Pedestrian accidents are unfortunately common in San Antonio.
Man Struck by a Truck on South Side
According to a KSAT News report, a man was struck by a vehicle after running into the street on the South Side of San Antonio on Wednesday at around 11:30 p.m. on the 200 block of Commercial Avenue.
Police reported that they received a call about a man running in and out of the street and shortly thereafter received another call that the man was hit by a truck. The driver told the police that she did not see the man before she hit him. There were no charges on the driver, and the incident is under investigation. The man was taken to University Hospital in critical condition.
Did You Know?
A report by Vision Zero found that San Antonio has 76 “Severe Pedestrian Injury Areas” where two or more pedestrians died in the five-year period between 2011 and 2015.
Pedestrian Injury in San Antonio
A 2017 report from Vision Zero analyzed pedestrian accidents that occurred between 2011 and 2015 to find any trends or similarities between incidents to determine what can be done about the alarming increase in pedestrian accidents in San Antonio. Pedestrian injury and death saw a huge spike in 2021, with a nearly 15% increase over 2020, with a staggering 5,366 pedestrian accidents. Data from the report and the TxDOT gives some insight as to why these accidents are occurring in greater frequency.
Population Increase
San Antonio was the third top city in terms of population growth in the United States between July 2021 and July 2022, adding roughly 18,900 new residents in that period. This spike in population comes with an increase in vehicles and pedestrians sharing the road on a daily basis, increasing the risk of accidents.
Time of Day and Year
Visibility is a crucial factor in vehicle-to-pedestrian accidents. Data from Vision Zero’s report found that more pedestrians are hit in San Antonio between the hours of 6 p.m. and 12 a.m., accounting for 49% of all pedestrian accidents recorded. The deadliest hour is the 6 p.m. hour. There is also a spike in pedestrian accidents during the months of October to December, when sunset times in San Antonio are around 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., indicating that visibility plays a crucial role in pedestrian accidents in San Antonio.
Location
Nearly 33% of all fatal crashes occurred on 1% of San Antonio’s roadways. There is a high concentration of pedestrian accidents in the downtown area due in part to the fact that there are more pedestrians and vehicles in urban areas. Poor road design, lighting, and poor signage may also contribute to higher accident rates in these areas.
Keeping Yourself Safe as a Pedestrian
The TxDOT lists the following recommendations to pedestrians in San Antonio based on this data.
- Cross the street only at intersections or crosswalks. Look left, right, and then left again before crossing.
- Make eye contact with any drivers before crossing. Don’t assume drivers can see you.
- Obey all traffic and crosswalk signals.
- Use the sidewalk. If there isn’t one, walk on the left side of the road facing oncoming traffic.
- When walking, put away electronic devices that can distract you.
Pedestrian Injury Attorneys Serving San Antonio
If you were injured by a vehicle as a pedestrian, contact an experienced pedestrian injury attorney today to help you file your personal injury claim. The pedestrian injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw have thirty years of experience representing injured pedestrians across San Antonio, and we care. Contact us today at 800-862-1260 today. We look forward to serving you.