The number of pedestrian accidents in Washington State and nationwide – especially ones that result in serious injuries or fatalities – has increased dramatically in recent years. One of the big reasons for this is the larger, taller passenger vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks.
That’s why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently proposed changes to how these vehicles are designed and tested, hoping to reduce the number of pedestrian deaths and injuries.
“We have a crisis of roadway deaths, and it’s even worse among vulnerable road users like pedestrians,” NHTSA deputy administrator Sophie Shulman said in a statement published by National Public Radio (NPR).
Why do pickup trucks and SUVs cause so many pedestrian accidents?
Pickup trucks, SUVs, vans, and other large multipurpose passenger vehicles consistently cause more pedestrian injuries and fatalities. According to the NHTSA and a study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), there are three reasons why:
- A taller vehicle hits pedestrians “much higher in the torso region and tends to push the pedestrian forward and down," David Harkey, president of IIHS, said in an interview with NPR. This is especially true with vehicles with a hood height over 40 inches. They are 45 percent more likely to cause a pedestrian fatality versus a vehicle with a hood height under 30 inches.
- Many newer pickup trucks, SUVs, and vans have blunt hood designs rather than sloped hoods. According to the IIHS study, blunt hood designs cause 26 percent more pedestrian fatalities than vehicles with sloped hoods.
- Heavier vehicles, in general, consistently cause more pedestrian injuries and fatalities. And SUVs and pickup trucks weigh more than most standard cars.
What is being proposed to protect pedestrians?
The NHTSA recently proposed revising its standards for designing and testing vehicles to hopefully reduce the number of pedestrian injuries and fatalities. If approved, the NHTSA estimates its proposed rule changes would save 67 pedestrian lives annually.
“This proposed rule will ensure that vehicles will be designed to protect those inside and outside from serious injury or death,” Shulman said. “We will continue to work to make our roads safer for everyone and help protect vulnerable road users.”
Pedestrian deaths reach record high nationwide
The NHTSA wants to revise its vehicle testing and safety standards because pedestrian fatalities have been consistently increasing nearly every year in recent years. Two years ago, those numbers were the highest they’ve been in more than four decades.
In 2022, there were 7,522 pedestrian deaths nationwide, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The figure is the highest single-year pedestrian death toll nationwide since 1981.
Pedestrian fatalities in Washington State are on the rise
Pedestrian deaths in Washington State have been just as bad in recent years. The two deadliest years in over a decade were the most recent. In 2021, there were 143 pedestrian fatalities in Washington State, according to the NHTSA. The next year, there were 126 pedestrian deaths in the state in 2022. To put these numbers in perspective, there were 49 pedestrian fatalities in 2013 in Washington.
In Vancouver, WA, 29 pedestrians have been involved in collisions so far in 2024. According to the City of Vancouver Collision Dashboard, five pedestrians died, and 23 were injured as a result of these incidents.
Seeking legal help after a pedestrian accident
Pedestrian accidents in Washington State might seem like simple cases at first. After all, a driver probably hit you or a loved one in a crosswalk or while walking alongside a street. Unfortunately, many of these cases often quickly turn into complex legal battles. That’s because there’s often a lot of money at stake.
Vancouver, Washington, pedestrian accident lawyer Colin Scott of The Scott Law Firm, PLLC, has years of experience handling complex injury claims and lawsuits. Our case results speak for themselves, including $397,000 recovered for an injured pedestrian.
Get the law firm that gets results for injured pedestrians. Contact us and schedule a free consultation with a Washington pedestrian accident lawyer who puts your best interests first. We work on a contingency fee basis. That means you only have to pay us if we secure a financial settlement or verdict for you. Schedule an appointment at our Vancouver, Washington office today. We handle legal cases statewide.
"I would for sure recommend Colin Scott to anyone, great guy to work with. He really knows what he is doing. Both my wife and I were very pleased with the result. Thank you!" – Mike