Walking is excellent exercise, and for many, a mode of transportation. However, any time you are on or alongside a roadway, you are at an increased risk of harm. If an automobile collides with a pedestrian, the resulting injuries could be devastating, if not deadly.
Who Is Most Likely to be Involved in a Pedestrian Accident?
The two groups of people most likely to be hit by a car, truck, or bike while on foot are senior citizens and children. A seasoned lawyer in Denton could offer more insight into what makes these people more vulnerable in pedestrian accidents.
Elderly People
Older people are less mobile, and the lower their mobility is, the harder it is for them to evade a car. In other words, an elderly person with limited mobility is not going to be able to jump out of the way of a car. Additionally, many elderly people have poor eyesight and may not see a moving car quickly enough to react.
Children
Children are more likely to get hit by a vehicle than the adult population because they are smaller and less visible to cars. Pedestrian accidents are particularly dangerous for children because they have less mass to absorb an impact, whereas an adult can probably take a larger hit because of their size. This size component often equates to larger or more significant injuries to children, sometimes killing them. Another thing is children just aren’t as aware of their surroundings as adults are.
Compounded by them being “off in their own world” when playing, it can be a recipe for disaster. Furthermore, high school students in and around Denton tend to be less cautious about crossing the road at the appropriate times and places, leading to frequent instances of jaywalking. They are often experiencing freedom for the first time at an age where they are prone to take more risks, placing them at greater risk of being involved in a pedestrian accident.
