In California, a car driver is legally required to yield to pedestrians. Why, then, are pedestrian deaths on the rise? Nationwide, there are over 6,000 vehicle/pedestrian deaths which occur annually. According to AAA, this represents 16% of all traffic deaths in the country each year. In new research recently released, AAA found that only 25% of these deaths occur during the daytime, the rest are at night. Even though many new cars have been equipped with pedestrian detection systems, these are not proving to be at all reliable. These systems, which include emergency braking systems, have been found to be extremely ineffective, particularly at night.

As pedestrian fatalities are increasing, it shows that over reliance on the pedestrian detection devices can be dangerous. It is assumed that the safety impact of these systems is significant, but this is not proving to be the case. According to Greg Brannon, AAA’s director of Automotive Engineering and Industry Relations “ our research found that current systems are far from perfect and still require an engaged driver behind the wheel.”

If you have been involved in a local pedestrian vs. car accident, you will certainly need the services of an auto accident attorney Newport Beach CA. There are many factors which add to the likelihood of an accident involving a pedestrian. Vehicle speed is the leading cause of such incidents, followed by location and time of day. Obviously, the faster the car is travelling, the more serious the injures. According to the report, “a pedestrian hit by a vehicle traveling at 20 mph has an 18% risk of severe injury or death. Increase that by just 10 mph to 30 mph and the risk more than doubles to 47%.”

Automatic emergency braking systems now include pedestrian detection devices in many new vehicles. However; how effective are these new systems? We assume that they are highly effective, and have become very reliant on them. In testing to evaluate these systems, there was a significant difference between adult and child simulated situations, and greater risk in an increase of speed of the vehicle from 20 miles per hour to 30 MPH.

While the driver is responsible, it is important that pedestrians remain alert as well. If you or a family member were involved in this type of accident, contact an experienced car wreck lawyer Irvine CA to assist you in this matter. Contact The Law of Jeffrey S. Dawson today at 949/861-2191 for a free consultation to discuss your case. Jeffrey Dawson is a uniquely qualified personal injury lawyer. He has worked on the other side, as well – for the insurance firms, and knows how they think. The advantage of hiring Jeffrey is that he can give you the much needed peace of mind necessary in any accident claim. Call today.

The Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Dawson
9841 Irvine Center Drive
Suite 210
Irvine, CA 92618
949/861-2191