Car Accidents, Pedestrian Accidents Archives

Austin Approves More Sky Bridges to Keep Pedestrians Safe

Traffic accidents in Austin are at an all-time high.

So far this year, traffic accidents have caused 81 deaths – making 2015 one of the deadliest years on record. What’s even more troubling is that one-third of those fatalities involved pedestrians, which is double the national average. In order to prevent accidents involving pedestrians, and make our streets safer, the City of Austin has just approved the construction of 3 new sky bridges.
The University of Texas, Seton Healthcare Family, and The Fairmont Austin were all granted city approval to build sky bridges over our city’s streets. Currently, there are only 2 sky bridges in Austin, extending over Hartland Plaza and Lavaca Plaza, and the new bridges will help connect pedestrians to growing and highly trafficked parts of the city.

The city was in opposition to sky bridges at first because of the concern that they would take pedestrians away from crossing at street level which could affect the public’s perception of Austin being a pedestrian-friendly city. However, concerns for pedestrian safety eventually won out. The new sky bridges will not only improve safety for pedestrians but will also add a new level of convenience for residents and tourists alike.

In areas where a high volume of pedestrians cross every day, a driver who strikes a pedestrian may be considered negligent if he or she was driving carelessly or should have been able to avoid the accident using an ordinary level of care. If you or someone you know was injured in a pedestrian accident, an Austin Pedestrian Accident Attorney may be able to help you recover damages to help cover the costs of medical bills, rehabilitation, lost wages and pain and suffering. Contact TK Injury Lawyers today at 512-910-2000 to schedule a free consultation.