Technology is changing rapidly, particularly when it comes to our vehicles. Many passenger vehicles on the market have advanced driving features that work to improve safety on the roadway. Some of these features even make a car semi-autonomous. At the Law Office of Julie Johnson, we understand that these improved safety features do not mean there are no accidents. They do not absolve a driver from their negligent actions. Today, our Dallas pedestrian accident attorneys want to discuss automatic braking systems and pedestrians.
A pedestrian is killed every 88 minutes in the US due to a car crash. In many cases, these incidents happen due to a driver’s negligence, and while a pedestrian has the right-of-way. Over the years, state and federal officials have done everything they can to increase driver awareness, including public service announcements and legislation aimed at curbing distracted driving. Unfortunately, these incidents keep happening.
Many in the auto industry have touted new advancements such as automatic braking. These systems are supposed to monitor the roadway for the driver and stop the car if the driver fails to do so quickly enough if an obstacle appears. However, AAA experts tested these automatic braking systems with pedestrian accident scenarios and found that they fail most of the time.
The system failed 90% of the time when tested with a simulation of a child darting out between two cars and the vehicle going 20 mph. They failed 80% of the time coming around corners and encountering a pedestrian. They also failed 80% of the time when encountering two stationary adults while moving at 20 mph.
When looking at the data from the latest reporting year in Texas, we know that there were a total of 5,767 pedestrian crashes. Out of those crashes, there were:
A high percentage of all pedestrian crashes result in serious injuries or a fatality for the pedestrian. Victims do not have much protection from the force of a vehicle slamming into them, and it is not uncommon for our Dallas pedestrian accident lawyers to see the following:
If you or a loved one have been injured in a pedestrian crash that was caused by another driver’s negligence, please seek legal assistance as soon as possible. At the Law Office of Julie Johnson, we are ready to get to work on your behalf. Let us investigate the incident so we can secure the compensation you deserve, including:
When you need a Dallas pedestrian accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or by calling us at 214-290-8001.