One of the most common reasons for crosswalk accidents is speeding.
Northwest Side Man Dies While Crossing the Street at Night
According to a KSAT News report, a 61-year-old man is dead after being hit by a car while crossing the street at night on September 1, 2023.
Police reported the accident happened at 8:30 p.m. when a man crossing at the 3700 Block of Fredricksburg was hit by a car. The man was crossing at a crosswalk, but the driver had a green light. The driver of the Ford Mustang told police that they didn’t see the pedestrian because of his dark clothing. The man was pronounced dead at the scene — charges are not expected to be filed against the driver.
Did You Know?
Pedestrian fatalities increased nationwide between 2018 and 2021 by 15.9% on average.
Why Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen in San Antonio?
It’s very common to see pedestrian accidents in the local news in San Antonio — we covered 9 pedestrian accidents in August on this blog alone, most of which happened in San Antonio.
Texas is consistently ranked in the top 10 deadliest states for pedestrians. Austin, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio are the top cities for these accidents. Why is that? This blog will examine why big cities like San Antonio are more prone to pedestrian accidents.
Factors Contributing to Pedestrian Deaths in San Antonio
Urban and suburban areas are more prone to pedestrian accidents than rural areas. In general, there is a correlation between population density and motor vehicle accidents of all kinds, so it’s not surprising that more heavily populated areas have more pedestrian accidents. But a few more factors explain why cities like San Antonio have a greater risk of pedestrian accidents.
- Vehicle Size — Cars are getting bigger across the United States. 3/4 of vehicles made in 2022 were classified as “light trucks,” according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Bigger car sizes are safer for drivers, especially in Texas, where more people drive large trucks, and 18-wheelers frequently share the roads. Even though they are safer for motorists, the risk of catastrophic injury in a pedestrian accident increases with vehicle size.
- Alcohol Consumption — There is a heavy concentration of bars in urban areas. Nightlife is a big draw for living in the city. But this increases pedestrian risk — drunk drivers and drunk pedestrians are at much greater risk for accidents. According to CDC data, 19% of fatal pedestrian accidents involve a drunk driver, and 32% involve a drunk pedestrian.
- Obstructed Views — Urban areas like downtown San Antonio are normally well-lit. However, there are a lot of things that obstruct pedestrian and driver’s view downtown. Cars parked along the street, sharp turns, and roadside features are all common in urban areas and can greatly reduce a driver’s ability to see a pedestrian attempting to cross the street.
Drivers and pedestrians share equal responsibility to make San Antonio a safer place to walk. If you were hurt or lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident, a Carabin Shaw pedestrian accident attorney can help.
Hire Carabin Shaw Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in San Antonio
Don’t become another statistic. If you were hurt in a pedestrian accident in San Antonio, contact the Carabin Shaw Law Firm today. We have helped people injured in pedestrian accidents in San Antonio for 30 years, and we care. Contact the attorneys who put their clients first today at 800-862-1260, or use the live chat at the bottom right of your screen to get started. Contacting us about your case is completely free and does not oblige you to hire us. We look forward to serving you.