California has the highest percentage of pedestrian deaths, and therefore the highest percentage of families affected by this type of loss. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2012 report, 4,743 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States, meaning a pedestrian was killed every two hours. Other 2012 report findings include:
- Pedestrian deaths increased 6% from the previous year
- Pedestrians deaths were at the highest level in five years
- 76,000 pedestrians were injured in traffic crashes
- Pedestrian deaths account for 14% of all traffic fatalities
- 73% of all pedestrian deaths occur in urban settings
- 70% of pedestrian fatalities happened at non-intersections
- 89% occurred during normal weather conditions
- 70% happened at night
- Pedestrians 65 or older accounted for 20% of deaths
- The average age of pedestrians killed was 46
- 22% of pedestrians killed were between the ages of five and fifteen
- 69% of pedestrians killed were males
- 48% of pedestrian casualties involved alcohol use, either by the driver or the pedestrian
- 90% of pedestrian fatalities involved only one vehicle
- 19% of fatalities were involved in hit-and-run crashes
- 86% of pedestrians were fatally struck by the front of the vehicle
- California has the highest percentage of pedestrian fatalities
- Texas has the second highest percentage of pedestrian fatalities
- Florida has the third highest percentage of pedestrian fatalities
Families of pedestrians killed in traffic accidents have the right to compensation
Under state law, family members of a pedestrian killed in a traffic accident have the right to receive compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. A wrongful death claim is a civil action that must be filed within two years of the decedent’s death. Families are entitled to compensation if the driver was totally at fault or even if the pedestrian shared a portion of fault in the accident.
By filing a wrongful death claim, families are entitled to the following types of compensation: lost income that would have occurred over the decedent’s lifetime, loss of emotional support, the value of gifts or benefits the family would have received from the decedent, loss of household services such as cleaning and childcare, loss of sexual relations, a child’s loss of parental guidance, and medical and burial expenses.
California does not allow a family to sue for pain and suffering of the decedent in a pedestrian wrongful death action. Under California law, the family cannot receive punitive damages unless a charge of felony murder is involved. Otherwise, there is no limit to the amount of damages a family can recover in California.
Obtain your free consult
If your family has suffered the loss of a loved one due to a pedestrian fatality, a wrongful death attorney can help you file a wrongful death lawsuit in order to recover compensation for the economic and non-economic losses you have suffered. The attorneys at Timothy J. Ryan & Associates have been helping families obtain their rightful compensation for more than 34 years and have helped to recover over $1 billion. Call (800) 838-6644 to get help today.