Pedestrian Accidents: How Can You Stay Safe?

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Pedestrian Accidents

According to statistics collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year, almost 5,000 pedestrians are killed in motor vehicle accidents. Another 76,000 are injured. These numbers mean that every two hours, there is a fatal pedestrian accident, and every seven minutes, there is a pedestrian injured after being struck by a motor vehicle.

Although many people may believe that children are most at risk of being a victim of a pedestrian accident, the data shows that it is actually senior citizens who are the most vulnerable to pedestrian accidents than any other age group. Victims who are over the age of 65 account for approximately 20 percent of fatal pedestrian accidents each year. Another 10 percent account for those victims who are injured.

They may not be the most at risk, but one out of every five children between the ages of 5 and 15 are killed by a vehicle while they are walking. A study conducted by CDC researchers found that – nationwide – only 14 percent of children walk to school. Traffic danger was cited as the second most common answer by parents as to why their children did not walk.

There are some steps that pedestrians can take to help keep them safe from vehicles. These include:

• Use a crosswalk when crossing the street. If there is not crosswalk, then try crossing at an intersection. Make sure to use traffic signal lights when available, and do not cross until the signal indicates it is safe to do so;
• Do not a cell phone while walking. Distracted walking is becoming as much as a problem as distracted driving. It is important to pay attention and being aware to what is going on around you;
• If there are no sidewalks where you are walking, stay on the shoulder of the road and walk facing the traffic;
• Do not wear dark clothing if you are walking. This is especially true if you are walking at night. In that case, wear reflective clothing and carry a flashlight;
• Almost 35 percent of fatal pedestrian accident victims have a blood alcohol level which is above the legal limit. Do not drink before you are going to be out walking; and
• Always make sure you have ID on you when you are out walking in case you are in an accident.

If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact an experienced Lake County personal injury attorney to find out what legal recourse you may have against the driver. Call the law firm of Salvi & Maher, L.L.C. at 847-662-3303 today to schedule a consultation.

Source:

http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/pedestrian_safety/