Raleigh Pedestrian Accident Kills One Teen and Injures Another
14-Year-Old Lindsey Fensmire died from injuries she sustained in a Raleigh pedestrian accident on Friday. Another teen, 14-year-old Krista Carcaterra, also was injured. The two girls reportedly ran in front of traffic on a five-lane road.
No criminal charges are expected to be filed against Ronald Blackwell, the Wilson driver of the SUV that struck the two girls. However, city officials are looking into whether there are safety issues involving the road that need to be addressed.
The two girls were not using a crosswalk when the vehicle struck them. Residents want the city to install a crosswalk or a traffic signal in the area where the North Carolina pedestrian accident happened. The closest crosswalk is a few hundred feet away.
North Carolina Pedestrian Accidents
In addition to pedestrian error, driver negligence, and auto products liability, poor road design is another cause of pedestrian accidents. According to Transportation for America, more than 50% of pedestrian fatalities take place on poorly designed arterials that, for the sake of moving as many vehicles through the area, are made up of multiple lanes without enough sidewalks, crossing signals, and crosswalks.
Roads that don’t take pedestrians into account can be high risk areas for bicyclists and people that choose to walk. You may be hold a city liable for failing to design a road properly for pedestrians if traffic injuries or deaths occur. This is why you should speak with a Raleigh, North Carolina pedestrian accident lawyer about your case.
Sidewalks, pedestrian refuge medians, traffic signals, pedestrian lanes, improved road geometry, and lower speed limits are some elements that can improve a road for pedestrians.
Road Safety Where Teen Killed Under Review, Wake MYNC.com, March 29, 2010
Investigators say 2 NC teens hit by car ran out in traffic, 1 girl killed, WTKR, March 28, 2010
Related Web Resources:
Raleigh among most dangerous cities for pedestrians, WRAL, November 4, 2009
City of Raleigh
