There are many steps to take to help pedestrians avoid accidents, including following all rules and recommendations, focusing when crossing streets, and sharing roads safely.
While taking precautions may not prevent every pedestrian versus car collision, it may prevent you or your loved one from suffering serious injuries or passing away. Pedestrians hit by motor vehicles often suffer severe or even catastrophic injuries, and many do not survive. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely to die from traffic accident injuries per trip than an occupant in a vehicle.
Tips for Reducing Your Risk of a Pedestrian Accident
In some cases, pedestrians can avoid accidents by:
Increasing Their Visibility
Most pedestrian accidents occur during the night, and visibility may play a role in many of them. You can increase your own visibility by wearing light or reflective clothing, carrying a light, and adding a reflective leash or collar for walking your dog.
Knowing When to Cross
When possible, always cross the street at a designated crosswalk and follow all local laws and posted signage. Crosswalks that have additional protections, such as flashing lights, are an even better option. If you need to cross where there is no marked crosswalk available, an intersection is the safest location. Crossing the street mid-block should be avoided in busy areas when possible.
Sharing the Road Safely
Use sidewalks, protected footpaths, and greenways whenever possible. If you must walk along the road with no sidewalk, stay as close to the shoulder as possible and face oncoming traffic. This position gives you the best opportunity to take action to avoid being hit if necessary.
Walking Defensively
Pedestrians should always walk defensively. Remain aware of the vehicles around you, especially in parking lots and other areas where they could begin to back up at any time. It is a good idea to focus only on your safety in parking areas while crossing the road and in other high-risk spots. Take out your earbuds, put down your phone, and make safety your priority.
Teaching Your Children About the Risks
According to the CDC, seniors and kids make up a large percentage of the victims of fatal pedestrian accidents and injuries. They are at increased risk of being involved in these collisions, and seniors over the age of 65 may be more likely than younger people to die from their injuries. For this reason, parents must teach their children how to be safe while walking and crossing the road, and families should check in with their elderly loved ones to ensure they remember the rules.
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Alcohol Plays a Role in Many Pedestrian Accident Cases
You may expect alcohol to be a factor in many pedestrian versus motor vehicle accidents, but what you might not know is that it is often the pedestrian who has had too much to drink. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about a third of all pedestrians killed in these accidents have a blood alcohol concentration above 0.08 grams per deciliter, the legal limit for driving a car.
Alcohol can affect your vision, coordination, decision-making, and more. This impairment could increase your risk of injury in a fall, pedestrian accident, or another incident. While walking home from the bar is a better alternative than getting behind the wheel, calling for a rideshare or a cab may be an even better idea.
Pursuing Compensation Following a Pedestrian Accident Injury
In many pedestrian accident cases, the driver is liable for the victim’s injuries and damages. This liability is because motorists must follow traffic rules that require them to watch out for pedestrians, stop for people crossing at crosswalks, and yield to pedestrians when making turns.
When a driver violates a traffic law and causes a collision, and the pedestrian suffers injuries, the accident victim may be able to hold the driver accountable. This accountability is possible through a car insurance claim or civil suit. Many cases settle out of court.
There are also statutes of limitations on filing a lawsuit in these cases. They vary from state to state. If you work with a firm of pedestrian accident attorneys in Birmingham, they will be able to identify the deadlines that apply to your case.
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Discuss Your Options with the Morris Bart, LLC Team Today
You can reach the Morris Bart law firm today by calling (504) 613-4771. If a careless driver hit you, someone hit your child, or your loved one passed away from their injuries, our team may be able to help. We are a contingency-fee firm and provide free assessments of cases for accident victims in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama. Reach out to speak with an attorney today.
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