Hawaii is a wonderful place to experience on foot. Whether you’re enjoying the Honolulu nightlife, hiking on trails, or parking roadside to get to the beach, there are countless wonderful experiences that pedestrians can enjoy on Oahu.
But unfortunately, pedestrians on highways, city streets, parking lots and any place frequented by vehicles are facing a growing national crisis. In 2019, the Governors Highway Safety Association reported near 6,600 pedestrian deaths nationwide, the highest the figure has been in 30 years. Closer to home, approximately 25 pedestrians die each year in Hawaii after being struck by a passing vehicle.
If you or a loved one was injured by a car while walking, contact Recovery Law Center today. Our pedestrian accident lawyer in Honolulu Glenn Honda can help you pursue compensation to assist with your medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Getting maximum compensation means acting swiftly to prevent valuable evidence from being lost. Recovery Law Center can get to work right away. Call or contact us now for a free consultation.
Pedestrian Accidents: Why an Epidemic?
In a recent book by author Angie Schmitt, pedestrians are considered by the motoring public to be something of a nuisance. She explains that there are several root causes of this public health crisis in “Right of Way: Race, Class, and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America.” It’s designed to inform government decision makers and the public about how prevalent this problem has become.
The Big Three: Speeding, Short Lights, and SUVs
According to Schmitt, the combination of speeding, short lights, and SUVs are a triple threat to pedestrian safety. Consider these statistics:
- Less than 5 percent of pedestrians die when struck by a vehicle traveling less than 20 miles per hour. But for those struck by vehicles traveling 40 miles per hour or more, the risk of death rises to 65 percent. At 60 miles per hour, the force of the blow is like falling off a twelve-story building.
- Traffic engineers generally program lights to provide enough time for people to cross at a pace of 3.5 feet per second. This is too fast for many older people and leaves them stranded in oncoming traffic. Suburban roads are the deadliest.
- Multiple studies have demonstrated that SUVs are much more likely than cars to kill pedestrians when collisions occur, according to Schmitt. They are growing in sales volume and are deadlier to pedestrians than sedans because they are more likely to strike a pedestrian in the torso, where vital organs are located.
What to Do If in a Pedestrian Accident
If you’ve been hit by a motor vehicle, there are several things you can do to protect a future injury claim:
- Call 911 if you’re able.
- Get a police report.
- Gather contact information from the driver(s) involved in the accident.
- Document the scene by taking photos of the collision site, your injuries, and any road debris or weather conditions that could have contributed to the collision.
- Call a Honolulu pedestrian accident lawyer.
Contact a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Honolulu Today
As the founding attorney of the Recovery Law Center, Glenn Honda is passionate about helping you with your physical, emotional and financial recovery. Whether you are expected to heal completely from your injuries or are facing a lifelong disability after being hit by a car, you can count on Recovery Law Center to fight for a full and fair outcome for you in your pedestrian accident case.
You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain by scheduling a free consultation. Call or contact us now to get started.
