Every day each of us who leave our homes become pedestrians at some point, which puts us at risk of being hit by cars, trucks and other moving motor vehicles. Pedestrian deaths due to collisions with motor vehicles are back on the rise in Colorado Springs, and local law enforcement has even tracked the pedestrian accident rate going back to 2012.

In 2012, pedestrian accidents with fatalities spiked at 13 deaths and then it went down the next few years, but has recently shot back up.

“Locally as well as nationally we are seeing an uptick in pedestrian fatalities and injuries,” said Executive Director for Drive Smart Colorado Maile Gray.1

Top 6 Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Most often pedestrians are unaware of the danger confronting them when they are struck by motor vehicles. For their part, drivers are most often distracted or fail to take safety precautions to prevent hitting pedestrians.

Here are the six most common causes of pedestrian accidents:

  1. Driver fails to check for pedestrians in the crosswalk of intersections before entering them.
  2. Driver fails to stop at traffic lights or stop signs, where there are pedestrians present.
  3. Driver is engage in some form of distracted driving, such as texting or talking on a cellphone.
  4. Driver fails to be aware of their surroundings or pedestrians present before making a turn at an intersection.

A Statistical Look at Pedestrian Accidents and Death in Colorado Springs

The following pedestrian accident and death data was collected from local news reports as well as the Colorado Springs Police Department and Drive Smart Colorado.

pedestrian fatalities graph

  • In 2016, there were a total of 72 auto/pedestrian accidents with no repeat locations in Colorado Springs.
  • In 2017, there were a total of 73 auto/pedestrian accidents with two repeat locations in Colorado Springs.
  • In 2017, the intersection of Academy and Carefree had three incidences of pedestrian accidents.
  • In 2017, the intersection of Nevada and Pikes Peak had two incidences of pedestrian accidents.
  • The most recent pedestrian accidents involved a van that hit two people crossing Nevada, who didn’t make it across before the traffic light turned green.
  • In the other most recent pedestrian accident, a woman tried to cross one of Colorado’s busiest thoroughfares, Interstate 25. That woman lost her life taking a big gamble crossing I-25.

How to Avoid Getting Hit as a Pedestrian

The following are suggestion by other pedestrians as well as Drive Smart Colorado:

  1. Put down distractions like smart phones, and be aware and focused on your surroundings.
  2. When you are unsure if a motorist sees you or not, take a defensive approach and yield the right-of-way to them just to ensure your safety.
  3. Follow the traffic laws and wait at cross walks, until you get a white walker.
  4. Stay on sidewalks and avoid streets that don’t have them. If you have to traverse a street without a sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
  5. Cross at intersections, because most people are hit crossing streets at places other than intersections.
  6. Make sure drivers see you, and make sure to make eye contact and stay out of their blind spots.
  7. Never let small children cross streets by themselves and teach them about road safety, like look both ways before crossing.
  8. Elderly people account for 23 percent of all pedestrian fatalities, which is more than double any other age group.
  9. Nearly one-third of all pedestrians who are killed in traffic-related accidents are intoxicated.

Contact a Colorado Springs Personal Injury Lawyer at Wills Law, P.C.

Did you make the mistake of inadvertently hitting a pedestrian? If so, you need an extraordinary defense lawyer to help protect your rights and freedom. You need Colorado Springs Personal Injury Lawyer Wm Andrew “Drew” Wills II.

You can reach Drew at (719) 373-1777 or email him firm using the form on this page to schedule a consultation and get information about your legal options.

With more than 35 years’ experience in personal injury law, Drew has an extensive background defending clients and helping them get the best outcomes possible.

Drew’s office is in Colorado Springs, but he also accepts clients throughout the entire state of Colorado.

_______________________________________________________________________

1“Recent rise in pedestrian accidents” published in KOAA News 5, June 2017.