Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Connecticut

Pedestrian accidents occur far too often in Connecticut. In fact, pedestrian fatalities are increasing across the state despite efforts to prevent accidents involving pedestrians. Understanding the common causes of pedestrian accidents in Connecticut can help raise awareness and promote safer roadways. Being struck by a vehicle commonly causes catastrophic injuries that accident victims must struggle to recover from for months or years, and in some cases, these accidents cause permanent damage to pedestrians.

The pedestrian accident attorneys at D’Amico Pettinicchi Injury Lawyers work tirelessly to hold at-fault drivers accountable for the harm they cause when they strike pedestrians. When you need experienced representation and caring advocacy, you can trust our legal team to support your physical, emotional, and financial recovery.

Driver Behavior and Pedestrian Accidents

Many pedestrian accidents are caused by negligent driver behavior. Connecticut has multiple laws dictating pedestrian and vehicle right-of-way, but the general rule is that a pedestrian who is legally crossing the street in a crosswalk has the right-of-way, and drivers must yield. Common driver behaviors that can cause collisions with pedestrians include:

  • Failing to yield the right-of-way
  • Speeding
  • Ignoring traffic lights or signals
  • Driving under the influence
  • Distracted driving
  • Road rage and aggressive driving

It’s important for pedestrians to understand the rules of the road and take steps to ensure they are traveling as safely as possible. Drivers contribute to many pedestrian accidents in Connecticut, but people traveling on foot can also cause accidents if they are not paying attention to signs and traffic patterns.

Other Factors Contributing to Connecticut Pedestrian Accidents

American streets, in general, are not known for their walkability. The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy ranked the United States 107th on the list of countries with people living near services, which affects walkability. Only 9% of the US population lives near a protected bikeway.

The average walkability score of the 32 largest cities in Connecticut is 40, which ranks the state as car-dependent. The most walkable city in Connecticut is New Haven, with a walk score of 68, but even that score only ranks the city as somewhat walkable.

Infrastructure that does not support or prioritize pedestrians leads to higher pedestrian accident rates. Additional factors that can impact collisions involving pedestrians include the time of day and year:

An Experienced Advocate for Injured Pedestrians in Connecticut

You do not need to go through the process of seeking compensation alone. The pedestrian accident attorneys at D’Amico Pettinicchi Injury Lawyers have extensive experience with similar cases and can guide you through the process to make fighting for financial recovery as simple as possible. We know the common causes of pedestrian accidents in Connecticut and how to collect evidence to build a strong case on your behalf. You only have a limited amount of time to take legal action after an accident, and waiting too long can mean you lose your chance to seek compensation.

We offer free in-person and virtual consultations, so contact us today to get started.