Houston Records Third-Highest Pedestrian Deaths in the Nation
What's causing so many pedestrian crashes in Houston?
Houston had the third-highest number of pedestrian fatalities among cities nationwide in 2023, according to the most recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data.
“We’ve known for a long time that Houston has a serious crash problem,” Robin Holzer, director of LINK Houston, a transportation advocacy group, said in an interview with Click 2 Houston about the recent pedestrian accident statistics.
Pedestrian accidents are on the rise
In recent years, the number of pedestrian fatalities in Houston and the surrounding area has continued to climb higher nearly every year. In 2023, there were 98 pedestrian deaths in Houston, making it the third-deadliest city for pedestrians that year. Only Los Angeles (145 deaths) and Phoenix (109 deaths) had more pedestrian fatalities in 2023, according to the most recent NHTSA pedestrian accident data.
And when you take into account the surrounding communities near Houston, the death toll is even more alarming. In Harris County, which includes Houston, there were 169 pedestrian deaths in 2023. That figure is less than the year before (177 pedestrian deaths in Harris County in 2022) but significantly higher compared to previous years, including 2019, when there were 119 pedestrian fatalities in Harris County, Texas, according to NHTSA data.
Pedestrian accident hotspots in Houston
While pedestrian accidents can happen anywhere at any time, certain streets and intersections in Houston have more incidents than others. A recent Washington Post study identified some of these pedestrian accident hot spots in Houston as part of a nationwide study of the country's deadliest roads.
Based on accident data from 2010 to 2023, there were 36 pedestrian deaths on a 3.5-mile-long stretch of Westheimer Road in Houston. Farm to Market Road (FMR) 1960 in Houston also made it onto the national list of the most dangerous roads for pedestrians from 2021 to 2023.
Common causes of pedestrian crashes
Pedestrian accidents in Houston are caused by a wide range of factors. Some of the most common reasons include:
- Speeding drivers who don’t slow down for pedestrians crossing the street.
- Distracted drivers, especially texting drivers, who don’t see pedestrians because they aren't focused on the road.
- Aggressive drivers who don’t share the road with people crossing the street or walking alongside a road.
- Drunk drivers under the influence of alcohol who cause pedestrian accidents.
- Drowsy drivers who fall asleep at the wheel and hit pedestrians.
Keeping Houston pedestrians safe
There are measures that can be taken to reduce pedestrian crashes in Houston. For instance, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) outlined some of those suggested changes in the Click 2 Houston article, including:
- Updating and enhancing pedestrian crosswalks, especially on Westheimer Road and I-610 in Houston.
- Placing reflective stripping on roads where pedestrians can often be found.
- Redesigning roads with pedestrians and vehicles in mind.
- Encouraging Houston drivers to slow down.
Other ways to prevent pedestrian accidents include:
- Installing better street lighting, especially at crosswalks.
- Making sure crosswalks are clearly visible to drivers.
- Enforcing existing traffic laws, especially if drivers run a red light or don’t stop at a crosswalk, resulting in a pedestrian accident.
Let Smith & Hassler fight for the compensation you deserve
Pedestrians often sustain severe injuries when drivers make mistakes on the road in Houston. All it takes is one distracted or speeding driver to cause a catastrophic pedestrian injury. Worst of all, many drivers deny doing anything wrong, and their insurance companies often agree with them in an attempt to avoid paying injured pedestrians the money they deserve.
Our Houston pedestrian accident attorneys at Smith & Hassler know the games insurance companies often play and how to effectively respond in such situations. We won’t waste a minute getting to work on gathering evidence in support of your pedestrian injury claim or lawsuit. That’s why we consistently obtain meaningful settlements and verdicts for our clients. We do the work that needs to be done to do the job right.
Get the Houston law firm that knows how to get results. Contact us and schedule a free consultation with a Houston pedestrian accident lawyer who puts your best interests first. We’re here to help you demand the justice and financial compensation you deserve.
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