Hundreds of thousands of pedestrians are struck by a vehicle each year in the United States; at least 150,000 pedestrians were treated in emergency rooms in 2013. That number could be reduced if drivers were more alert while driving and if pedestrians followed the ‘rules of the sidewalk’. Did you know that pedestrians whom are found at fault for a crash may not be able to recover damages for medical bills and could even be sued for damages by the driver of the vehicle that struck them? It is not a situation anyone wants to be in.
There are ways for pedestrians to protect themselves. The Centers for Disease Control has some good guidelines.
- If possible, cross the street at marked crosswalk
- Avoid distracted walking (don’t stare at a cellphone)
- Avoid walking while intoxicated (over 1 in 3 fatal pedestrian crashes involve an intoxicated person at the time of the incident)
- Walk on the sidewalk (if a sidewalk is unavailable, walk on the shoulder facing traffic)
- Increase visibility (carry a flashlight or wear reflective clothing at night)
Pedestrians following these ‘rules of the sidewalk’ and are still injured in a pedestrian accidents through no fault of their own should contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at (800) 333-0000 for a free consultation. We’ve been there to help the victims of auto accidents for more than 35 years, and we’ll be here to help you now.
