Car Pedestrian Accidents on the Rise in Houston

Austin, TX (Law Firm Newswire) December 21, 2016 – 2016 has seen an increase of pedestrian deaths in Houston.

As of October 31, there were at least 71 pedestrians killed and the number appears to be escalating every month. The increased number of accidents has the local police investigating why the numbers are on the rise.

The police have determined that many of the deaths happened when pedestrians did not use crosswalks while attempting to cross local streets or roads. Not using the crosswalks however does not appear to be the only reason for the dramatic increase in deaths. Houston urban planners postulate the increase in deaths is due to a higher number of people preferring to walk to their destinations. It appears many seniors prefer to walk to improve their health, as do millennials who would rather not drive.

The solution may lie in the city narrowing lanes, strongly emphasizing safe speeds, building more sidewalks and adding more crosswalks. It may well be that urban design is flawed, and could stand to be improved. “Of interest though is the fact that distracted walking was not mentioned,” pointed out Bobby Lee, an Austin personal injury attorney with Lee, Gober & Reyna.

Moreover, there needs to be a focus on distracted walkers who do not pay attention to where they are going. “It happens. It’s a common sight in fact,” added Lee. Combine distracted driving and distracted walking and serious injuries and possible death may result.

Texas is not the only state to witness an increase in pedestrian deaths. Figures released in October by the Department of Transport indicate that the time frame from January to June saw an increase of 10.4 percent more traffic deaths in the United States compared to the same period in 2015.

“It’s a troubling trend,” added Lee. “The society we live in today seems to be so detached from the every day reality of paying attention to the world around them and that is manifesting in accidents and deaths that could well be avoided.”

To learn more, visit http://www.lgrlawfirm.com

Lee, Gober & Reyna
11940 Jollyville Road #220-S
Austin, Texas 78759
Phone: 512.478.8080

• Lawsuit alleges trucker drove recklessly
  According to the statement of claim in this lawsuit, a Longview couple were left badly injured when a trucker, employed by a bottled water supply company, crashed into their vehicle. The suit alleges the company negligently entrusted a delivery truck to a reckless employee. It is further alleged the trucker was texting while driving, did not apply his brakes in a timely manner, was tailgating and did not maintain proper control of his truck. The accident happened in 2014 when the truck collided with the couples’ vehicle causing them to sustain severe physical and mental pain, loss of consortium and […]
• Texas marks depressing milestone as anniversary of the last fatality free day arrives
  Disturbingly, the last fatality free day Texas saw was November 7, 2000. Since then, 50,578 have died in collisions, which is higher than the death toll during the 9/11 attacks. TxDOT points out that something must be done to stop the carnage. In order to focus a spotlight on the high number of deaths on the highways, TxDOT invited the public to share stories of loved ones lost in vehicle accidents during the month of November. They asked for videos and pictures to be shared with the hashtag #EndTheStreakTX. Despite the fact that this campaign has been running since 2000, […]
• New App promotes “Don’t text and drive and save money in the process”
  A new app provides a unique approach to the problem of texting and driving. In College Station, Texas the new app, that encourages its users to drive safely while saving money, is making headway. App creators say a driver is 23 times more likely to get into a wreck when they are driving while distracted. The new app does not stop a driver from texting. Instead, driver opens the app prior to driving. En route, if the driver gets a text, and wants to respond to it, a screen with a family photo opens up with a caption that reads: […]
• Mothers against drunk driving organization to hold 5K
  While there are massive educational campaigns in every state across the nation, accidents caused by drunk drivers happen every day. In 2015 in central Texas alone, 37 people were killed and 349 injured in drunk driving related accidents. Reita Hill, victim advocate, of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization (MADD), says, “It used to be the weekends. It’s everyday [now] we hear on the news over and over and over again about these crashes and how somebody has been killed or seriously injured because of someone else’s choice to drink and drive.” MADD’s message is simple: Do not drink and […]
• The futuristic BMW motorcycle — too good to be true
  BMW, long considered to be a forward thinking auto manufacturer, has now come up with a vision for the future of a safer, zero-emissions motorcycle. The company promises a future with no accidents where helmets will not be necessary. A zero-emission, no helmet and no accident motorcycle is not only futuristic and misleading, but likely far-fetched. The company’s future vision is suggesting their Motorrad VISION NEXT 100 is a self-balancing motorcycle that works in co-operation with a reality headset that offers riders navigational information, speed feedback and integrated rear-view mirrors and a superior view of the road they are traveling. […]