Pedestrian Injuries Vehicles on the Rise in Michigan

by | Feb 18, 2019 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

Michigan has seen a significant rise in serious crash injuries, recently documented in a report by The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG). According to the report, vehicle-on-pedestrian and cyclist crashes make up one percent of all accidents; but, in Southeast Michigan, these make up 30 percent of all traffic fatalities.

The alarming serious injury statistics involving crashes between non-motorists and vehicles has spurred SEMCOG to create a safe travel interactive database and map to assist communities in the Southeast Michigan area.

Drivers Being Urged to Be More Careful

SEMCOG’s report detailed that the number of crashes hasn’t risen from the previous year. The statistics are up nine percent from a decade ago, and the crash data did show that non-motorist serious injuries jumped significantly. Weak traffic laws, distracted drivers, and unsafe travel paths were considered strong contributing factors in this increase.

Whether it’s crossing a street or sharing the same path as vehicle traffic, pedestrians and cyclists commonly share space with moving vehicles. Without the physical barrier of protection from a car, these people are more likely to suffer severe and deadly injuries than the occupants of the vehicle involved in a crash.

Eight Road Safety Tips for When Vehicles Interact with Cyclists and Pedestrians

Michigan lawmakers are aware of the crash problem, and they’re always working to improve the safety on all Michigan roadways. In the meantime, here are some helpful tips drivers can use as they interact with non-vehicle traffic:

1. Clearance marker – Use a five to six-foot clearance marker as a general guide to ensure cyclists have enough room on the road.

2. Be courteous – Look twice at intersections and stops. Don’t drive angrily and remember that pedestrians do have the right of way.

3. Take extra precautions – Left turn lanes present an unusually high risk of accident due to blind spots in vehicles and the smaller size of pedestrians and cyclists.

4. Use the horn – Give cyclists and pedestrians a friendly honk of the horn if they’re seen engaging in unsafe practices or not paying attention, such as by operating a phone as they walk or ride. Do the same for those who may not see oncoming traffic, such as from carrying objects or children.

5. Pay attention when reversing – Manually check behind the vehicle, use the mirrors, and be alert for the vehicle’s back-up alarm warnings. Check twice before slowly and cautiously proceeding in reverse. Keeping mind that small children and short adults may not be seen behind the vehicle, especially if the car is high-profile.

6. Avoid speeding – especially through heavy pedestrian areas such as parking lots, school zones, and residential areas. When you’re flying down the road, it reduces your capacity to react. Speeding increases the risk of a car accident for everyone around you.

7. Respect bicycle lanes – While considered part of the roadway, Michigan law prohibits motorists from parking and driving on bicycle lanes.

8. Abide by general traffic laws – Mind school bus stop signals, caution lights, and so forth. Stay alert. Don’t be a distracted driver by eating, texting, and talking on the phone, or any other activity that removes eyes from the roadway.

Pedestrians and cyclists injured in a vehicle crash should consult a Michigan personal injury attorney immediately to protect their rights. Such injuries can result in thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills and loss of work. It can also cause significant personal harm and physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering. Frustration and confusion over the legal process only add to the burden. Contacting a personal injury attorney is the best way to protect your right to compensation and gain a clear picture of the legalities involved in seeking personal injury compensation.

Finding a Michigan Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Attorneys with Michigan Legal Center have spent the last 20 years helping individuals collect compensation after a car accident. For a free consultation call 1-800-961-8477 or complete our contact form. Having an attorney there to fight for your rights is essential to receiving the money you need to recover from your injuries.

Detroit, MI – Car Crash Causes Injuries on I-696 at M-10

Detroit, MI (September 21, 2023) - According to an initial accident alert issued by the Detroit Police Department, a multiple-vehicle collision that occurred on Thursday, September 21, necessitated the involvement of local officers and EMTs. Additionally, the Michigan...

Detroit, MI – Two-Vehicle Collision w/Injuries at Garfield & 14 Mile

Detroit, MI (September 21, 2023) - At least one individual was injured on the afternoon of Thursday, September 21, due to an accident involving two or three vehicles that occurred on Garfield Road in Detroit. The collision occurred around 2:30 p.m. in the afternoon on...

Detroit, MI – Injury-Causing Accident on 14 Mile Rd at Groesbeck Hwy

Detroit, MI (September 21, 2023) - On Thursday evening, September 21, police were called to an accident involving two to three vehicles in the greater Detroit area. On Thursday at around 11:30 p.m. in the evening, there was an accident near the corner of 14 Mile Road...

Lansing, MI – Two Hospitalized in Pedestrian Wreck on Jolly Rd

Lansing, MI (September 21, 2023) - Two persons were hit by a vehicle Thursday night and sustained minor injuries, per officers from the Lansing Police Department. The accident occurred in the 2500 block of East Jolly Road. Lansing Police reported that both victims...

Detroit, MI – I-94 Site of Injury Car Accident at Concord Rd

Detroit, MI (September 21, 2023) - On Thursday, September 21, two or three drivers crashed on eastbound Interstate 94 in the city of Detroit, resulting in at least one injury. At around 6:00 a.m., an accident occurred in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 94 near the...

Grand Rapids, MI – Worker Killed in Jobsite Accident at Briggs Field

Grand Rapids, MI (September 21, 2023) - On Wednesday, September 19, a worker for Grand Rapids Public Schools was killed in a job site accident. At noon, while working at Briggs Field Athletic Facility, an employee was injured while riding a lawnmower.  The exact...

Detroit, MI – Injuries Recorded in Vehicle Wreck on M-39 at Joy Rd

Detroit, MI (September 21, 2023) - On Thursday morning, September 21, officers with the Detroit Police Department received a collision alert and a report of injuries at the scene of a multiple-vehicle accident on Highway 39. Right around 8:45 a.m. on the northbound...

Portage, MI – Teen Hit, Injured in Pedestrian Wreck on Kilgore Rd

Portage, MI (September 21, 2023) - Nick Armold, the chief of the Portage Department of Public Safety, stated that on Thursday morning, one of three 15-year-old girls heading to Loy Norrix High School was hit by a car. Armold said that the girls had been walking on the...

Detroit, MI – Car Accident, Injuries on I-696 at Orchard Lake

Detroit, MI (September 20, 2023) - On September 20, officers with the Detroit Police Department received a collision alert and a report of injuries at the scene of a multiple-vehicle accident on Interstate 696. Right around 9:00 a.m. on the eastbound side of the...

Kalamazoo, MI – Pedestrian Hospitalized in Crash on King Hwy at Mills

Kalamazoo, MI (September 20, 2023) - On Wednesday, a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle in Kalamazoo, according to the department. Traffic was blocked due to the accident on King Highway near Mills Street, and it was requested that motorists find an alternative route....