Within a 12-hour period, two pedestrians were killed in separate car accidents in the Atlanta metro area.
On Friday morning, January 26th, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Richard Cummings was struck by a GMC truck on South Cobb Drive. Cummings was attempting to cross the multi-lane highway without using a crosswalk, and tragically, was killed.1
Just a few hours later, at 7:45 pm, Brian Farnsworth attempted to cross the street near Marietta Highway and Coleman Road and was struck by a vehicle and killed.1
Pedestrian deaths due to car and truck accidents are a serious problem in the United States, especially in urban areas such as Atlanta. The CDC has released several statistics regarding pedestrian safety:2
- People aged 65 and older, as well as children under 15 year of age, are far more likely to be struck by a vehicle, and account for more than 40% of all pedestrian deaths in accidents.
- Alcohol is a factor in 48% of accidents that involve pedestrians, and of those accidents, 34% of the pedestrians had blood alcohol levels above 0.08 g/dL.
- Most pedestrian deaths occur in urban areas, at night, not at an intersection.
One very interesting aspect of the report released by the CDC is that it specifically mentions Atlanta: “From 2000 to 2004, pedestrian fatality rates declined in the United States, but the Atlanta metropolitan statistical area did not experience the same decline.”2 The report indicated that this was likely due to Atlanta’s population being spread out across a large geographical area, necessitating more roadways and driving, which leads to a greater number of drivers for every pedestrian.
If you are someone you know has been struck by a vehicle, get in touch with the lawyers of Wood, Craig & Avery in Atlanta to schedule a free consultation.
- http://www.ajc.com/news/news/crime-law/south-cobb-drive-closed-after-fatal-pedestrian-acc/nqCSt/
- http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/pedestrian_safety/
