Published by Fob James, IV | Birmingham, AL Personal Injury Attorney
If you walk to work, cross the street to grab lunch, or stroll through your neighborhood in the evening, you deserve to feel safe. But a wave of alarming new data suggests that pedestrians across the country, and right here in Birmingham, face greater danger than ever before.
According to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, pedestrian fatalities in the United States have risen by over 80% in the past 15 years, surging from a historic low of 4,109 deaths in 2009 to 7,522 fatalities in 2022. And the trend has not reversed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 7,314 pedestrians were killed in 2023 alone, with more than 68,000 injured.
Here in Jefferson County, the numbers are just as sobering. WBRC News reports that between 2012 and 2024, Jefferson County experienced a 47% increase in pedestrian deaths, with 2020 and 2023 tied for the deadliest years on record at 34 fatalities each.
“Those numbers are going up dramatically, very quickly,” AAA Alabama’s Clay Ingram told WBRC. “And really all of it is pretty much unnecessary and it can be avoided.”
Why Are Pedestrian Deaths Rising?
The AAA Foundation identified several interconnected factors driving this surge. Nearly the entire increase in pedestrian fatalities has occurred on urban arterial roads, after dark. These are the high-volume, multi-lane roads built to move traffic quickly — corridors like Highway 280, 1st Avenue North, and Green Springs Highway — where pedestrians and vehicles are forced to share space that was never designed with walkers in mind.
The ALDOT 2024 Crash Facts report recorded 967 motor vehicle fatalities statewide and over 140,000 crashes across Alabama, with distracted driving, impaired driving, and failure to yield cited as primary contributing factors. Jefferson County alone accounts for roughly 11% of all traffic deaths in the state, generating approximately 19,000 crashes per year.
Key risk factors identified by researchers include:
- Poor lighting on busy arterial roads outside of downtown
- Lack of continuous sidewalks and safe crossing locations
- High pedestrian crossing volumes without adequate signals or crosswalks
- Distracted and speeding drivers, particularly at night
- Socioeconomic disparities — a disproportionate share of deaths occur in lower-income neighborhoods where residents depend on walking to reach public transit
AAA also found that more than half of all pedestrian fatalities occur more than four miles from a city’s downtown core — precisely the suburban corridors where Birmingham has expanded rapidly and infrastructure has struggled to keep pace.
Birmingham’s Most Dangerous Areas for Pedestrians
Certain areas in and around Birmingham stand out as particularly hazardous for people on foot.
University Boulevard & 28th Street (UAB District) A TIME magazine analysis of NHTSA crash data ranked the intersection of University Boulevard and 28th Street as Alabama’s most dangerous intersection. The UAB campus generates a constant mix of students, medical professionals, hospital visitors, and vehicles navigating congested, multi-lane roads — often with inadequate pedestrian signals and driver attention split between parking and campus activity. ALDOT’s 2024 report emphasizes distracted driving as a key crash factor, and this corridor is a textbook example.
20th Street & 3rd Avenue North (Downtown Birmingham) Located in the heart of downtown, this intersection sees heavy pedestrian traffic, buses, and vehicles sharing limited space during peak hours. Abrupt stops at traffic lights, multiple crossing lanes, and high foot traffic make it one of the most collision-prone spots in the city.
Five Points South As one of Birmingham’s busiest entertainment districts, the Five Points South roundabout at 20th Street and Magnolia Avenue creates frequent right-of-way confusion for both drivers and pedestrians. Evening foot traffic from restaurants and bars compounds the risk, especially when drivers are unfamiliar with roundabout yielding rules or are distracted.
Highway 280 Corridor Highway 280 consistently ranks among the busiest and most dangerous corridors in Jefferson County. High-speed commuter traffic, frequent lane changes, and commercial driveways create numerous pedestrian conflict points — particularly near Lakeshore Drive and the Red Mountain Expressway interchange.
Green Springs Highway & Lakeshore Parkway Both corridors mix residential neighborhoods, shopping areas, and college traffic with winding roads and limited sidewalk access. Business driveways add additional pedestrian hazard points, and nighttime lighting is inconsistent along long stretches of both routes.
I-65 (Between University Blvd. & 3rd Ave. South) In October 2024, WBRC reported that a pedestrian was struck and killed on I-65 North in Birmingham after crossing the interstate at 3 a.m. This corridor remains a flash point — interstates are not designed for pedestrians, but residents in surrounding neighborhoods sometimes face circumstances that leave them few alternatives.
What to Do If You’re Hit by a Car as a Pedestrian in Birmingham
Being struck by a vehicle is a traumatic and disorienting experience. In the moments after an accident, the steps you take can significantly affect your health outcomes and your ability to recover compensation. Here is what you should do:
1. Call 911 immediately. Even if you believe your injuries are minor, you need emergency responders on the scene. A police report is essential for any future insurance claim or personal injury case.
2. Seek medical attention — do not delay. Internal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and soft tissue damage may not be immediately apparent. A medical evaluation creates documentation linking your injuries to the accident.
3. Document everything you can. If you are able, photograph the scene, your injuries, the vehicle involved, and any road conditions (poor lighting, missing crosswalk markings, etc.) that may have contributed to the crash.
4. Gather witness information. Names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the accident can be invaluable later.
