Man Killed in Sacramento Pedestrian Accident
An investigation is ongoing following the death of a pedestrian sometime during the evening of March 4. I would like to extend my sympathy to the grieving family and friends of the deceased man.
Details of the Accident
The accident happened near the intersection of North 16th Street at Ahern, close to A Street, and caused the death of a male pedestrian after he was struck by a vehicle. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene of the crash. Although the man was still alive at the time emergency rescue personnel arrived, he passed away shortly afterward.
Cause of the Crash
Neither alcohol nor drugs were suspected as a cause of the incident. Although the area where the accident occurred is considered brightly lit, even during the evening hours, there is an encampment of homeless people nearby, and it has been speculated that the man who died might have been a homeless person. Police reports will be released after the investigation is finished.
Pedestrian Accidents
Roughly, 6,000 pedestrians were killed in 2017 nationwide, according to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association. This is an 11 percent jump over 2016 and exceeds the number of pedestrian deaths reported for the past 20 years. Overall, most pedestrian accidents happen in cities (70 percent). The lowest number of deaths occur from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The greatest occur from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. The age of pedestrians killed in accidents are:
- Average age: 46
- Children: 21 percent of fatal roadway accidents involve children 14 or under who are walking.
- Individuals over 65: This group accounts for approximately 19 percent of pedestrian fatalities.
Sacramento Pedestrian Accident Statistics
The California Office of Traffic Safety reports that in 2015, 228 individuals were either killed or injured in pedestrian accidents. This places Sacramento in the seventh spot among 15 California cities of comparable size. Twenty-seven pedestrians 15 years old or younger were injured or killed during the same time period, and 30 people over 65 were also hurt or killed while walking, putting Sacramento in sixth and fourth place respectively.
Intersection Accidents
Approximately, 40 percent of pedestrian deaths occur at an intersection. Alternately, 60 percent of pedestrian deaths occur at non-intersections. Pedestrian injuries are just the opposite with the majority of walker injuries occurring at intersections. The number of injuries and deaths is dependent on whether a crosswalk is present, the type of crosswalk, and whether pedestrians used them properly. Twenty percent of accidents at an intersection involving a driver turning left. This is often due to the driver’s failure to carefully check for pedestrians entering the crosswalk. The most dangerous type of intersection is the “T” intersection where a cross street intersects the main roadway.
Driver Behavior
The type of left-turn signal affects drivers making a left turn at an intersection. There are usually two types of turns. The first is one where the driver can make a left-hand turn without interference by vehicular traffic. This is most often seen when a specific left-hand turn lane is used. The second occurs when the driver must lookout for other vehicles who have the right of way when making the turn. It becomes apparent that the driver has the least problem when using the first scenario. Accident data suggests that the more a driver has to be aware of while making a left turn, the higher the number of pedestrian accidents at signalized intersections.
Other Causes of Pedestrian Deaths
One of the main reasons a pedestrian dies is due to the speed of the motor vehicle. The higher the speed, the greater the impact, and the risk of death. For instance, a motor vehicle traveling at 40 miles per hour has a 50-percent risk of killing a pedestrian, while one traveling at 25 miles per hour has only a 10-percent risk of causing a pedestrian death. Distracted behavior by both pedestrians and drivers accounts for many pedestrian accidents.
Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a pedestrian accident attorney in Sacramento. Pedestrians have a higher risk of injury and death than other travelers on the roadway due to their lack of protection from impact. If you have been harmed by a negligent driver or lost a loved one, you know the daunting challenges you must meet. Having an experienced injury attorney at your side is essential to recover financial damages. Call me at (916) 921-6400 for friendly advice that is free of charge. If you are outside the area, I can be reached at (800) 404-5400, or use my contact page online.
After a car or pedestrian accident or wrongful death, there are many financial issues you must face. I’ve helped many Sacramento residents and others in Northern California do just that over my last 36 years as an attorney. I’ve settled many cases and won trial verdicts in excess of $1 million dollars too. Because of this, I was inducted into the Million Dollar Advocates.
You can see how I resolved some cases on my verdicts and settlements page.
Check out reviews by former clients on Avvo, Yelp, and Google.
AutoAccident.com is the website I established to help clients learn about personal injuries and Northern California car accidents.
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