When there is an auto accident in Ontario or elsewhere in Canada, people who are among the most vulnerable to injury and death are pedestrians and bicyclists. There are many preconceived notions as to why this is the case, including encountering a drunk driver, a distracted driver or a reckless driver. However, there are often other reasons for the prevalence of pedestrian accidents, especially in certain areas.
Analysis of low-income parts of Toronto indicates that pedestrians are at greater risk than in more affluent locations. CBC Toronto used more than a decade of police records to come to its conclusions. One area was specifically dangerous with five pedestrian fatalities from 2008 to 2018. This is notable because the area’s 2016 annual income per household was almost 70% less than the city median. During that same time, 25 pedestrians were seriously hurt after being hit by an automobile.
Nearly half of the pedestrian accidents in which the victim was seriously injured or died occurred in poorer neighborhoods. It was worse when split into at-risk groups including people older than 65 and younger than 20. The Hospital for Sick Children conducted a study that supported the CBC Toronto report. A separate factor in pedestrian danger is road design. This puts everyone, not just low-income people, at higher risk. With the cost of living on the rise, families move to suburban areas where vehicles drive at greater speeds.
In 2018, there were 45 pedestrian deaths in Toronto. This is the most in 10 years. Pedestrian vulnerability in a car crash renders them prone to brain trauma, spinal cord damage, broken bones, long-term injuries and death. After a pedestrian-auto accident, it may be necessary to seek compensation through a legal filing. A lawyer experienced in personal injury cases involving pedestrians might be able to help.
