Some numbers have Arizona as the most dangerous state in the U.S. when it comes to pedestrians. They are in the most danger by simply being outnumbered, which means accidents are likely to rise as the number of automobiles on the road continues to rise. It is important for you to not only understand how to avoid potential pedestrian accidents, but also to understand what to do if you are in the unfortunate position of ending up in one. Here are five pointers about pedestrian accidents.
It seems common sense – people walking around, right? No, because you’re missing a big number of people who cannot walk – meaning people in wheelchairs (manual or motorized. It also includes runners. Pedestrians are, effectively, anyone who typically has the right of way but who could be in danger from faster and automated modes of transportation like motorized vehicles and bicycles.
Laws regarding pedestrians are primarily built around protecting pedestrians, since laws are intended to protect the vulnerable. Arizona requires that drivers yield to pedestrians and to avoid passing vehicles stopped at a crosswalk, as a pedestrian is likely to be on the other side of said vehicle. Pedestrians are subject to Arizona law as well, of course, for their own protection, including a requirement to follow traffic control signs when at intersections and yielding right-of-way to vehicles if they are not at a crosswalk.
In Arizona, the majority of pedestrian fatalities happen when the pedestrian is crossing with a road – this is also where the most injuries occur, as well. Most of the time, pedestrians in these accidents were not intoxicated or found to be under the influence of drugs, either. This should tell you that awareness of surroundings is paramount to being a safe pedestrian.
Since Arizona laws use pure comparative fault, both parties could potentially be considered at fault, which will reduce a plaintiff’s damages, in the long run, if the pedestrian is found to be in partial fault in some way. As far as potential damages, a pedestrian cam potentially seek both economic and non-economic damages.
The easiest way to stay safe, of course, is to follow all traffic laws. It is always recommended to wear bright colors and, if walking at night, to wear some sort of reflective gear in order to be more easily noticed in headlights and other lights.
While pedestrians do typically have right of way, that is no reason to assume that everyone around you will follow the rules. Just as the safest type of driving or bicycle riding is defensive, so, too, must you be a defensive pedestrian. Keep your senses sharp and pay attention to your surroundings, and if you can avoid a potentially dangerous misunderstanding regarding crossing, etc, then do avoid it. It is better not to take a dangerous chance.
blogs
Five Products for Increased Pedestrian Safety
While pedestrians typically have the right of way in most places, that doesn’t automatically make everyone around you a better or safer driver. As pedestrians, we have to activelypractice safety in order to make sure that we are the ones most responsible for our personal safety. Staying aware of our surroundings is always step number […]
How Dangerous Are Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcyclists are more likely to die in a traffic accident than people inside passenger cars. In fact, they are 28 times more likely, due to a number of factors, including things like potential low visibility from the blind spots of other vehicles around them. Motorcycles are also most likely to be involved in collisions with […]
Winter Driving Safety Tips
Having your winter tires installed on your car and packing a windshield scraper is a good start to being prepared to drive in the winter, but as the cold weather gets harsher, the driving conditions get worse. With this comes the tendency for some people to overcorrect or not know how to stop properly, or […]
Five Things to Know About Bike Accidents in Arizona
Bicycling may be the way to go for sustainable transportation, but that’s all the more reason why anyone in Arizona should make sure to practice basic bicycle safety. Over 47 million people in the United States ride bicycles, and that number will likely increase as some urban centers move away from fossil fuels and even […]
Five Products for Increased Automobile Safety
It should be no surprise that in Arizona and California, with the increasing dependence on cars, automobile accidents are increasingly likely. In the event of an accident, you want to have as many bases covered as possible – from minor repairs you can do yourself to getting yourself out of harm’s way as quickly and […]
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 […]
The Most Unsafe Era for Pedestrians in 40 Years
Pedestrian safety is of utmost importance right now, and not just because pedestrians legally have the right of way in most places in the United States. Being asafer pedestrian is always key to avoiding injuries by being aware of ones surroundings and avoiding distractions, but as it stands, North Americans are not stemming the tide […]
Common Causes of Car Accidents – and Ways to Avoid Them
Car accidents are an increasingly common source of injuries and loss of property and life. Every year, there are estimated to be over six million car accidents, in the US alone. We drive everywhere, and even short distances pose a hazard to drivers, as well as pedestrians and people on bicycles. The loss of property […]
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 […]
How Dangerous are Ride Shares?
Everyone with a smartphone now has access to the next generation of personalized, private transportation. It used to be a matter of calling and reserving a cab or, in some places, hailing one from the side of the road. Since ridesharing is a new phenomenon, however, all of the kinks are still being worked out, […]
formulario de contacto
