entitled to compensation for your past and future medical bills, pain and suffering and punitive damages if you are injured by a negligent driver.
