Woman Died After Being Hit by a Truck
Did you know that in 2009, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System (NHTSA-FARS) found that there were 4,092 pedestrian fatalities nationwide? Arizona accounted for 120 of those fatalities. Twenty one percent of accidents occurred in intersections while 67.5 percent occurred in non-intersections.
Pedestrian fatalities are not new to Arizona. The NHTSA found that Arizona ranked 8th in terms of Pedestrian Fatality Rate per 100,000 residents. In total, pedestrian accidents made up 12 percent of traffic fatalities in 2009, and approximately 3 percent of the 2,217,000 that were reportedly injured in vehicle crashes.
In Peoria, a pedestrian died after being struck by a large flatbed truck early Monday morning (AZ Central 3/7/11). The accident happened near 109th and Northern avenues around 5:30 a.m. when the victim, a woman in her mid-30s, was struck by the truck.
Investigators said that the truck driver might have seen the woman and tried to avoid her but was not successful. A member of the Air Force was first to arrive and tried to revive the woman but she was pronounced dead on the scene. Further investigations have shown that the woman was not walking in the crosswalk and that the truck driver was impaired when the accident occurred.
Many people choose not to utilize sidewalks and crosswalks however; they are built for our safety and are valuable in protecting pedestrians. It is important to use crosswalks and follow pedestrian signals even when no vehicles are approaching. Always look both ways before crossing and avoid using your cell phone or any gadget that could impair your senses especially when crossing the street. Also use the sidewalk and walk against the flow of traffic to have a clear view of oncoming vehicles.
If you have been a victim of a pedestrian accident, we can be reached at (602) 267-1280 for your free consultation. As Phoenix accident attorneys, we are committed to helping victims obtain justice and rightful compensation.
