Five Helpful Facts and Tips About Pedestrian Accidents

Law/Наш блог/Five Helpful Facts and Tips About Pedestrian Accidents

Five Helpful Facts and Tips About Pedestrian Accidents

29/05/2024

The pedestrian fatality rate in Arizona is more than double that of the national average, at 1.61 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people. Most of these are male pedestrians, killed at a rate of almost three times as much as female pedestrians. Keeping pedestrians safe is everyone’s job, but as a pedestrian, you should understand the realities of the dangers you face in order to stay safe.




What are the Reasons for Pedestrian Accidents?

Many of the primary reasons for pedestrian accidents are, unfortunately, due to poor driving. As much as it is a pedestrian’s job to stay aware of their surroundings, vehicles will always be faster, more powerful and able to surprise you. The biggest reasons cited for pedestrian accidents are:

  • Distracted driving
  • Speeding
  • Failure to yield right of way at crosswalks to
    pedestrians
  • Ignoring or disobeying traffic signals or signs
  • Failure to signal while turning
  • Disregarding weather conditions
  • Disregarding traffic conditions
  • Driving while under the influence

Who is Most at Risk?

In Arizona alone, over 150 people each day are injured in auto accidents, totaling over 55,000 injuries per year. Among these, of course, are many pedestrians. The most at risk among them are:

  • Children age 14 and under
  • Older adults
  • Male pedestrians
  • Pedestrians under the influence of alcohol or
    drugs

Where and How is the Safest to Walk?

It is always safest to walk in well-lit areas which are specifically marked for pedestrian use. This ensures the safest passage and the easiest-to-see indicators for all parties. This includes footpaths and pedestrian bridges.

If you are stuck where there is traffic, you should walk facing traffic so that you can best keep an eye out of anyone coming in you direction so you have the best chance of avoiding an accident. Use crosswalks, and wait for the crossing signal when available

What Are Other Safe Walking Tips?

Pedestrian safety should be everyone’s priority, but there are certainly some tips we could all use, especially as technology changes and distracts us all a little bit more. Using certain electronics is illegal while driving, but pedestrians should use caution, too.

  • Don’t look at your phone, and consider not
    listening, as well. You need all of your faculties about you when walking
    around
  • High visibility is key: Wear light clothing and,
    if you’re going to be out at night, wear reflective clothing, bands or tape so
    that you can be avoided
  • Let people know where you are going. This is
    always a good safety tip, walking or otherwise, but especially helpful if your
    walking trip will take some time

Keep Your Eyes Out

It should go without saying, but: Always look both ways. Always make sure drivers are following signals and traffic rules. Don’t be caught in an accident because someone else didn’t care.

Summary

You should always keep an eye out for yourself while you are walking, and wear high-visibility clothing if you can. If you are the victim of an accident, be sure to seek medical attention, file a police report, and hold onto all documentation for when you consult
with an attorney.

blogs

You might like

Clearing Up Workers Compensation Misconceptions

If we hear the term “workers comp,” we probably feel like we understand the basics – if you get hurt on the job, you file for workers comp, you get time off to heal and hopefully a little extra something along with your salary to make it all easier. In an ideal world, sure, it […]

29/05/2024
Read more

Pedestrian Safety in Cold Weather

When it’s cold outside, people drive worse than they did before. If you’re a pedestrian, you need to take extra precautions during the cold weather and, if you’re driving, you need to keep an extra eye out for pedestrians who are even harder to see, especially if snow is lowering your visibility. Safety is always […]

29/05/2024
Read more

Tips for Avoiding Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycles as a mode of transportation are inherently moredangerous than others. Because of this, motorcycle drivers have an extra onus on them to be the safest drivers possible. Many motorcycle accidents are caused due to careless motorcycle driving, and while you may think you’re one of the safe ones, anyone can be caught off guard. […]

29/05/2024
Read more

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in the United States

Whether due to size, or footprint of the motorcycle, or sheer stability, or a combination of these factors, motorcycles are much more likely to be involved in an accident than other automobiles. Certainly, in some cases, this is a visibility issue as well, with many drivers of other automobiles not looking in their blind spots […]

29/05/2024
Read more

Personal Injury Lawsuits: What You Need to Know and how RS Law Office Can Help

Life is pretty unpredictable. One minute you’re healthy and bubbly, the next one you are nursing an injury due to someone else’s negligence. But the fact that life is unpredictable does not in any way reduce the pain and confusion that may arise when you find yourself in harm’s way due to another person’s negligence. […]

07/06/2024
Read more

Tips for Avoiding Car Accidents

Whether you’re driving in a place where the environment is a little more driver-friendly, or if you’re somewhere where the weather poses a driving hazard, you can’t go wrong having a working knowledge of how best to avoid accidents. In 2020 alone, there were nearly 36,000 fatal motor vehicle accidents in the United States. Those […]

29/05/2024
Read more

What to Look for When Hiring an Attorney

In Arizona and California, two big car cultures on the grow, you’re statistically more likely to be involved in some sort of motor vehicle accident or have some other legal concerns surrounding your automobile. Other injuries, like dog bites and slip and falls, are all-too common, and can be difficult to navigate with some kind […]

29/05/2024
Read more

Five Products for Increased Bicycle Safety

Bicycle accidents are unfortunately increasingly common in both California and Arizona, causing many to seek damages to compensate for their losses. Defensive driving and being aware of your surroundings are the best tools for safety, as is making sure your bicycle is properly maintained, making sure to wear a helmet, and obeying all street laws […]

05/06/2024
Read more

Five Apps for Increased Road Safety

Staying safe on the road is more important as more and more cities become increasingly dependent on automobile transportation. Increasedroad safety is about diligence and attentive driving, but there are also ways to “gamify” or in other ways incentivize safe driving, through smartphone apps. Here are five apps designed to keep you less distracted and […]

29/05/2024
Read more

Motorcycle Safety Tips for Cold Weather

Driving any vehicle in cold weather and especially snow is going to make for a much more difficult time than driving in dry, comfortable weather. With enough preparation and all of the right gear, it is possible to mitigate many of these problems, but without them, you run the risk of a deadly accident. Before […]

29/05/2024
Read more

контактная форма

Свяжитесь с нами

By providing your phone number, you agree to receive text messages from RS Law Offices. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. View our Privacy Policy.