Hybrid vehicle are extremely popular because of the enormous fuel efficiency associated with the vehicles.  Federal, state and local governments have worked aggressively to encourage hybrid sales by offering financial incentives to purchase the eco-friendly vehicles.  Despite the enthusiasm about hybrids, they continue to pose an increased threat to pedestrians.  Mississippi pedestrian accidents already account for a disproportionately high number of serious life-altering injuries and wrongful deaths.  The human body is simply not built to withstand the impact of a collision with a vehicle moving at a comparatively high rate of speed made of steel and weighing thousands of pounds.  Toyota Prius sales have reached more than a million vehicles and a growing number of foreign and domestic automakers are entering the electric car market.

Despite the obvious benefits and popularity of hybrid and electric cars, they have a darker side for pedestrians.  The vehicles are virtually silent so pedestrians may not be able to hear the vehicles approaching.  A driver who is behind the will of a hybrid vehicle has double the chance of being involved in a pedestrian accident according to a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  This study led to passage of the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act which directs the NHTSA to implement standards for a sound warning system to alert pedestrians of approaching hybrid and electric cars.

The law does not go into full effect until 2014 but some manufacturers of electric and hybrid vehicles have already begun equipping the vehicles with warning sounds to reduce the risk of pedestrian accidents.  While the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act does not impose a requirement that any specific sound be emitted by vehicles, it establishes minimum standards in terms of noise level and requires that the systems be designed so that a driver cannot disable them.

Pedestrians rely primarily on the senses of sight and hearing when evaluating potential pedestrian accident risks.  Hybrid and electric vehicles that completely eliminate one of these senses from a pedestrian’s accident avoidance tools creates an unreasonable risk of serious injury and fatalities.  While legislation and changing industry standards may eventually eliminate this problem, Mississippi pedestrian accidents will continue as long as these virtually silent vehicles remain on our roads.

If you or someone you love is injured in a Mississippi pedestrian accident, including an accident involving a hybrid, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries or loss of a loved one.  The experienced Mississippi pedestrian accident attorneys at Barrett Law have been providing tenacious representation to pedestrian accident victims for over 75 years.  We provide diligent legal representation and impassioned advocacy so we invite you to call us today at 662-834-2376 to learn how we can help.