Car safety is improving, but pedestrian accidents rising

There are now many features that come standard with certain types of cars that are intended to improve driver performance and help reduce accidents. In fact, many of the vehicles that are on Louisiana roads are now safer than ever before. Despite these improvements and the tools available to drivers to help them stay focused, the numbers of pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents continues to rise.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the percentage of bicycle accidents is up by 10% and the number of pedestrian accidents is up by 4%. There are many reasons why these numbers continue to rise, and many people point to the issue of distracted driving. Even one moment when a driver is not fully attentive to the task at hand can lead to devastating consequences.

Obviously, people outside of a vehicle are more vulnerable to injuries in the event of a crash. There is the potential for automatic braking systems to alert a driver to a pedestrian or cyclist ahead, but many of these systems don’t come with that availability or it costs more to include it. Some also believe that more SUVs, which can cause more damage in a crash, could also be a factor in the rising accident numbers.

Victims of collisions involving bicycles and pedestrian accidents have the right to seek guidance regarding their legal options. These individuals are often the victims of reckless or negligent actions, and they may have grounds to pursue financial compensation for their losses. After an accident, a Louisiana victim may want to seek the assistance of an experienced legal advocate.