Stanislaus County Pedestrian Deaths on Par with National Average

Pedestrian deaths are one of the most brutal types of car accidents imaginable. No one wants to be in any type of accident, but pedestrians are no match for heavy vehicles. Unfortunately, these accidents happen hundreds of times a day in the United States. Stanislaus County is on par with the national average, which can be viewed as better than some cities, but we want to do more. 

Increases After Long Stability

From 1990 to 2018, pedestrian deaths had been relatively consistent, but in 2018 an increase in Modesto reached its peak since then. While it is wonderful that deaths had remained low during that time, the current trend upward is not good. Many factors will impact the number of pedestrian accidents, such as distraction and road conditions. While these factors are not new, increased pedestrians and traffic also contribute. 

In 2015, Modesto saw a significant increase, though not as high in 2018. This increase prompted the Modesto police department to begin a campaign to educate drivers and pedestrians about these accidents. This helped until 2018, when the largest number was recorded. 

An Ounce of Prevention

Preventing accidents is much easier than surviving if you are the pedestrian. You cannot control someone else, but as a driver or pedestrian, you can control your actions and watch for someone else. As a pedestrian, avoid walking while looking at your phone, reading a book, or looking elsewhere. Not only is it vital that you watch for drivers, but other hazards can also cause serious injury. As a driver, you will want to watch the road and sidewalks for pedestrians. Turning corners or driving around curves can be a hazard. Pedestrians do not always see cars coming if the corner or curve is blind. Be aware of your surroundings and put your phone away, do not eat, and do not pay more attention to your passengers than the road. Driving can be a social event, but you cannot place more importance on the social than the safety of yourself and others. 

How to Recover

If you or someone you love is involved in a pedestrian accident, it can be nearly impossible to recover. If your loved one has died in one of these accidents, you will never recover the life you had before. That person will always be missing from your life. However, you should not be responsible for the financial burden placed on you by someone else. You should contact a legal representative such as Nadrich and Cohen .