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Hitting the Streets: The Dangers of Being a Pedestrian in Southern California

In Southern California, crossing the street can be risky business. Levels of traffic on busy streets and in urban areas are high. Drivers can get jumpy or impatient and make rash decisions when operating their vehicles. For pedestrians, this is not good news; it puts them in danger. Distracted and oblivious drivers collide with pedestrians on a daily basis.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), "a pedestrian is killed in a traffic crash every 120 minutes and injured in a traffic crash every 8 minutes." This statistic shows what kind of tragedy really happens to pedestrians. To go even further, it is calculated that over 4,000 people were killed in pedestrian accidents in 2008. And these only speak of fatalities. Many people survive collisions with cars and are brutally injured and left damaged and sometimes paralyzed. In fact, it was reported that in 2008, 69,000 were injured in these crashes.

Of course, the higher rates of pedestrian accidents occur in areas of greater population because of the mass volume of cars on the road. Living in busy Southern California puts pedestrians at an immense risk of getting in an accident with a car. In 2008 alone, 72% of all pedestrian deaths occurred in urban settings.

It is important to stay aware when crossing the street, even if it is in your own neighborhood. Always look both ways a few times before you cross. Also, keep an eye on your children when playing in the front yard or at a park. Statistically, younger children and the elderly are most likely to be struck by vehicles when crossing roads. Children account for the biggest group of pedestrian fatalities, and the elderly are 15% of that category.

If the injuries you or a loved one sustained were caused by a Southern California car accident, you may be entitled to compensation. For a free case evaluation, contact an experienced Santa Monica accident attorney at Steinberg & Spencer Injury Lawyers today at 1-800-989-6385.

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