A recent Omaha accident involving a 12-year-old boy hit by a car on 156th Street has prompted many residents to request that the speed limits be lowered on certain streets in the city to prevent pedestrian accidents.
“I think it’s a best idea to reduce the speed limit, not the 45, it has to be 35 or below,” Omaha resident Durga Sankhar said in an interview with 3 News Now Omaha about the recent accident involving the 12-year-old boy.
Such comments are timely since October is National Pedestrian Safety Awareness Month, a critical reminder that even one accident involving a pedestrian is too many. If you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent driver, knowing your legal options is important. The attorneys at Ausman Law Firm P.C., L.L.O., have the experience to handle complex pedestrian accident cases and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free case evaluation, and let us help you through the process.
Speeding is a common cause of pedestrian accidents
The recent Omaha accident involving a 12-year-old boy hit on 156th Street highlights the dangers people face when they’re not in a vehicle, and they’re on the city’s streets. In many cases, these accidents involve pedestrians being hit by speeders.
Moreover, speeding drivers in Omaha aren’t the only ones putting pedestrians at risk. Speeding remains one of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents nationwide. In particular, the faster a driver is going, the more likely a pedestrian will die if they are hit by a car, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reached the same conclusion: “Higher vehicle speeds increase both the likelihood of a pedestrian being struck by a car and the injury severity.” Specifically, 60 percent of pedestrian fatalities occurred on urban roads in 2020 with speed limits of 45 to 55 mph.
What are other common causes of pedestrian accidents?
Along with speeding, there are many other reasons why pedestrian accidents occur, including:
- Distracted drivers, especially motorists who text while driving.
- Reckless drivers, including aggressive drivers who don’t share the road with pedestrians.
- Impaired drivers, especially drunk drivers who hit pedestrians crossing the street.
- Poor vehicle design, especially taller vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks, which cause a large number of pedestrian accidents.
- Poor road design, especially wider roads or streets with poor sightlines for drivers.
Are pedestrian accidents getting worse?
The short answer? Yes. Nearly every single year in the past two decades, more pedestrian deaths have occurred each year compared to the previous year. The single worst year for pedestrian deaths in recent years was 2022, when there were 7,522 pedestrian fatalities, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). That’s the most pedestrian deaths in a single year nationwide since 1981.
As for Nebraska, pedestrian accidents have also been getting worse in recent years. In 2022, there were 23 pedestrian fatalities in Nebraska, the second-highest pedestrian death toll in the past decade, according to the most recent NHTSA accident data.
Holding negligent drivers accountable
Omaha pedestrian accident claims often turn into complicated legal cases. That’s because there can be a lot at stake, especially if you or a loved one sustained a serious injury as a result of being hit by a car.
Our Omaha pedestrian accident attorneys at Ausman Law Firm P.C., L.L.O. understand the challenges injured pedestrians face and are here to help you every step of the way. We know how to obtain sizable financial settlements and verdicts for our clients. Our victories speak for themselves, including $1.985 million obtained for a client injured in a motor vehicle accident.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We offer legal representation to injury victims on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.
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