Disabled Pedestrians Remain Uniquely Vulnerable To Car Accidents

Pedestrians With Disabilities Continue to Be Overrepresented in Motor Vehicle Collisions Across New York

Pedestrians with disabilities face unique challenges when navigating roadways across New York. They have a naturally small profile and lack the protection offered by enclosed vehicles. According to one study in BMJ Open, “A recent study found an incidence rate of pedestrian injury among persons using wheelchairs between 2002 and 2010 of 31.3/100 000 person-years (py), with men having a 3.5-fold increased risk over women. Earlier research found broadly similar results, and the gender disparity has been identified consistently in prior research.” Drivers are supposed to be particularly cautious around elderly and disabled pedestrians, but far too often this does not happen.

Why Disabled Pedestrians Are More Vulnerable

Disabled pedestrians are at a greater risk of being seriously injured in a collision. There are numerous reasons why this may be the case.

• Speed: Pedestrians with disabilities tend to move much slower than pedestrians without disabilities. When they’re crossing any street or intersection, they’re exposed to traffic for longer periods. They also lack the maneuverability to evade vehicles when necessary.
• Perception: Certain disabilities can substantially impair a pedestrian’s ability to foresee and react to oncoming vehicles. For example, pedestrians with limited eyesight may simply not see a smaller vehicle that is approaching them. Deaf pedestrians may not hear oncoming traffic or a vehicle honking at them.
• Profile: Pedestrians in wheelchairs can be more difficult to see, especially for drivers with larger vehicles.

This is why it is so crucial that drivers properly scan the road ahead for pedestrians and respond accordingly. The vast majority of pedestrian accidents can be prevented by drivers simply slowing down.

How Infrastructure Makes Collisions With Disabled Pedestrians More Common

Pedestrians face hazards from their physical limitations and from the lack of safe infrastructure to accommodate them. Our roadways and cities were simply not designed for the convenience and safety of pedestrians, especially those with physical limitations.

• Accessible Sidewalks: Many roadways have missing sidewalks. Many of the sidewalks that do exist are either poorly maintained or lack proper curb ramps. This forces disabled pedestrians into the streets on many occasions.
• Dangerous Roads: Many roads across New York City have fast traffic and long crossing distances. The roads themselves are often quite wide. This places pedestrians in the middle of traffic for long periods of time.
• Pedestrian Bridges: One of the best solutions to prevent pedestrian accidents is to create pedestrian bridges and tunnels. This removes pedestrians from the path of cars. But these types of infrastructure solutions are rarely used.

One of the simplest ways to protect all pedestrians is to create more spaces where cars are simply not allowed to travel. This has been partially accomplished in NYC through initiatives like Open Streets.

Factors That Contribute to Pedestrian Accidents

Not all roadways in New York City are equally dangerous for disabled pedestrians. Some roadways and intersections stand out for being involved in many serious collisions. This includes Queens Boulevard, Ocean Parkway, and McGuinness Boulevard. Other factors may also contribute to pedestrian collisions.

• Reckless Driving: Over one-third of all fatal pedestrian collisions involved a driver who was speeding or otherwise driving recklessly.
• Driver Intoxication: Another major cause of pedestrian accidents is driver intoxication. Drivers can become intoxicated by many different substances, including perscriptions and over-the-counter medications.
• Left Turns: One of the most dangerous maneuvers that drivers can make is left turns. These incidents account for a high number of serious injury pedestrian collisions.

There could be numerous sources of liability for any pedestrian collision. Drivers could obviously be held at fault if they acted negligently. Employers could also be held at fault if a negligent driver was working at the time of a collision.

Getting Legal Help After Pedestrian Accidents

Have you or someone that you love been injured in a New York City pedestrian accident? You may have legal recourse. The New York City pedestrian accident attorneys at GLK Law are here to assist you. We have recovered over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for our deserving clients. You don’t have to take on insurance companies on your own. Our legal team will fight aggressively to ensure that you are fairly compensated. Whether you just have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.