What Causes Pedestrian Accidents? Driver and Road Risks

Pedestrian crashes change lives in a heartbeat, leaving families with sudden medical bills and hard questions. If you walk in your neighborhood, to school, or through a busy downtown, you already know how one careless moment can put someone on the ground.

At The Leach Firm, P.A., we help injured people all across Florida and Georgia, and we take this topic personally. Our goal here is simple: to break down how driver choices and roadway conditions combine to cause pedestrian accidents, and what you can do next if you are hurt.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics At A Glance

National data paints a tough picture. NHTSA reports 7,314 pedestrian deaths and more than 68,000 injuries in 2023, and the CDC tracked over 8,000 deaths and about 140,000 emergency visits in 2022. Pedestrians make up roughly one in five traffic deaths, which shows how exposed people on foot really are.

Risk also varies by time and day. Research shows injury crashes often spike between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., while fatal crashes cluster at night when visibility drops. Crashes tend to rise on Fridays and Saturdays, when both driving and walking activity increase.

These numbers highlight a pattern, but they also point to solutions that reduce risk where people actually walk.

Driver-Related Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Driver behavior sits at the center of many pedestrian crashes. Seconds matter, and small choices in a car can set off a chain reaction that ends at a crosswalk or bus stop.

Distracted Driving

Distraction cuts reaction time and shrinks a driver’s field of attention. A driver looking down or fiddling with the console can miss a person stepping off a curb. Even a brief look away can be enough to cause a serious impact.

Common distractions include:

• Texting or reading notifications.
• Phone calls and voice commands.
• Eating, grooming, or reaching for items.
• Adjusting GPS, music, or climate controls.

Once the driver notices a person in the road, it might already be too late to stop.

Speeding

Speed reduces the time to see and react, and it stretches stopping distance. It also raises injury severity for the person on foot, especially at impact speeds above 25 to 30 mph. School zones, neighborhoods, and downtown streets become far more dangerous when drivers push limits.

Impaired Driving

Alcohol and drugs blunt judgment, slow reflexes, and distort distance. Crosswalks and intersections are especially risky when an impaired driver approaches a turn or a changing light. CDC data shows alcohol was involved for the driver and/or the pedestrian in nearly half of fatal pedestrian crashes in 2022.

Failure to Yield

Drivers must yield to people in crosswalks and at intersections. Inattention or impatience often leads to roll-through turns, blocked crosswalks, and drivers passing a stopped car that hid a pedestrian. Busy areas with constant foot traffic magnify these risks.

Inexperienced Drivers

New drivers can misread gaps, panic under pressure, or stare at other cars instead of the crosswalk. That makes pedestrian-heavy areas confusing and tense. Strong driver education on pedestrian right-of-way and scanning habits can save lives.

Reckless Driving

Disregarding lights, speeding through turns, and weaving can place pedestrians directly in harm’s way. People legally crossing a street face the brunt of this behavior, often with no chance to avoid impact.

Roadway and Environmental Factors in Pedestrian Accidents

Road design and surroundings shape driver choices and pedestrian exposure. A street can either invite safe behavior or it can set drivers and walkers up for conflict.

Poor Visibility

Limited sight distance makes crashes more likely. Darkness, heavy rain, glare, and fog all shrink the window to see someone stepping off a curb. Rural and suburban corridors with few lights can be especially unforgiving.

Common visibility problems include:

• Nighttime or early-morning darkness.
• Rain, fog, or strong glare.
• Inadequate street lighting or shaded stretches.

Better lighting and slower speeds in these spots reduce the chance of surprise.

Inadequate Crosswalks and Signals

Missing or faded crosswalks leave people guessing where to cross. Weak signal timing or a lack of pedestrian signals can also lead to confusion and risky crossings. In fast-paced areas, some people step off early to keep moving.

Midblock desire lines matter, too. Where everyday routes do not match crossing points, people cross where cars do not expect them, raising crash counts.

Poor Road Maintenance

Potholes, rutting, and uneven surfaces cause drivers to focus on the pavement instead of the crosswalk ahead. That same damage can push walkers closer to traffic or off the sidewalk. Sidewalk gaps, broken slabs, and missing curb ramps add risk for strollers, wheelchairs, and older adults.

Weather Conditions

Rain, snow, and fog cut visibility and traction for everyone. Drivers need more distance to stop, and pedestrians may move quicker to get out of the weather. Slippery surfaces also reduce a walker’s ability to change direction to avoid a car.

Multi-Lane Roads and Arterial Roads

High-volume roads bring speed, frequent lane changes, and longer crossing distances. Drivers often focus on other vehicles changing lanes, speeding, or tailgating, not on a person trying to cross. That mix raises both crash risk and injury severity.

 

Factor	How Risk Increases	Notes
Higher speed	Less time to react and longer stopping distance	Severe injury risk jumps above 25 to 30 mph
Poor lighting	Drivers see pedestrians later	Night crashes are more likely to be fatal
Unmarked crossings	Drivers do not expect people to cross	Midblock crashes are common without crosswalks
Multilane roads	Multiple conflict points and longer exposure	Often tied to serious or fatal outcomes
Alcohol impairment	Slower reactions and poor judgment	Present in many fatal pedestrian crashes

 

These features often show up together, which is why targeted fixes can produce clear safety gains.

Pedestrian Behavior Contributing to Accidents

Drivers and road design matter a lot, yet pedestrian choices can raise or lower risk in the moment. None of this blames the person on foot…it helps all of us spot danger sooner.

Jaywalking

Jaywalking means crossing outside a marked crosswalk or against a signal. Drivers do not expect a person in the middle of a block, especially at night or during rain. Suburban jaywalking grows where sidewalks and crossings are sparse, putting walkers near fast traffic.

Distraction

Looking at a phone or wearing headphones reduces scanning and timing. People may step off the curb without checking for turning cars or a late red-light runner. Even a quick glance can be enough to miss a fast-approaching vehicle.

Intoxication

Alcohol affects balance, timing, and judgment in pedestrians as well. Drunken walkers often miss important visual cues, poor lighting, and bad weather. That combination makes missteps and risky crossings more likely.

Failure to Obey Traffic Signals

Walk and Don’t Walk signals create a safer gap to cross. Pushing through the end of a signal or starting early increases conflict with turning cars. Many people are not familiar with local rules for pedestrian right-of-way, which fuels confusion.

Following the Leader

Groups often move with the first person who steps off the curb. When the “frontliners” go, “backfielders” may follow without checking traffic themselves. That herd effect can turn one bad judgment into a multi-person crash.

Legal Recourse for Pedestrian Accident Victims

If a driver’s carelessness injured you, you can pursue compensation for medical care, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. Every case turns on facts like speed, lighting, signals, and each party’s choices. Speaking with a personal injury attorney helps you make a plan that fits your situation.

Strong cases are built on proof gathered early. Helpful evidence includes:

• Photos or video of the scene, skid marks, signals, and lighting.
• Witness names, police reports, and any traffic citations.
• Medical records, bills, and notes about symptoms and limitations.

Also, think about long-term effects such as future treatment, missed work, or lasting pain that changes daily life.

Were You Injured in a Pedestrian Accident? Contact The Leach Firm, P.A., Today

The Leach Firm, P.A., stands up for injured pedestrians across Florida and Georgia. We push for full and fair compensation and hold careless drivers accountable. If you have questions about fault, insurance, or next steps, reach out and tell us what happened. We welcome your questions and will fight to protect your rights from day one.