Georgia Injury Law Blog
In so many areas of American life, there is a before the pandemic and after the pandemic. One of these areas, unfortunately, concerns pedestrian deaths. During and after the pandemic, pedestrian deaths spiked, with 7,485 deaths in 2021, the highest number in 40 years. Thankfully, pedestrian deaths are on the decline. In 2025, deaths per 100,000 population dropped below 2.0 for the first time since the pandemic with a 7% decrease from 2024. Unfortunately, this is still 5% higher than pre-pandemic levels, with a total of 6,732 pedestrians killed by motor vehicles. In addition to the total numbers of fatalities, State Highway Safety Offices’ data was analyzed by Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), and they discovered the following insights about pedestrian accidents and deaths.
- More than 1,100 people (15% of all pedestrian deaths) died on freeways and interstates, which aren’t designed for people walking. This number includes people not normally considered pedestrians, such as first responders and tow truck drivers. Many people are also injured or killed when exiting vehicles after an accident or car breakdown. This highlights the need to stay in your vehicle after an accident until first responders arrive, and not to leave the vehicle unless necessary.
- SUVs and pickups account for more than half of pedestrian fatalities. In 2024, 50.4% of pedestrian fatalities were related to light trucks, which includes pickup trucks, SUVs, and vans, whereas 40.6% were caused by passenger cars. As more Americans drive large vehicles, pedestrian fatalities are likely to continue rising, even as deaths for auto passengers decline.