Yes! Pedestrian accidents are much more common than you might expect. A pedestrian crash is any crash that involves an individual who was not occupying a motor vehicle, bicycle, or other mobile forms of transportation.
In the most recent year for which statistics are available, Texas experienced 5,952 total pedestrian crashes, resulting in 656 fatalities and more than 1,200 serious injuries. These pedestrian accidents also caused nearly 2,000 non-incapacitating injuries and an additional 1,954 possible injuries.
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, Texas is particularly dangerous for pedestrians. A study found that Texas is one of five states that accounts for almost half of all pedestrian deaths in the country. Texas is ranked third for most fatalities, just behind California and Florida.
Additionally, Texas is in the top one-third of states for the number of pedestrian accident fatalities per 100,000 population.
Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents are not decreasing but are instead becoming more common. Studies show that from 2008 to 2017, pedestrian deaths increased by over 35%. The increase is not tied to any change in driving or walking frequency. Instead, the increase in accidents is tied to the design of streets, tailored for fast-moving vehicles and not for foot traffic, and a purchasing trend for large SUVs and trucks, which are more likely to kill a pedestrian in a crash.