6 Precautionary Tips to Avoid Pedestrian Accidents

*Collaborative Post

Reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that approximately 8,000 pedestrians were killed in accidents in 2021. That’s roughly one death every 66 minutes revealing how dangerous American roads are. In such circumstances, it is up to pedestrians to take preventive measures and find ways to avoid being involved in accidents.

Pedestrian accident victims should most definitely consider seeking legal help. The pedestrian accident attorneys at DJC Law and other law firms help victims prove the severity of their condition and acquire fair compensation for the losses they have suffered.

As said earlier, preventive measures are the need of the hour. There’s only so much that drivers can do. Pedestrians also have a role to play here. This blog post lists six safety tips for pedestrians. Following these tips will greatly decrease the chances of you being involved in a pedestrian accident.

Avoid jaywalking

Sometimes people throw caution to the wind and cross the street/road with blatant disregard for vehicles. This action, known as jaywalking, is a minor crime in the US. Most jurisdictions will fine you for jaywalking.

All roads/streets have spots for pedestrians to cross. Pedestrians should use these to cross the road/street. Jaywalking is risky as the driver is not expecting a pedestrian to appear anywhere other than the designated spot for crossing. Jaywalking puts both the driver and the pedestrian at risk which is why it is recommended to cross the road/street only at the spots intended for them and not anywhere else.

Wear reflective clothing if you’re heading out at night

Pedestrians should exercise extra caution if they decide to head out at night. The lack of visibility plays a major role in pedestrian accidents. Consider wearing high-visibility clothing if you have to travel at night. If you cannot get your hands on one, add reflective strips to your clothing. The objective here is to make yourself visible to motorists, as you cannot expect them to notice you.

Stay away from distractive elements

Distraction is a concept that is always discussed in motor vehicle accidents. But the fact is, distraction applies to pedestrian accidents as well. Pedestrians should be attentive to their surroundings. A good chunk of pedestrians are so engrossed in their phones that they forget the world around them.

When out on the road/street, the full focus of the pedestrian should be on the path ahead. A slight slip of focus is all it takes to walk into traffic. The same applies to pedestrians who are listening to songs on their headphones in full volume.

Don’t walk while intoxicated

This is common sense, more than a safety tip. Anyone who’s drunk should not get behind the wheel of a car or walk without assistance. Drunk pedestrians have reduced reaction times, making them extremely vulnerable to accidents. Drunk pedestrians also stray onto the road, increasing the chances of an accident. The same applies to those who use drugs as well.

Obey traffic signs

Traffic signs are in place for a reason. And that reason is the safety of everyone who uses the road, be it motorists or pedestrians. Pedestrians must pay attention to the various signs on the road. This also includes keeping an eye out for the traffic lights and other directional signs that are present to aid them.

Watch out for exiting vehicles

Vehicles that back out of the driveway and into the road are also prone to hitting pedestrians. This is particularly common in commercial parking lots and office buildings.

This is a type of pedestrian accident where both parties hold equal responsibility. Pedestrians may sometimes be caught in a vehicle’s blind spot and end up colliding with them. Either the pedestrian or the driver may be so busy on their phones that they forget about the obstruction in their path.

This is why pedestrians should be extra careful when walking near the exits of buildings.

Conclusion

Pedestrian accidents have the potential to cause serious damage. The victim may experience a host of losses that will take time to recover.

The safety tips in this article are compiled to avoid such consequences. Following the essential safety guidelines goes a long way toward avoiding the nasty consequences of a pedestrian accident.

*This is a collaborative post. For further information please refer to my disclosure page.