Every year in the United States, hundreds of thousands of pedestrians are injured by a car. In 2019, at least 150,000 pedestrians were treated in emergency rooms, according to statistics. Driving more cautiously and pedestrians following the “laws of the sidewalk” might help to bring this figure down even more.
Is it true that pedestrians who are determined to have caused an accident may be unable to obtain compensation for medical costs and may even be sued for damages by the driver of a car who hit the pedestrians? In limited circumstances, yes. If you have been involved in a pedestrian accident, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
Cross the roadway at a marked crosswalk if at all feasible
Marked crosswalks are the safest places to cross. These are areas that drivers should be aware they are likely to run into a pedestrian and so they are more likely to be looking out for you. If you cross at any random intersection – or between intersections – the chance of not being seen is much higher.
Avoid walking when preoccupied
Must a drivers should not drive while distracted, walkers should not walk while distracted. If you are looking down at your phone then you are not seeing what is going on around you. You could walk in front of a bike, walk into traffic, or simply trip on a curb. Make sure that you can both see and hear. If you are wearing headphones, keep the volume low enough that you can still hear traffic and emergency vehicles.
Do not walk while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Yes, walking is likely a safer way to get home if you have been drinking compared to driving while drinking. That said, Walking when inebriated is not recommended. Why? More than 1 in 3 fatal pedestrian crashes involve an intoxicated person at the time of the incident.
Take the sidewalk instead of the road
If a sidewalk is unavailable, walk on the shoulder facing traffic. The vast majority of pedestrian accidents happen in the road. If you can prevent walking in the road unless it is absolutely necessary, then you should take advantage of that.
For pedestrians who have followed these “rules of the sidewalk” and have been harmed in a pedestrian accident through no fault of their own, call The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker for a free consultation. During the last 35 years, we’ve been there to assist victims of automobile accidents, and we’ll be here to assist you today, as well.
