Have you been hurt while walking along a street?
Unfortunately, pedestrians are injured every day in California. In fact, pedestrian fatalities are on the rise and over 4,000 pedestrians are killed each year and over 69,000 are injured.
In California, a pedestrian is a person on foot or riding something other than a bicycle, such as a skateboard. A person driving a car generally has to yield to pedestrians. However, pedestrians still have to exercise due care for their own safety.
When pedestrians are struck by cars or other vehicles, the injuries are often severe. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has great information on how pedestrians can stay safe. Check its publication, “Everyone is a Pedestrian!” http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nti/pdf/811785.pdf
Pedestrian safety tips include:
WHEN YOU ARE WALKING
- Be predictable. Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
- Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available.
- If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
- Keep alert at all times; don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes (and ears) off the road.
- Cross streets at crosswalks or intersections whenever possible. This is where drivers expect pedestrians.
- Look for cars in all directions– including those turning left or right.
- If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows you enough time to cross safely, and continue to watch for traffic as you cross.
- Never assume a driver sees you. Make eye contact with drivers as they approach you to make sure you are seen.
- Be visible at all times. Wear bright clothing during the day, and wear reflective materials or use a flashlight at night.
- Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots.
- Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking; they impair your abilities and judgment too.
WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING
- Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times. Safety is a shared responsibility.
- Use extra caution when driving in hard- to-see conditions, such as nighttime or in bad weather.
- Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.
- Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too.
- Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing that you can’t see.
- Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
- Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street.
- Follow slower speed limits in school zones and in neighborhoods where there are children present.
- Be extra cautious when backing up – pedestrians can move into your path.
Contact an experienced Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact us for a free case evaluation. If we accept your case, there is never a fee unless we win.
Give us a call (916) 444-6595, or fill out the contact form below. Our Sacramento injury lawyers are here to fight for you and your family every step of the way.
