As a pedestrian, you know there is nothing worse than being part of an accident with a motor vehicle. Since you don’t have any protection, the impact of the crash (even at a low speed) could cause serious injury or even death.
With all this in mind, it’s important to understand the steps you can take to reduce the risk of a pedestrian accident. While you have no control over drivers, there are things you can do as a pedestrian to better protect yourself:
- Make it easy to be seen at all times: For example, if you’re walking at night, wear brightly colored clothing so drivers can see you.
- Cross the street when the “walk” signal tells you to do so: Making your move when the signal says “don’t walk” greatly increases the chance of an accident.
- Always cross the street in a crosswalk: Drivers expect to see pedestrians here, so they’re more likely to come to a complete stop.
- Never dart into traffic: This goes along with the points above about obeying the walk signal and using crosswalks.
If you take these steps, you’re able to do your part in reducing the risk of a pedestrian accident.
Unfortunately, even if you do everything possible to remain safe, there’s no guarantee that a driver won’t make a mistake that puts you in a bad position. For example, someone could run a red light, thus striking you in a crosswalk.
If you’re part of a pedestrian accident, call for help, receive medical attention and then learn more about your legal rights.
Source: FindLaw, “Pedestrian Accidents Overview,” accessed April 12, 2018
