A lack of safety for pedestrians in Bakersfield has been an enormous problem for many years and now researchers are finding that it’s a local danger that ranks among the worst in the entire country.
In 2021, Smart Growth America studied pedestrian accident rates over the last decade across the U.S. They found that Bakersfield was the second most dangerous city in America for anyone on foot. From 2010 to 2019, Bakersfield recorded a tragic 260 pedestrian deaths equating to 2.9 fatalities per 100,000 people a year. Stockton, Fresno, and Riverside also made the top 25 for pedestrian dangers.
Across the nation in 2019, 6,237 pedestrians were killed equating to more than 17 lives claimed every day. It’s an astonishing rate that only underlines the need for safer passage for pedestrians through Bakersfield and more awareness from careless drivers on our streets and highways.
Woman Tragically Struck And Killed in Bakersfield
A woman hit by a car in Central Bakersfield lost her life on Wednesday night. KGET-TV reported the accident happened just before 10 p.m. on the 1100 block of Union Avenue on March 24, 2021.
Bakersfield Police found the victim suffering from major injuries from a collision with a car and was pronounced dead at the scene. The vehicle involved in the accident continued on to crash into a fence nearby.
Police investigators did not believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash. Their investigation into what led to the tragic accident continues.
Support for Families After Bakersfield Pedestrian Accidents
Families will experience so much loss and frustration after a tragic pedestrian accident. They will be left to deal with the emotional trauma of losing a loved one so suddenly and also wonder how justice can be served after such a heartbreaking loss.
Drivers are required to show a “duty of care” to any pedestrian no matter where they encounter them. This legal responsibility is meant to keep drivers vigilant any time a pedestrian could be nearby, even when they travel outside a crosswalk. Motorists are required to proceed with extreme caution due to the defenseless state in which someone on foot is forced to travel.
To protect families from the financial fallout that arises after a tragedy, close relatives are permitted to file a wrongful death claim against an at-fault driver’s car insurance coverage. This claim can demand help with funeral and burial expenses, and emergency response and ambulance fees. A wrongful death lawsuit can also ensure that family members are protected in the years to come as they move on with life without the emotional and financial support the deceased would have provided.
Contact a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Serving Bakersfield
If you’ve lost a loved one in a tragic pedestrian accident you should talk to a local attorney about the legal options available for you and your family to protect you from further hardships.
Contact an experienced Bakersfield pedestrian accident lawyer such as Martin Gasparian for a free and confidential case evaluation. Mr. Gasparian works closely with families to make sure they are allowed time to grieve without the worry and stress of financial burdens that can arise after a tragedy.
