Understanding the common causes of DC pedestrian accidents is critical, given the degree of harm that results from such accidents. While one might expect there to be less risk of pedestrian accidents in Washington, D.C., the reality that residents experience daily is that there is still plenty of speeding. While DC has many speed cameras, seemingly on every other block, speeding still occurs constantly. And because downtown DC is still an urban area, pedestrians are frequently at risk. Between jaywalking, speeding, distracted driving, and the plethora of other reasons why accidents occur, pedestrians are just as much at risk as ever.
What does knowing about the common causes of DC pedestrian accidents do for us? Understanding the common causes will better allow us to anticipate and avoid accidents in the future. While some negligence is likely unavoidable, the stakes involving pedestrian accidents are high enough that we must take the extra steps to combat the issue. However, negligence does not begin and end with drivers. It also is present in those on bicycles and electric scooters. Far too many pedestrians walk with their heads down while reading emails on their phones. Thus, understanding the common causes of pedestrian accidents benefits drivers, bikers, pedestrians, policymakers, and public safety officials.
As DC Council member Charles Allen stated, “Even one death on our roads is one too many. But the trend isn’t going down. It’s just getting worse.” During rush hour, the District sometimes places crossing guards at busy intersections to assist the flow of traffic and protect pedestrians. In 2023, 19 pedestrians were killed in Washington, D.C., in traffic-related accidents. This does not include the number of those seriously injured. While not all of these deaths were actionable, as the pedestrian may have been contributorily negligent in some of them, the point remains that the statistics on pedestrian accidents in DC are alarming.
Two scooter riders also passed away in 2023 due to traffic accidents. Of course, scooters offer a faster way of getting around if you are a pedestrian. Of the 49 total traffic-related fatalities in Washington, D.C., in 2023, there were almost exactly as many pedestrian deaths as car accident deaths, tallying 19 pedestrian deaths and 20 deaths to those in cars. Why is this? We will explore the common causes below. However, the reason why they result in fatalities is evident. While there are far more accidents involving exclusively motor vehicles, pedestrians lack the safety technology that cars and trucks have.
The list of what can be considered negligent for a driver is limitless. It is the same list that leads to motor vehicle accidents, but when it involves a pedestrian, the risk of death is far higher. We see two common causes of pedestrian accidents relating to driver negligence. The first is speeding. Washington, D.C., is where some of the most influential people in the world work. Especially with traffic, it is, to a point, understandable why people would speed.
You may be late for a meeting or trying to make a light before it turns red. Whatever your reason for speeding is, it is one of the most significant contributing factors to pedestrian accidents. When you are trying to make a light, a pedestrian may also be trying to time a light. They may walk into the crosswalk just as their pedestrian light indicates it is safe, precisely when a speeding driver comes in and causes an accident.
The second common cause of driver negligence is distracted driving. While it may involve changing the radio station or talking on the phone, the most common act of distracted driving in 2024 is texting and driving or scrolling on a smartphone. Smartphones are designed to demand our attention. But when a driver takes his eyes off the road, he may drive through a crosswalk where an unsuspecting pedestrian is walking with a blinking walk sign. While liability is apparent in these cases, the damages can be severe.
Not all 19 pedestrian fatalities in 2023 were caused by negligent drivers. Some cases involve a negligent pedestrian who steps in front of a vehicle, and the driver has no time to avoid the collision. Often, this is due to drunk pedestrians leaving a bar or restaurant. Any time of day or area of the city where people behave recklessly or unreasonably tends to lead to more pedestrian accidents caused by pedestrians.
This is a common cause of pedestrian accidents because it is unpredictable. While a pedestrian may still be able to recover in limited instances, it leads to many accidents because a driver may have no time to react. Much of driving relies on the reasonableness of others. For example, when a driver drives straight through a green light, he is relying on other drivers from other sides of the intersection not to cut in front of him. This premise applies to jaywalking, too.
In the same way, drivers can get distracted while on their phones, and pedestrians can, too. It may be more likely because there is less social pressure to avoid texting and walking when on the sidewalk or in a crosswalk. Thus, pedestrians do not feel they are doing it wrong, even if it may cause an accident. Of course, when a pedestrian is crossing in a crosswalk with a walk sign lit, he is unlikely to stray outside the crosswalk. And if he did, he is less likely to kill someone the way a distracted driver might. However, there are still ramifications. For example, drivers may see pedestrians stray from the crosswalk and into the road. This sudden realization may cause the driver to swerve into another car’s lane, causing an accident. There is a question of law regarding who is ultimately liable for the damage to the second vehicle.
For pedestrians, if you are planning on drinking, plan on using public transportation such as the Metro, take a rideshare service, or walk with a sober friend. To avoid jaywalking, ensure you use crosswalks and pedestrian signals when available. Further, seek to make eye contact with drivers to ensure they seek you and are slowing down before walking into the crosswalk, even if you have the right-of-way. This is especially important if you believe the driver himself is distracted or looking down at a smartphone.
Moreover, always wait for traffic signals to indicate that pedestrians have the right of way. Walking before the lit walk sign can be tempting, especially if you do not see or hear cars around. However, you never know how fast a car will be coming around the corner. Accordingly, you are better off waiting.
As discussed above, speeding is a leading cause of pedestrian accidents in Washington, D.C. While sometimes unavoidable, look to avoid walking on roads with higher speed limits. If it is unavoidable, wear bright or reflective clothing and remain vigilant.
If you have any questions regarding common causes of DC pedestrian accidents, contact our office today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Our phones are open 24/7 at (202) 331-7227.