Fall is finally here, which means the weather is crisp, cool, and absolutely perfect for taking family walks after dinner. Although there are several health benefits of getting in some gentle exercise on a daily basis, walking near a busy road is incredibly dangerous and could ultimately result in catastrophic injuries.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4,735 pedestrians died in traffic accidents in 2013, and many more sustained serious injuries. You may not be able to control the motorists around you, but as a pedestrian, there are still steps you can take to improve your safety and reduce the risk of getting into a serious accident.
Because pedestrians are so small and vulnerable compared to passenger vehicles, the injuries they sustain in such accidents are often debilitating. If a drunk, distracted, or otherwise reckless motorist struck you when you were walking near traffic and you are not sure how your family is going to make ends meet while you recover, contact Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC.
You may be entitled to compensation to pay for medical bills and lost wages, and an accident lawyer from our team can help you determine the best way to go about securing it. Call 319-393-1020 to schedule a free case evaluation with a Cedar Rapids injury attorney.
Read on to learn how you can avoid a serious accident as a pedestrian
- Eliminate Distractions
If you enjoy listening to music while you walk, keep the volume fairly low, and make sure none of your other senses are inhibited. For example, you should not listen to music and play on your phone at the same time. If both your vision and hearing are compromised, you may end up crossing the street without looking or failing to get out of the way on time if a car honks at you.
- Make Eye Contact
The only way to be sure a motorist has seen you is by making eye contact. Even when you have the right of way, you cannot trust that oncoming motorists will respect it. As a result, you should always make eye contact with the drivers nearby before crossing the street.
- Wait for Vehicles to Stop
Just because the traffic light has turned red and the “WALK” signal has come on does not mean any oncoming motorists will stop for you. You can use traffic signals as your guide, but always wait for motorists to stop or at least acknowledge you before stepping out onto the road.
- Follow Local Traffic Laws
Jay walking is not only illegal, but it is also incredibly dangerous. Even if you think there are no vehicles coming, a speeding car could come out of nowhere, and you can be certain its driver will not be looking for pedestrians where there are no crosswalks.
- Lead by Example
If you have young children, you can protect their safety too by leading by example. Teach them to look both ways before crossing the street and to wait for a walk signal before stepping out onto the road.
If you were injured in a pedestrian accident despite following all of the tips above, contact Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC. Call 319-393-1020 to schedule a free consultation with an accident lawyer in Cedar Rapids. You can learn more about personal injury claims in Iowa by visiting usattorneys.com/personal-injury/iowa.