Lincoln Pedestrian Injury

Lincoln Pedestrian Injury

Lincoln Pedestrian Injury

Lincoln Pedestrian Injury. Anyone can be involved in a Lincoln pedestrian injury. Pedestrian accidents have increased nationwide. This may be due to carelessness, the number of pedestrians or poorly defined and maintained crosswalks. It may also be due to the popularity of walking as a way of staying healthy. Whatever the cause, approximately 15 people are killed daily. Let’s take a look at the enormity of the problem, what causes pedestrian deaths and how walkers can be safe from a Lincoln pedestrian injury.   

Pedestrian Deaths Are Growing

Looking at the years 2006 through 2015, it becomes apparent that the number of pedestrian deaths has increased while other traffic fatalities have decreased. In the year 2015 alone, 5,376 people were killed while out walking. That number, which is lower than the current fatality tally, was higher than any 12 months in the previous 10 years. Aside from deaths, around 70,000 people were also injured in pedestrian crashes. This figure is estimated to be low since many such accidents go unreported. In 2015, 20 percent of all children killed on the road were fatally injured in pedestrian accidents. At the other end of the spectrum, older adults accounted for 13 percent of the total number of pedestrian injuries and 19 percent of fatalities.

Motorist Responsibility

Due to their lack of physical protection, pedestrians are especially vulnerable. Motorists must maintain a high degree of vigilance for pedestrians. On occasion, pedestrians may dart out into the street outside crosswalks or well-lit areas. Most pedestrian accidents occur outside of crosswalks and at night. Motorists need to take the following precautions:

  • Always obey the speed limit. If you are moving at a higher speed than is appropriate for the area and weather, you might lose control of your vehicle and cause a Lincoln pedestrian injury. Take special care in areas where the speed limit is decreased for school children. In bad weather, it is important to drive with your lights on, making it easier for pedestrians to see you.
  • It is important to look for pedestrians when leaving your driveway. Many cross over the sidewalk, and foliage and other barriers may hide pedestrians about to walk into your path.
  • Yield to walkers in crosswalks. As you are approaching a crosswalk, start to slow down. Don’t pull up into the crosswalk when you stop. Leave enough room for pedestrians.
  • If you see another vehicle stopped at the crosswalk, don’t try to pass even if you don’t see a pedestrian. Many times, the walker is on the other side of the vehicle, and if you proceed, you will probably hit them.
  • Don’t drive drunk. It causes you to have poor judgment and decision-making skills as well as cognitive function.

Tips for Pedestrians

There are things a pedestrian can do to stay safe while walking. They are:

  • Make sure that drivers can see you. Motorists often miss seeing a pedestrian, particularly at night. Many pedestrian accidents happen between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and midnight. Another way to be visible for drivers is to wear bright colors in the daylight and light clothing at night, enhancing your visibility.
  • Don’t be distracted. This includes talking on the phone or texting.
  • Headphones are a problem, so don’t use them. They will block out noises around you such as an approaching car or truck and could make you more vulnerable for a Lincoln pedestrian injury.
  • Don’t assume that motorists see you. Be proactive every step of the way.
  • Try to use crosswalks. If one is not available, cross where the road is well lit, and make sure you have enough time to get across the road.
  • Use sidewalks. If there are none, walk along the left side of the road, facing traffic.
  • Keep Children Safe: Teach your children how to be safe when out walking. The old rule to look left and right and left again is a good way to start.
  • Don’t drink before you head out. Thirty-four percent of pedestrian accidents where alcohol was involved occur when the walker was inebriated. You might not be able to judge when or if you can cross safely and cause an injury.

Lincoln Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

I’m Ed Smith, a Lincoln pedestrian accident lawyer. If you’ve been hurt in a pedestrian accident, contact me for free and friendly advice. You can reach me at (916) 921-6400 locally and (800) 404-5400 out of the area. You can reach me online also by using my contact us page on AutoAccident.com, a comprehensive legal site that I own and operate.

I’ve helped many residents of Lincoln over the years to obtain the compensation they deserve in car accidents, traumatic brain injuries, motorcycle crashes and wrongful deaths.

I am a member of the milliondollaradvocates.com. This is a forum of trial lawyers who have won over $1 million for a client.

If you need to retain an attorney, learning about their practice is helpful. You can see reviews from prior clients of mine and my peers as well as how cases were resolved by going to the following pages:

Photo Attribution: Depositphotos_12208240_l-2015

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