New Hampshire May Be the Safest State for Pedestrians
New Hampshire has recently gained national attention for being the safest state for pedestrians. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), there were approximately 6,227 pedestrian fatalities across the United States in 2018.
Between January and June of that year, New Hampshire saw only one pedestrian fatality. On average, New Hampshire’s pedestrian death rate is 0.07 per 100,000 people.
The Granite State has seen a significant decline in pedestrian deaths over the last two years. During the same period in 2016, the state had a death rate of 1.42 per 100,000 people. In 2017, the death rate dropped to 0.37 per 100,000 people.
The GHSA data was garnered through state reports and adjusted based on historical trends to determine pedestrian fatality rates for the entire year.
Things to consider
One fatality, compared to 432 in California, may be good news for those who reside in and visit New Hampshire but that one recorded death during the first half of 2018 doesn’t account for the number of pedestrian accidents that result in serious injuries or the potential for a greater number of fatalities.
Many cities throughout New Hampshire have been touted as “walkable.” Dover, for example, has many amenities and a walkable center district. For pedestrians, getting from point A to point B may be difficult, however. According to Walk Score, most errands in the city require a car.
In addition, roadway infrastructure doesn’t always accommodate pedestrian safety. Outside of the “walkable” districts, many roads lack sidewalks, shoulders, and crosswalks. Drivers also tend to drive faster on rural roads – putting pedestrians at a greater risk of sustaining fatal injuries.
In urban areas, intersections pose a serious risk to pedestrians – especially when drivers fail to yield the right-of-way or make turns while crosswalks are in use. Moreover, speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving often result in pedestrian accidents in crowded areas.
You shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s careless behavior
Even when pedestrians survive traffic accidents, they are likely to sustain the following injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Broken bones
- Cuts, bruises, and lacerations
- Paralysis
These injuries can be debilitating enough to leave you out of work for a lengthy period of time. The recovery process may require X-rays, pain and inflammation medication, surgery, and months of physical therapy. Not only can this be overwhelming, it can be costly.
You shouldn’t have to pay out of your own pocket because of someone else’s careless behavior. That’s where the pedestrian accident attorneys at Burns, Bryant, Cox, Rockefeller & Durkin, P.A. come in. Our experienced and compassionate legal team will work tirelessly to help you recover losses accrued from your crash. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
