The holidays can be a fun time of the year. But it can also be a hectic and even dangerous time – especially if you are a pedestrian on the streets of New York City. New York City streets are at their most dangerous around the holiday seasons. During the time leading up to Christmas, traffic-related pedestrian injuries have historically peaked. In the past few years, the total number of pedestrian injuries in November and December were 55.6% greater than in September and October.
During the last part of December, pedestrian injuries hit their peak. On each December 23rd in the past three years, there have been 108 pedestrian injuries between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. A typical day in December has 64 injuries during the same hours.
The Risk to Walkers
There are a number of factors that increase the risk to New York City walkers. One major factor is last minute anxiety among shoppers. Holiday shopping adds extra foot traffic, which forces pedestrians out of the sidewalks and into the streets. And since the streets are also heavier with traffic, there is a greater chance of a traffic-related pedestrian accident.
According to transportation analytics company INRIX, vehicles travel at just 4.7 miles per hour, on average, down retail-heavy Fifth Avenue between 34th and 65th streets at 6 p.m. on December weekends. When the shopping crunch comes to a close, traffic speeds jump; in January, vehicles on the same strip travel at 8.2 miles per hour in the corresponding time frame.
A second major risk to NYC walkers during the holiday season is early December sunsets. Late-afternoon darkness coinciding with rush hour can create low visibility for drivers on the road.
We Can Help You If Your Are Injured
At Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C., we understand the ramifications that pedestrian accidents have on the lives of victims and the lives of their loved ones. When you are injured in an accident, you need to hire an experienced New York pedestrian accident attorney to protect your legal rights.
The attorneys at Gersowitz Libo & Korek P.C. have more than 39 years of experience and knowledge to aggressively fight for your rights and get you the full extent of monetary compensation that you deserve. To schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our New York pedestrian accident attorneys, please call 1-800-529-9997
