Distracted Driving is to Blame for Rising Boynton Beach Pedestrian Deaths 

It is getting more dangerous to walk near traffic than to drive in it. More and more pedestrians are getting hit by drivers who are distracted, according to national figures compiled by the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA). For some, these collisions turn out to be fatal. In fact, it has been reported that distracted driving is to blame for rising Boynton Beach pedestrian deaths.

The death of pedestrians is not only upsetting, it is completely preventable. However, if you have sustained a serious injury due to a negligent driver or you have lost a loved one due to the actions of a negligent driver, contact an experienced pedestrian accident attorney. Your lawyer can fight tirelessly in the pursuit of the damages that you deserve.

Distractions When Driving

Much of the blame for the rise in Boynton Beach pedestrian deaths is placed on the upsurge in electronic devices that can send and receive instant messages, access the attraction of a wealth of social media outlets, and the on-demand information gathering prowess of the internet.

Those are not the only distractions. Fiddling with automobile radios and navigation systems as well as socializing with passengers or spilling a soda while behind the wheel are also at play. The Centers for Disease Control defines distraction as removing hands from the wheel, looking away from the road, and thinking about anything else besides driving.

Distracted Driving Statistics

The NHTSA reports that some 660,000 motorists are on their cell phones while at the wheel, increasing the potential for deaths and injuries. Texting is getting a lot of the blame, and nearly every state in the country has new laws specifically forbidding texting while driving.

It is not surprising that the majority of texting distracted drivers are younger than age 30. They have grown up with a device in their hands. The largest age group texting are ages 20 to 24, followed by drivers 25 to 29, and teens 15 to 19, reports the NHTSA.

Pedestrians are not immune. The number of pedestrians killed totaled 7,508 in 2022 according to a 2023 report prepared for The Governors Highway Safety Association. Overall, more pedestrians are dying faster than any other form of fatality, increasing 77 percent between 2010 and 2021, the Governor’s report noted. Meanwhile, other traffic deaths rose by 25% over the same time period. This shows that although distracted driving is to blame for rising Boynton Beach pedestrian deaths, it is vital that pedestrians stay vigilant and focused when they are walking.

Achieving Compensation Due to Distracted Driving

While distracted driving is to blame for rising Boynton Beach pedestrian deaths, it is also important to hold drivers whose negligence has contributed to these deaths, accountable. Pedestrians who have been hurt, or the families of those killed, can get the legal help they need to sue for damages. In serious injury and death cases, the law in many states allows the device records to be used as evidence to prove the motorist was otherwise occupied when the injury or death occurred. If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, or you have a family member that has been injured or died as the result of a pedestrian accident, consult the pedestrian accident lawyers at Kogan & DiSalvo today.