The laws of physics may not apply in cartoons, but the Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner cartoons give you an idea of how fast the traffic moves on New Mexico’s highways and on how few sidewalks there are in New Mexico. Meanwhile, no one ever decided to stay indoors in New Mexico because it was too cold to go for a walk. As a result, you will find many pedestrians in New Mexico and far fewer safe places for them to walk. In certain months of the year, pedestrians are even more numerous at night because it is too hot to go outside for most of the daylight hours. Pedestrian accidents are devastating no matter where they happen, but more people get hit by cars while walking in New Mexico than in any other state. If your injuries are the result of getting hit by a car while you were out walking, contact a Santa Fe pedestrian accidents lawyer.
New Mexico Has the Nation’s Highest Rate of Pedestrian Fatalities
A recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) presents a sobering picture of pedestrian accidents in New Mexico. These are some of the findings of the report:
- Nationwide, 2022 was the worst year in terms of pedestrian fatalities since 1980.
- Out of all the states, New Mexico has the highest rate of pedestrian traffic deaths. In 2022, 4.4 out of every 100,000 New Mexico residents died in pedestrian accidents.
- Pedestrian traffic fatalities in New Mexico are trending downward; there were fewer fatal pedestrian accidents here in 2022 than in 2021. The nationwide increase was due to sharp increases in a few states, such as Arizona, Oregon, and Virginia.
- Excessive speed was a factor in only eight percent of pedestrian accidents, whereas alcohol was a factor in 19% of pedestrian traffic fatalities.
Your Rights After a Pedestrian Accident
If you get hit by a car while you are walking, you have the right to recover compensation for your accident-related financial losses including medical bills and, if you have to leave the workforce temporarily or permanently because of your injuries, lost income. If you were crossing at a crosswalk or other place where pedestrians have the right of way, then the driver who hit you will likely bear 100% of the fault for the accident. Even if you were crossing a highway or other road without crosswalks, drivers still have a duty to be aware of pedestrians, so you will still be able to recover a substantial amount of money. If your injuries are relatively minor, an insurance claim may be all it takes to get enough money to cover your medical bills, but if they are severe, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Contact Slate Stern About Pedestrian Accident Lawsuits
Slate Stern is a personal injury lawyer who represents plaintiffs in pedestrian accident cases. Contact Slate Stern in Santa Fe, New Mexico or call (505)814-1517 to discuss your case.
Sources
https://www.krqe.com/traffic-roads/study-new-mexico-tops-list-of-pedestrian-traffic-deaths-in-2022/