Over the weekend, a truck hit a Good Samaritan while she was rescuing a lost dog in Buncombe County. According to WLOS ABC News Channel 13, the incident happened on Saturday evening on Pisgah Highway. There was a small dog running loose in the roadway, so she decided to pull over and try to save it. She was able to grab the dog before a truck hit her. She suffered from injuries ranging from a broken eye socket and lacerations on her face to a broken leg. The small dog, a Bichon Frise named Max, was rushed to a veterinary hospital and treated for minor injuries. He was reunited with his owner on Sunday.

U.S. Pedestrian Collision Statistics

In 2015, an estimated 70,000 pedestrians were injured in crashes.

And additional 5,376 pedestrians were killed in crashes in 2015.

In 2014, 4,910 pedestrians were killed in U.S. automobile crashes.

On average, a pedestrian was killed nearly every 1.6 hours and injured more than every 7.5 minutes in U.S. crashes in 2015.

In 2015, pedestrian deaths accounted for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities in the U.S.

Improving Pedestrian Safety

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Everyone is a Pedestrian campaign is aimed at raising awareness about the dangers that pedestrians face on U.S. roadways. Pedestrians can improve their personal safety by always using crosswalks when available and engaging in safe practices when sharing roadways and using sidewalks near roadways, but ultimately, drivers need to be on the lookout for pedestrians and other vulnerable roadway users. You can’t share the road safely and text at the same time. Making a commitment to distraction-free driving is the first step in improving pedestrian safety in North Carolina and across the nation.

Asheville Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

After any type of accident involving an automobile and a pedestrian, it’s a good idea to speak with a lawyer about your claim. Pedestrians remain one of the most vulnerable roadway user groups, and even at relatively low speeds, collisions can be catastrophic or fatal. A personal injury lawyer can be your advocate and fight to get you the compensation you deserve after your accident.

If you have been injured or if you have lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident in or around the Asheville area, contact the skilled and proven Personal Injury team at Davis Law Group, P.A. at 828-279-7799 for a free case consultation today.