5. Do not give a recorded statement to the insurance company. Insurers often contact accident victims quickly, hoping to obtain statements that limit their liability or lock in a low settlement. Do not speak with them without an attorney.
6. Contact a Birmingham pedestrian accident lawyer. Alabama’s strict contributory negligence law means that if an insurer can show you were even slightly at fault — crossing outside a crosswalk, wearing dark clothing at night, or anything similar — it can use that to deny your claim entirely. An experienced attorney knows how to navigate these defenses and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Under Alabama Code § 6-2-38, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. Do not wait.
Compensation You May Be Entitled To
If you or a loved one was struck by a vehicle in Birmingham, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, and future treatment
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering, including emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages, if the accident resulted in a fatality
Frequently Asked Questions: Pedestrian Accidents in Birmingham
How dangerous is Birmingham for pedestrians compared to other cities? Very dangerous by any measure. The Birmingham-Hoover metro area ranked 39th on the National Complete Streets Coalition’s list of most dangerous U.S. cities for pedestrians. However, when adjusted for the City of Birmingham alone — rather than the broader metro — the pedestrian death rate per 100,000 residents would be roughly 45% higher than the most dangerous city listed in that study. Jefferson County recorded 34 pedestrian fatalities in both 2020 and 2023, the highest totals on record going back to 2012.
Where are the most dangerous places in Birmingham for pedestrians? The most hazardous areas include the University Boulevard & 28th Street intersection near UAB (ranked Alabama’s most dangerous intersection by TIME/NHTSA), the 20th Street & 3rd Avenue North corridor downtown, the Five Points South roundabout, the Highway 280 corridor near Lakeshore Drive, Green Springs Highway, and the I-65 stretch between University Boulevard and 3rd Avenue South. These locations share common risk factors: high vehicle speeds, poor nighttime lighting, heavy pedestrian volumes, and limited safe crossing infrastructure.
What should I do immediately after being hit by a car in Birmingham? Call 911 right away, even if you feel your injuries are minor — many serious injuries are not immediately apparent. Get medical attention as soon as possible to document your injuries. Photograph the scene, the vehicle, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Collect witness contact information. Do not give a recorded statement to the insurance company without first speaking to an attorney. Alabama’s two-year statute of limitations (Alabama Code § 6-2-38) means the clock starts ticking from the date of the accident.
How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident claim in Alabama? Under Alabama law, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. There are limited exceptions — for example, if the injured person is a minor or mentally incapacitated. If the claim involves a government entity, different rules and shorter deadlines may apply. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to compensation entirely, so it is critical to consult an attorney as early as possible.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault for the accident? Alabama follows a strict contributory negligence rule, which is one of the harshest standards in the country. Under this rule, if you are found to be even slightly at fault — for example, crossing outside a marked crosswalk or wearing dark clothing at night — the insurance company can use that to deny your claim entirely. However, the Last Clear Chance Doctrine may provide a path to recovery in certain circumstances, if the driver had the final opportunity to avoid the accident and failed to act. An experienced Birmingham pedestrian accident attorney can evaluate your specific situation and identify the strongest available arguments.
What compensation can a pedestrian accident victim recover in Alabama? Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses (past and future), lost wages and reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and — in fatal accident cases — wrongful death damages on behalf of the victim’s family. The value of a claim depends on the severity of injuries, the degree of fault, available insurance coverage, and other case-specific factors.
How much does it cost to hire a pedestrian accident lawyer at Fob James Law Firm? Nothing upfront. Fob James Law Firm handles pedestrian accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. Initial consultations are also free. You can focus on your recovery while we handle the legal fight.
Fob James Law Firm Can Help
The pedestrian safety crisis in Birmingham is real, and it is getting worse. Our Birmingham pedestrian accident attorneys at Fob James Law Firm have decades of experience fighting for injured victims across Jefferson County and throughout Alabama. We handle pedestrian accident cases on a contingency basis — you pay nothing unless we win.
If you or someone you love has been hit by a car while walking, do not face the insurance companies alone. Contact Fob James Law Firm today for a free consultation at (205) 407-6009 or visit us at callfob.com.
Related reading: Most Dangerous Roads & Intersections in Birmingham, AL | Alabama Right of Way Laws | How to Determine Fault in a Car Accident in Birmingham
External sources: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety – Pedestrian Fatality Report (Feb. 2025) | WBRC – Pedestrian Deaths Up 80% (Feb. 2025) | ABC 33/40 – Birmingham Ranks 39th Most Dangerous City for Pedestrians
Fob James, IV
Fob James obtained a B.S., in software engineering from Auburn University and then continued his education by getting his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law. After working for a large national firm for several years, Fob found that his passion was fighting for individuals who have been seriously injured or wronged by others. Fob believes that the jury is the great equalizer to the power and influence that large corporations have in society. Many of Fob’s cases are high profile and have been featured in, among others: Bloomberg News, PlanAdvisor, AL.com, PlanSponsor, InsuranceJournal, and BusinessInsider. For his work in obtaining numerous multi-million dollar outcomes for his clients, Fob has been recognized by: National Trial Lawyers Top 100, SuperLawyers Rising Star (2020-2025), Birmingham Business Journal Who’s Who in Law (2023-2025), and TrustAnalytica – Top Personal Injury Lawyers in Alabama.