ARE PEDESTRIANS SAFER?

Even though the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report a slight decrease in pedestrian accidents from 2012 to 2013, even one pedestrian accident is too many for the family of the accident victim. Pedestrians are virtually unprotected in a collision with a motor vehicle. The pedestrian takes the full impact of the accident; therefore, the driver of the vehicle is rarely injured in a pedestrian accident.

Common injuries sustained by pedestrians in a motor vehicle accident include:

• Traumatic head injuries including closed head injuries and penetrating head injuries
• Spinal cord injuries that often result in partial or complete paralysis
• Fractures and broken bones
• Catastrophic internal injuries
• Lacerations
• Neck and back injuries

Drivers and pedestrians can both work to make our roads safer for everyone.

Safety Tips for Pedestrians to Avoid Accidents

Drivers who are distracted can easily miss a pedestrian in a crosswalk. A fraction of a second can change lives forever. Pedestrians cannot rely on drivers to watch for them — pedestrians need to take precautions to keep themselves safe.

• Increase Your Visibility – Staying in well-lit areas, wearing brightly colored clothing, carrying a flashlight at night, making eye contact with drivers before crossing the street, and wearing reflective materials can help pedestrians be more visible to drivers.
• Follow Traffic Rules – Always cross in a crosswalk when available. Look both ways before crossing and only cross when you have the right-of-way. If there is not a sidewalk, walk as close to the side of the road as possible facing oncoming traffic.
• Remain Alert at All Times – A driver should not be distracted from the task of driving and a pedestrian should not be distracted from the task of remaining safe. Do not wear headphones, talk on your cell phone, or read while walking. Your focus should be on avoiding an accident with a driver who is not paying attention, speeding, or disobeying other traffic rules.
• Do Not Drink and Walk – Just as a driver should not drink and drive, you should not walk after drinking alcohol. Approximately one-half of pedestrian accidents involve alcohol with 34% of that total being the pedestrian who was intoxicated. If you have been drinking, call a friend or call a cab for a ride instead of walking.

Safety Tips for Drivers to Avoid Pedestrian Accidents

Drivers have a duty to avoid pedestrians when driving including yielding the right of way to pedestrians in a crosswalk and taking precautions to avoid causing a pedestrian accident. This includes avoiding distractions that can take your focus off driving and the road ahead of you such as texting while driving and talking on your cell phone. You must obey all traffic laws including obeying all traffic signals, traffic signs, and speed limits.

Never pass a vehicle when approaching a crosswalk and always slow down when approaching a crosswalk. Leave room in front of you when stopped at a crosswalk so that other vehicles approaching can see any pedestrians in the crosswalk. As a driver, you are responsible for not only your life and the lives of your passengers but you are also responsible for driving in a manner that keeps everyone, including pedestrians, safe.

Have You Been Injured in a Pedestrian Accident?

If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, you have the right to receive compensation for your injuries. Contact Tiemann Law Firm for your free consultation with one. You can contact us online, call our toll free number at (916) 999-9000, or chat with a representative on our website.