Los Angeles is a city that is considered friendly for people who walk or bicycle. A recent study by The Los Angeles Times found, however, that there are some intersections in the city that pose very serious risks to pedestrians. The study took pedestrian accidents from 2002 through 2013 into account, and the results were fairly shocking.
During the timeframe studied, pedestrian accidents accounted for only about 1 in 10 road accidents, but they also resulted in 35 percent of the total fatalities. At 579 intersections in Los Angeles, the rate of pedestrian-vehicle accidents is much greater than the county's average. This shows that the city might need to work on improving safety for pedestrians.
Some of the most dangerous intersections in Los Angeles were located in Resurgent downtown, which saw more than 600 pedestrians being struck by vehicles. Westlake and Koreatown came in second and third for the locations with the most unsafe intersections for pedestrians. Some of the major tourist areas, such as Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood Blvd., or Sunset Blvd were also listed as among the most unsafe for pedestrians.
In some cases, pedestrian accidents could be avoided if drivers would stop trying to inch through crosswalks to make turns. In other cases, if the drivers would slow down and obey traffic laws, pedestrian accidents could be avoided. When pedestrians are struck by vehicles, they may be entitled to compensation for their injuries. If you or someone you know is a victim in a pedestrian-vehicle accident, don’t hesitate to seek help from a personal injury attorney to get the compensation you deserve.
