Pedestrian Fatalities Rise as Bigger Vehicles Pose New Dangers on Roads
Pedestrian accident fatalities remain on the rise in recent years in Florida and nationwide. One of the big reasons why is that larger vehicles are increasingly putting people at risk while crossing the street or walking alongside a road.
"We have a crisis of roadway deaths, and it's even worse among vulnerable road users like pedestrians," Sophie Shulman, deputy administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), said in a statement published by National Public Radio (NPR).
This is why the NHTSA wants to create new vehicle design rules targeting large, tall vehicles often involved in pedestrian accidents. "This proposed rule will ensure that vehicles will be designed to protect those inside and outside from serious injury or death," Shulman said.
Big vehicles put pedestrians at greater risk
Pedestrian accident statistics consistently show that larger passenger vehicles cause more pedestrian fatalities. In particular, according to the NHTSA, multipurpose passenger vehicles (trucks, SUVs, crossovers, and vans) cause many more pedestrian deaths than smaller passenger vehicles.
The federal agency's most recent accident data from 2022 reflects this trend. That year, 88 percent of all pedestrian deaths occurred as a result of people being hit by a single vehicle. According to the NHTSA, multipurpose passenger vehicles caused 49 percent of all pedestrian fatalities in 2022. In contrast, in the same year, small passenger vehicles caused 37 percent of pedestrian deaths.
Why are larger vehicles more dangerous?
There are several reasons why pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs often cause more pedestrian accidents that result in a greater number of fatalities. Part of it has to do with their extra weight compared to smaller passenger cars.
Another key factor is the height of a vehicle's hood. One study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that vehicles with a hood height over 40 inches were 45 percent more likely to cause a fatal pedestrian accident than vehicles with a hood height under 30 inches.
"The vehicle is striking the pedestrian much higher in the torso region and tends to push the pedestrian forward and down," David Harkey, president of the IIHS, said in an interview with NPR. "So the result is, is you have a lot more severe injuries, and more often than not a lot more head injuries. "
Another key factor is the shape of the vehicle's hood. According to the IIHS study, larger vehicles like pickup trucks and SUVs with a more blunt hood design were 26 percent more likely to cause a pedestrian fatality than similar-sized vehicles with a sloped front hood.
NHTSA proposes rules to protect pedestrians
The proposed NHTSA regulations consider pedestrians when testing vehicles to determine whether they pose a greater risk. Specifically, vehicle manufacturers could be required to create pickup trucks and SUVs that are less likely to cause pedestrian fatalities.
According to the NHTSA, its proposed safety standards would reduce the number of pedestrian fatalities nationwide by 67 deaths. Such numbers might sound impressive until you put them in perspective. In 2023, there were 7,318 pedestrian deaths nationwide, according to NHTSA data.
As for Florida, pedestrian fatalities have long been a major problem. In 2023, there were 794 pedestrian deaths, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). While there were fewer pedestrian fatalities in Florida last year compared to 2021 (when there were 835 pedestrian deaths), last year's pedestrian death toll was the second highest in at least a decade.
Seeking legal help after a pedestrian accident
Claims involving pedestrian accidents in Florida might seem like straightforward legal cases. A driver hit you and caused your injuries. They should be held responsible for your medical bills and other accident-related expenses, which can add up fast if you were hit by a car in a crosswalk or while walking alongside a street.
However, that's not what happens in too many cases. Instead, the at-fault driver's insurance company (which should pay for your accident) often does everything possible to avoid paying you the money you deserve. They'll question the severity of your injuries, offer you a lowball settlement, or claim that you contributed to the accident.
That's why you need an experienced Florida pedestrian accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Brent Miller, P.A., to protect your rights and handle the process of recovering the compensation you deserve. We know how to deal with insurance adjusters who want to pay crash victims less, and we know how to build rock-solid cases based on facts.
If you or someone you love was hit by a car and injured in a pedestrian accident, contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We offer legal representation to injured pedestrians on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay nothing unless we make a financial recovery on your behalf. Talk to a lawyer at one of our four offices conveniently located in Central Florida, including Tavares, Inverness, Clermont, and The Villages.
"My experience working with the Law Offices of Brent C. Miller, P.A. was wonderful. The staff was extremely helpful and always responded to my questions, no matter how many times I asked them." – Colby W.