The Common Causes of Arizona Pedestrian Accidents

When drivers do not obey Arizona traffic laws, signs or signals, serious and often fatal pedestrian accidents can occur.  There are several ways in which driver negligence or distracted driving lead can lead to a serious accident.  

The following list of common causes of pedestrian accidents is presented to you as talking points that you may share with your teen driver.  Discussing these common accident causes with your teen driver may help reduce their risk of a collision with a pedestrian. 

1. Electronics. In many pedestrian accidents, electronics such as cell phones, tablets, climate control, GPS, or the car’s radio cause the driver to take their eyes off of the road.  

2. Driving while distracted.  Distracted driving is becoming a substantial cause of pedestrian accidents. According to accident reports, drivers have admitted to eating, reading, drinking, fiddling with their radio or GPS device, applying makeup and or grooming when behind the wheel. These types of distracted driving puts pedestrians at risk of serious and sometimes fatal accidents.

3. Speeding. Speeding violates local traffic laws and is also considered a form of reckless driving.  Pedestrians who are struck by speeding vehicles often sustain life-threatening injuries or even die due to the impact of the crash.

4. Driving while impaired. When a driver is intoxicated – either by drugs or alcohol – his or her reaction time, judgment, and reasoning are greatly impaired, which can lead to serious accidents.

5. Failing to yield or stop.  Drivers who fail to stop at a stop sign or intersection or who do not yield to pedestrians who have the right of way are a common cause of catastrophic pedestrian accidents.

6. Inclement weather. Poor weather conditions such as rain, snow, ice or sleet can lead to slick road conditions making it more difficult for drivers to stop in time to avoid striking a pedestrian.

7. Left-hand turns. Sometimes a driver intending to turn left is focusing more on navigating the intersection instead of on the pedestrian who has the right of way while crossing the street.  This can lead to serious pedestrian accidents.

8. Backing-up accidents. Pedestrians are commonly struck when behind a car that is pulling out of a driveway or parking lot.

Pedestrian deaths continue to rise in the United States even while traffic-related deaths of vehicle occupants are dropping. A big part of the reason is likely the vehicles themselves. The National Highway Traffic Safety Commission indicates that the lower number of automobile collisions across the country likely has to do with technology in newer cars that alerts drivers when they are getting too close to another vehicle or when a vehicle is in their blind spot. Vehicles are becoming safer for the people traveling in them, but at the same time, the larger vehicles many Americans prefer are presenting more serious risks to pedestrians. The result is that pedestrian deaths are becoming a larger portion of overall vehicle-related deaths. 

At Torgenson Law, our pedestrian accident attorneys have years of experience representing personal injury victims. If you or a loved one are victims of a pedestrian accident and sustain injuries, call Torgenson Law at (602) 726-0747 for your free case review.