Chicago Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Ronaldson & Kuchler Law Offices Comment on Decrease in Pedestrian Fatalities in Illinois
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) April 14, 2014 -- A government report shows pedestrian fatalities in Illinois decreased by 10 percent during the first six months of 2013, but pedestrian accidents continue to be a serious concern in Chicago, where the number of pedestrian fatalities increased dramatically in 2012, according to Chicago personal injury lawyer Glenn C. Ronaldson of Ronaldson & Kuchler Law Offices in Chicago.
Ronaldson expressed his comments in response to several articles, including a March 5, 2014, announcement from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) about the decrease in pedestrian fatalities in 2013.
“The decrease in pedestrian fatalities in Illinois in 2013 is encouraging but our law firm remains very concerned about pedestrian accidents in Chicago,” Ronaldson said. “The number of deaths in Chicago in 2012 due to pedestrian accidents was so high, even a significant decrease would still be cause for concern. While we’re encouraged by the statewide statistics for 2013, until the final numbers are in, we’re not ready to celebrate. Besides, as long as one pedestrian is killed, there’s always room for improvement.”
The Governors Highway Safety Association report compared pedestrian fatalities for the first six months of 2013 to the same time period in 2012. Nationwide, there were 1,985 pedestrian fatalities between January and June 2013, a decrease of 8.7 percent or 190 deaths compared to 2,175 fatalities during the same time period in 2012.
The statistics were slightly better for Illinois, where a total of 52 pedestrians died during the same time period in 2013. That figure represents a decrease of 10.3 percent or 6 deaths compared to the same time period in 2012, when 58 pedestrian fatalities occurred in Illinois, according to statistics compiled by the GHSA.
However, it’s important to realize that the number of fatal pedestrian accidents in Illinois in 2012 was the highest since 2007, when 172 pedestrians were killed in Illinois, according to statistics compiled by the Active Transportation Alliance. In 2012, a total of 138 pedestrians in Illinois were killed in accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
As for Chicago, 48 pedestrian fatalities occurred in 2012, the highest figure since 2008, when 52 pedestrians were killed in accidents in Chicago, according to a Chicago Sun-Times (1/21/14) article about pedestrian fatalities in Chicago.
Ironically, Chicago has been rated one of the best cities for pedestrians in the country. Walk Friendly Communities awarded Chicago a gold medal among U.S. cities for being pedestrian friendly.
All of these facts make it clear that Chicago can always do more to improve pedestrian safety, according to Chicago pedestrian accident attorney Mark A. Kuchler of Ronaldson & Kuchler Law Offices.
“More Chicago drivers need to learn to share the road with pedestrians and cyclists,” Kuchler said. “Too often, many drivers fail to focus on the task at hand. They’re often distracted by cellphones or they may be eating and driving or even watching a video or reading. There are so many dangerous forms of distractions. If you are injured or a loved one is injured or killed, you should not hesitate to seek the advice of legal counsel.”
For more information about what to do if you or a loved one was injured in a pedestrian accident in Chicago, contact our firm today at (800) 210-0136 for a free case consultation. You can also reach us by completing the online contact form.
The Governors Highway Safety Association news release cited is “New Report: Reversal in Three-Year Uptick in Pedestrian Fatalities.”
The Chicago Sun-Times article cited is “A deadly year for pedestrians: 48 die in 2012.”
About the Ronaldson & Kuchler Law Offices
Illinois law firm Ronaldson & Kuchler has earned a reputation for providing quality legal services in the Chicago area. For the past 20 years, the versatile attorneys have fought to protect the rights of personal injury and accident victims in Illinois. In addition to hearing cases involving texting and driving accidents, the legal team handles a variety of other cases, including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, construction and workplace accidents, workers compensation claims, medical malpractice and legal malpractice.
Ronaldson & Kuchler
205 West Wacker Drive
Suite 1015
Chicago, IL 60606
(800) 210-0136
http://www.rklawoffices.com
Jacob M Del Hagen, Big Voodoo Interactive, http://www.bigvoodoo.com, +1 (413) 650-0593, [email protected]
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