Pedestrian Safety: Avoiding Collisions with Cars
A vehicular accident involving a pedestrian may not happen as often compared to accidents involving one or more vehicles, but it still accounts for 12 per cent of deaths due to road accidents. It mostly occurs in urban areas. To learn about the laws that cover pedestrian accidents and deaths, seek counsel from a knowledgeable Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer.
According to the US Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 4,092 pedestrians died in 2009, which is actually seven per cent lower compared to the previous year’s record. New Jersey had high proportions of car occupants (46 per cent) and pedestrian deaths (27 per cent), but the highest in percentage pedestrian deaths were in District of Columbia (48 per cent). In California, there were 2,816 fatal accidents in 2009, which lead to the death of 3,081 pedestrians.
Despite the huge number of fatalities due to pedestrian accidents, people are expected to take extra care of themselves in order to avoid such mishap.
- Look both ways before crossing the street to see if there are any oncoming vehicles.
- When going for a jog, keep the volume of the headphones at a minimum. That way, you can still hear any vehicles that may be traveling behind you, or at any point that you cannot easily see.
- Use a crosswalk, overpass, or underpass to minimize the risk when crossing.
- Never try to outrun a car.
Many pedestrian accidents also involve skaters or people who may be doing a leisure activity or sport. They can also save themselves some trouble by keeping some safety measures in mind.
- Wear some protective gear, like helmets.
- If possible, get a helmet with an attached mirror.
- Wear a headlamp, a reflective gear, or brightly-colored clothing, especially when traveling at night, so that motorists can see you easily.
- Look out for vehicles that may be turning or passing by before crossing an intersection.
- Be prepared to stop even before reaching an intersection.
- Stay away from drivers’ blind spots.
- If a car door opens in front, stop or move to the right and get off the road.
- If the road is not too congested, ride at the center of the road to avoid any doors that may suddenly open.
An expert Los Angeles personal injury attorney can help pedestrians who may have been injured in an accident get the compensation they deserve.