Oklahoma City is one of the highest-ranking urban areas for pedestrian accidents. These terrible incidents are often caused by impatient drivers who are not paying attention or are too distracted to notice pedestrians crossing the road. Unfortunately, these accidents often lead to catastrophic, life-changing injuries because pedestrians are vulnerable and unprotected.
Why Pedestrian Accidents Often Lead to Serious Injuries
When a pedestrian is hit by a car, they are likely to sustain traumatic injuries. A typical passenger car could weigh 2,000 pounds or more. A large commercial truck could weigh anywhere from 10,000 to 80,000 pounds. Considering the force of impact that any collision with a motor vehicle may involve, it is easy to see why a pedestrian would stand little chance of avoiding injury. In addition to the disparity in size and weight of the pedestrian and vehicle, pedestrians also have no protection against impact. A person in a vehicle is not only surrounded by a steel frame and thousands of pounds of metal, but they also have a seatbelt and airbag. A pedestrian has nothing.