As a pedestrian, you are at your most vulnerable when walking along a busy city street. Pedestrian accidents involving a vehicle and walking or standing individual, are, unfortunately, very common, with the average pedestrian accident resulting in severe injuries or death.
As a driver or a pedestrian, the last thing you want is to be involved in one of these incidents. While walking and driving may seem second nature to us, it’s still helpful to be aware of some of the things we can all do to reduce these types of deadly incidents.
Here’s a closer look at some of the ways both drivers and pedestrians can avoid a pedestrian accident.
Avoiding a Pedestrian Accident as a Driver
As a driver, you have total control over your actions behind the wheel. In order to keep yourself and your loved ones out of a pedestrian accident situation, make sure to follow the following driving tips:
- Slow down in areas where you know pedestrian traffic is congested
- Make eye contact with pedestrians attempting to cross in front of you
- Remain patient with the elderly and disabled
- Don’t drive distracted (put the phone and food down)
- Don’t drive under the influence
- Obey school bus rules
- Obey school crossing signs
Avoiding an Accident as a Pedestrian
Although it’s a driver’s responsibility to drive safely, as a pedestrian, there are steps you can take to protect yourself when in public.
Some of the most effective ways to avoid becoming a victim in a pedestrian accident are:
- Wear bright colors when you know you’ll be maneuvering through heavy traffic as a pedestrian
- Walk against traffic in areas where there are no sidewalks
- Pay attention to drivers around you any time you cross at an intersection, even if you are legally crossing at a crosswalk
What Are the Dangers of a Pedestrian Accident?
As we’ve mentioned, pedestrian accidents hit people at their most vulnerable, when they’re simply existing out in the world. Without the armor of a vehicle to somewhat distill a blow, the results of a pedestrian accident can be devastating.
Some of the most common outcomes of a pedestrian accident are:
- Death
- Soft Tissue Damage
- Sprains
- Muscle Tears
- Broken Bones
- Fractured Bones
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
On top of the physical aspect of a pedestrian accident, there are also massive financial and emotional damages as people struggle with issues like:
- Therapy after the accident
- Lost wages
- The inability to gain or maintain employment
- Funeral expenses
- Continuous hospital bills
How can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help?
In situations where an injured pedestrian seeks financial compensation from insurance companies, the results are rarely what the individual seeks or needs. Most insurance companies only like to pay out the minimum and this is never anything that substantially covers costly items like hospital visits and funeral arrangements.
A personal injury lawyer can help you navigate the recovery process and force insurance companies and guilty parties to pay what you are owed. Through the collection of essential documentation and extensive experience, a personal injury lawyer can create an air-tight case for a client that helps make negotiations and in some instances, court cases swing in the injured person’s favor.
Win Your Battle in a Pedestrian Suit With Genthe Law Firm
If you or a loved one were recently injured in a pedestrian accident, finding a qualified personal injury lawyer should be your top priority. At Genthe Law Firm, we are a team of experienced personal injury lawyers that are dedicated to helping our clients receive the compensation they deserve.
Our law firm offers a no-fee guarantee and promises that you or your loved ones won’t owe us a cent if we don’t recover compensation.
Reach out to us today to learn more about our services and schedule your free consultation.
