Working together to Keep Pedestrians Safe

Stay on the Scene and Cooperate 

A man from Magna is now facing multiple charges—including a murder charge—for a hit and run. If you’ve hit a pedestrian, it is in your best interests to stay on the scene and cooperate. Accidents happen and it would be extremely unusual for a person to be arrested for an accident, assuming there were no other contributing factors, such as driving under the influence, for example. You should never flee the scene of an accident. Fleeing the scene of an accident can have serious criminal consequences as well as serious civil consequences. A lot of people believe that they will not be found if they flee the scene of an accident. This is not true. With the prevalence of ring doorbells, security cameras, and CCTV footage, more and more hit and run accidents are being solved. If you are involved in an accident, stay on the scene and cooperate with the investigation. 

Double Check that Crosswalk 

If you’re out driving in the wee hours of the morning or night, double check the crosswalk before you drive through it. It may be a good idea to take turns slowly or move through crosswalks slowly. Don’t assume that there won’t be anyone in the crosswalk, even if the pedestrian doesn’t technically have the right of way. If you’re going through a crosswalk, especially if you’re turning left, you should check to see if there’s a pedestrian in the crosswalk. Many pedestrians are given a walk signal at the same time that a motorist turning left has a green light, which can put pedestrians at risk during the darker hours when they’re less visible. Help keep pedestrian accidents to a minimum by checking the crosswalks and taking turns slowly—especially if it’s dark out. 

Don’t Wear Noise Cancelling Headphones 

If you’re a pedestrian, you can take measures to protect yourself during your walk. Wearing noise cancelling headphones can put pedestrians at a serious risk as they could struggle to hear cars approaching. These days, people are more and more likely to wear noise cancelling headphones and engage with media on their devices at the same time. This can be very dangerous for pedestrians because not only are they unable to hear cars coming, they’re also unable to see cars coming. While motorists should absolutely be on the lookout for pedestrians, they may not always be looking out for pedestrians. Therefore, it’s important that pedestrians do not engage in behaviors that reduce their ability to notice approaching vehicles. 

Don’t Assume Drivers Can See You 

As a pedestrian, you should never assume that drivers can see you or that drivers are paying attention to you. Many drivers feel entitled to get out their phones in residential areas. Sometimes they figure that, because speed limits are lower, it’s safer to be on the phone (not necessarily true, by the way) other times, they may be looking at their phone trying to find a specific address on the GPS. Whatever the reason, many drivers simply aren’t paying enough attention when driving through pedestrian-dense areas such as residential streets. If you are a pedestrian, do not assume that drivers are looking out for you or that they can even see you. 

Don’t Assume You Aren’t Liable 

Don’t assume that you have the right of way when it comes to pedestrians vs vehicles. While you should absolutely know the laws in your area, you shouldn’t necessarily throw out all caution just because you know you have the right of way. People jaywalk all the time and, in some situations, you could be exposed to liability if you hit a person who’s jaywalking. Don’t throw all caution to the wind just because you have the right of way. 

Don’t Let Your Kids Ride Their Bikes in Sidewalks 

Bikers are not considered to be pedestrians. While many children do ride their bikes to school, it’s important that they yield to pedestrians, as pedestrians have the right of way. Ideally, children shouldn’t be riding their bikes in the sidewalks at all, as they could seriously injure a pedestrian if they lose control of their bike—which little kids are notorious for doing. If the sidewalk is the only safe place for your child to ride their bike, that may be a sign that you do not live in an area that is safe for your child to ride their bike to school.  

When You Need a Pedestrian Accident Attorney

If you’ve sustained injury in a pedestrian accident due to the negligence of another person, a personal injury attorney may be able to help you get the compensation you need to recover. At Moxie Law Group, our pedestrian accident attorneys are dedicated to helping you get the compensation you need to recover from your injuries. Contact us today to get started on your pedestrian accident claim.