Many people enjoy walking as a form of exercise or hobby, but they also face the risk of speeding or inattentive drivers, as well as a variety of serious injuries and even death when accidents occur. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that pedestrian deaths account formore than 15% of traffic fatalities, a percentage that continues to rise.
The nature of these incidents often causes similar injuries to the pedestrians who experience them, and understanding what they are and how they occur may offer you some insight into the importance of pedestrian safety.
Soft tissue injuries
Even at low speeds, you can experience traumatic soft tissue injury when the bumper of a car or truck strikes you. Depending on the height of the vehicle, a variety of areas of the lower body might incur this type of injury, such as:
- Your legs
- Your pelvis
- Your shins or knees
Broken skin can lead to severe bleeding or bruising when this type of contact occurs.
Head trauma
When a vehicle strikes you at a moderate rate of speed, your head might make contact with the cars hood or windshield and cause severe head trauma. Concussions, skull fractures and internal bleeding may happen, the latter of which can lead to death if it goes untreated.
Broken bones
The weight of a vehicle traveling at almost any speed can result in broken bones for you as a victim of a pedestrian crash. This is usually most common at the point of impact.
Some vehicle manufacturers are creating designs that may help reduce pedestrian injuries when accidents occur. However, both pedestrians and motorists need to remain aware of their surroundings when they venture out onto the roads.