Traffic accidents involving pedestrians are some of the most deadly in Maryland. People traveling on foot have to interact with drivers of motor vehicles all the time, particularly in urban areas such as Baltimore and Washington. But, while car passengers have seatbelts and other safety protections, pedestrians are fully exposed in the event of a collision. As a result, a pedestrian who is hit by a car often suffers serious injury or death. In fact, in 2013 pedestrian accidents accounted for only 3 percent of the 90,000 total motor vehicle crashes in the state, but pedestrians made up close to 25 percent of the fatalities. Thus, one of every four people killed in motor vehicle accidents in Maryland was a pedestrian.
Between 2009 and 2013 there were about 3,000 accidents involving a pedestrian and a motor vehicle each year in Maryland. Of these, 86 percent resulted in injury or death. Not surprisingly, pedestrians are more at risk in high-density urban areas: about 90 percent of the pedestrian-motor vehicle accidents between 2009 and 2013 took place in the metropolitan areas of Baltimore and Washington.
Both overall pedestrian accidents and fatal pedestrian accidents occur most often on Fridays; Saturdays are also a dangerous day for pedestrians. Almost half of pedestrian accidents occur between 3 and 10 p.m.; fatal pedestrian crashes occur most frequently between 6 and 11 p.m.
When a pedestrian is injured or killed by a driver's negligence, the victim or surviving family members can seek compensation for their losses in a civil lawsuit for personal injury or wrongful death. Victims and families may wish to consult an experienced Maryland personal injury law firm to learn more about their options.
