This is sad news for a number of reasons. For one, despite the fact that, overall, traffic deaths have decreased by over 5 percent in the last decade, the number of traffic-related pedestrian fatalities has increased by 35 percent.

On a related point, if the estimates hold, 2018 will be the first time since 1990 in which the number of pedestrian deaths has topped 6,000. Indeed, while we seem to be moving forward with respect to traffic safety overall, the country at large is heading in the wrong direction when it comes to keeping pedestrians safe.

The other sad note is that these statistics fly in the face both of all kinds of improvements in technology and of other efforts on the part of lawmakers, law enforcement officers and safety adovcates. This is so much so that some are now calling for a federal regulatory agency to take the first steps in intervening to solve a problem that so far has defied any solution proposed on the local level.

It should be noted though that what may be called the usual suspects have again been blamed for the continued problems with pedestrian safety. Specifically, drunk driving and distracted driving, particularly texting and driving, have caused a lot of these otherwise preventable fatal pedestrian accidents.

While not every Indiana pedestrian accident is the fault of the driver, many are. If a Jeffersonville resident has been hurt while walking across or along the roads of this state, they may have legal options. Likewise, families of deceased victims may be able to get compensation.