3 ways to avoid a pedestrian fatality

On Behalf of | Nov 23, 2018 | Personal Injury

When you’re walking in and around traffic, you’re always at risk of getting hurt in a pedestrian collision. In fact, if you get struck by a car directly, you may not survive the incident. Therefore, all pedestrians who are walking near motor vehicle traffic need to take precautions to avoid accidents.

Here are three things AAA recommends pedestrians do to stay safer:

  • Be as visible as possible. You’ll want to wear light-colored clothing as a pedestrian. It’s even better if you have a reflective jacket or hat that you can don. These items will make you as visible as possible to surrounding traffic so motorists can avoid hitting you. It’s best to walk in well-lit areas where cars can see you — especially when you’re crossing the road.
  • Stay alert. Avoid distractions of all kinds while you’re a pedestrian. It’s common to see pedestrians walking down the street looking at their smartphones, but this is a very bad idea as it requires you to take your eyes off the road. In addition, don’t use headphones which will get in the way of your ability to hear.
  • Don’t disregard traffic laws. Traffic laws apply to pedestrians, too, and failure to follow these laws could result in serious injuries or death. Also, even though you’re following the rules, don’t expect motorists to do the same. Taking for granted that a driver is going to act in a certain way could result in a collision and serious injuries.

Unfortunately, pedestrians frequently get hurt by Florida motorists. However, in many of these cases, the motorist is at fault and liable to pay for the injured pedestrian’s financial damages. If you were hurt in pedestrian versus car crash, our law office can help you evaluate whether you have a viable claim for damages.

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