Candidly, every individual in Rutherford County and elsewhere across Middle Tennessee interacting with or in close proximity to traffic faces some challenges and risks. Vehicles spin out of control. Careless drivers run red lights, excessively weave between lanes and fail to lawfully yield. Aggressive or indifferent motorists speed, tailgate, talk on their phones and engage in additionally distracting behind-the-wheel behaviors.
Moreover, vehicles – both passenger cars and commercial conveyances – aren’t always adequately serviced and maintained. Road design and engineering is sometimes flawed. An accurately comprehensive list of traffic-tied injury catalysts might reasonably feature pages of bulleted entries.
Whatever the source, though a crash cause can yield devastating – and, sadly, sometimes fatal – consequences, and spanning a broad demographic. Accident victims range widely from occupants in passenger vehicles and motorcyclists to bicyclists and other individuals.
Pedestrians: the most vulnerable motor vehicle accident group of all
It likely surprises no reader that pedestrians comprise the most endangered group of all in any analysis of motor vehicle accidents. One Tennessee legal source prominently notes walkers’ vulnerability, stating additionally that being a pedestrian accident victim “is undoubtedly one of the most traumatic events a person can go through.”
The collision injuries suffered by a pedestrian are often multiple and severe. Adverse outcomes often feature results like these:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck, shoulder and back injuries
- Spinal cord complications
- Internal bleeding
- Lacerations and contusions
- Broken bones and complicated fractures
The magnitude of pedestrian injuries nationally and in Tennessee
Relevant empirical evidence highlights the sheer scope of pedestrian injuries in the United States and reveals truly troubling dimensions. Here is some data confirmation of that:
- 53% spike in walker deaths nationally over a recent 10-year measuring period
- Nearly 6,300 deaths in 2018
- Sharp uptick in pedestrian fatalities as a percentage of all traffic-linked deaths
- Victims from every demographic, with accidents occurring in myriad types of environments and at all times of the day
The advocacy group Governors Highway Safety Association authored a report in 2019 that measured walker fatalities by state over two consecutive measuring timeframes. Researchers concluded this about Tennessee:
- Deaths jumped from 53 to 64 from January – June 2018 to the same period the following year
- That fatality surge marked a 21% jump in life-ending vehicle accidents
Those numbers don’t address non-fatal injuries, which obviously occur at a far higher rate. Pedestrian risks clearly continue to exist and challenge walkers’ safety both in Tennessee and nationally.
An accident victim, as well as surviving loved ones in the wake of a fatal injury, might reasonably want to reach out to a proven personal injury legal team for advice and diligent representation.