The New York City area accounted for an astounding 31% of all traffic deaths in the state, while Buffalo was second-worst at 19%. Brooklyn was the most dangerous borough, followed by Manhattan and Queens.
Long Island was particularly alarming. Nassau and Suffolk were the third and fourth most dangerous state counties for pedestrians. Transportation for America listed a lack of sidewalks, lack of crosswalks, and high automobile speeds, among other things, as causes for suburban deaths.
Over one of five (22.5%) total traffic deaths in the state were pedestrian casualties (3,222 pedestrian deaths).
Minorities and the elderly held the greatest percentages of pedestrian fatalities per capita. Hispanics were 67% more likely than non-Hispanic whites to suffer a pedestrian casualty. African Americans were 20% more likely. Seniors over 65 years of age were 283% more likely to suffer a pedestrian fatalities than younger New Yorkers. Additionally, 205 children below the age of 15 were killed as pedestrians. This is the 3rd highest cause of unintentional death for children under 15 in the nation.
Advocates are using these figures to illuminate their requests for more federal funds to state construction projects and for a greater share of the Department of Transportation's funds to go toward safer roads. Today, safer road construction accounts for only 1.5% of federal fund allocation in the state of New York.
If you were injured as a pedestrian, I urge you to pick up the phone and call me. I can help. This is what I do every single day. I help people solve their legal problems as a result of somebody else's carelessness. You can reach me at 516-487-8207 or by e-mail at lawmed10@yahoo.com to answer your questions.
Gerry practices law exclusively in the State of New York. Within New York he practices primarily in the following counties: New York, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, Nassau and Suffolk. Technically, Brooklyn is known as "Kings County," and Manhattan and New York City are known as "New York County." Staten Island is known as "Richmond County." These counties make up the New York metropolitan area.
