“Dangerous” isn’t usually a word that’s applied to the act of walking from point A and B.
But did you know that every 8 minutes a pedestrian is injured crossing the street or minding their own business on the corner of a sidewalk? This means every year 70,000 pedestrians are hit by cars, 4,000 of which are fatal.
Simply waiting at the bus stop can even be fatal if the driver is distracted or driving recklessly.
Tragically, the family of a Tennessee GM auto worker knows this fact all-too-personally.
Protest leads to fatality
Just before 6:30 a.m. on October 15, 2019, a Tennessee autoworker was accidentally hit and killed by a motor vehicle. According to Columbia Police Lt. Jeremy Haywood, the worker was on strike at the UAW Spring Hill plant when the accident occurred. Investigators have yet to yield more details.
Even standing off to the side of a road at the wrong place and the wrong time can be dangerous. Spring Hill, Tennessee isn’t considered a particularly bustling city — it isn’t even in the top 10 of most populous cities in the state. But clearly that doesn’t mean pedestrian accidents aren’t a problem.
What this means for Tennessee residents and workers
Walking is becoming more dangerous every year. Pedestrians and bicyclists are at a higher risk of getting hit by a car more than ever before. In the state of Tennessee alone, over 140 pedestrians were hit or killed by cars as they crossed the street in 2019.
By far, Memphis and Nashville are the most common cities where pedestrian accidents occur in the state of Tennessee, according to recent reports from USA Today. A few reasons why this is the case are missing sidewalks, cracked and crumbling concrete, and having several blocks with no crosswalks in between them.
What can be done?
Basic rules of driving apply. Being aware of your surroundings, making sure your lights are on in the dark, checking twice before turning, and adhering to signs and signals will go a long way toward making the streets safer places to walk in Tennessee — whether you’re on strike or just trying to walk to the grocery store.
Likewise, pedestrians should look both ways before crossing any street or intersection, stay as far away from the edge of the road as possible, use the sidewalks, and wear bright clothing that helps them stand out against their surroundings.
If you or someone you love were hit by a car, you might be entitled to seek legal compensation. Filing a negligence lawsuit shouldn’t be taken lightly. Let our experts at Gilreath & Associates utilize our experience, compassion and commitment to give you the best outcome possible.
