The Most Dangerous Areas for Pedestrians in Virginia

Pedestrian accidents in the United States have been described as a “silent epidemic” as the number of victims continues to increase year after year, reaching record levels. Almost 7,000 people are killed each year in pedestrian collisions, with another 100,000 people brought to emergency rooms suffering serious non-fatal injuries.

Here in Virginia, pedestrian accident deaths reached a record high last year, with 125 people killed after being struck by a vehicle. Even more alarming is that Virginia is on track for that record to be broken in 2022.

The Virginia personal injury attorneys at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp have been advocating for victims and their families for more than three decades, fighting to get them the financial compensation they deserve for the losses they suffer. In an effort to help decrease the number of deaths and injuries, our law firm is excited to announce the publication of a statewide pedestrian danger zone study along with a new interactive map that reveals the most dangerous areas for pedestrians in Virginia.

The map was created using data collected from the Virginia Department of Transportation on pedestrian accidents that occurred between January 1, 2015, and June 30, 2022. Our zone analysis in the overall study grouped pedestrian crashes that occurred within 250 feet of one another.

Results of Commissioned Study

As our Virginia pedestrian danger zone interactive map reveals, the 20 most dangerous areas for pedestrians are spread throughout Virginia, however, Arlington County and Richmond had the majority of dangerous areas on that list.

The number one most dangerous area in the entire state for pedestrians is located in the Alexandria Historic District in Alexandria, which had 68 accidents resulting in 78 people injured during the seven-year study period.

The second most dangerous area is located in Richmond, at the Capitol – Biotech and MCV Districts. Fifty-six people suffered injuries in the 55 pedestrian accidents that took place.

One area of Virginia Beach almost made the top 20 dangerous areas. The Pacific Avenue corridor at the Virginia Beach oceanfront, especially between 16th and 21st Streets at Pacific, landed at #12 on the list. Twenty people were injured in the 20 pedestrian accidents analyzed for the study.

Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

The Virginia Beach personal injury attorneys at our firm know that there are many different behaviors that can result in a pedestrian being struck and injured. Negligence and recklessness on the part of a driver are the top reasons for so many pedestrians being injured or killed.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the most common causes. In our study, 16 percent of all the pedestrian accidents we examined were alcohol-related. Other reasons for these collisions include distracted driving, speeding, and failure of the driver to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.

A Virginia Pedestrian Accident Attorney Can Help

Under Virginia law, when a person is injured because of the acts of a negligent or reckless driver, that driver can be held legally responsible for any losses the person sustains because of those injuries. This includes the victim’s medical expenses, loss of income if they are unable to work while they recover, pain and suffering, scarring, permanent disabilities, and more.

At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, we have extensive experience in Virginia and North Carolina pedestrian accidents with personal injuries and are dedicated to getting our clients the financial compensation they deserve, like the $227,000 pedestrian personal injury settlement our firm was able to obtain for one client who suffered a heart seizure while undergoing surgery to repair the broken leg he incurred when a driver hit him in a crosswalk.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact our firm today to schedule a free consultation with one of our skilled Virginia personal injury pedestrian attorneys and find out what legal options you may have.

Discover what we learned were the most dangerous areas for pedestrians in Virginia and check out the interactive map here: [Study] The Most Dangerous Areas for Pedestrians in Virginia.

 

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