Many people may consider driver safety because they’re aware of how dangerous car accidents can be when motorists aren’t paying attention to what they’re doing. But what they may not think about is being safe as a pedestrian. When a pedestrian is hit with a car, they have nothing to protect them. As a result, the consequences can be severe or sometimes fatal.
The Law Office of Todd W. Burris has protected the rights of Kentucky citizens and for years. Based in Lexington, we’re prepared to provide you with the help you need. We understand how traumatic it can be when you’re wrongfully injured. We have expertise in cases like this and know what it takes to get you favorable results.
We’re prepared to carefully investigate the accident, the accounts of the accident, including speaking to eyewitnesses, gather evidence from the scene and review medical records. From this, we’ll piece together who was at fault, how they were negligent, and how their negligence harmed you. We’ll calculate the expenses of your injury and then fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
Become More Visible to Motorists
There are several ways to stay safe as a pedestrian. You should always obey traffic laws. This means crossing the road at given areas like crosswalks and intersections. The signs will indicate when it is safe to cross. Pedestrians should also stay on sidewalks whenever possible.
However, sometimes following these rules isn’t enough. A reckless driver could not pay attention for a single moment and cause a terrible accident. Pedestrians should do all they can to increase their safety to reduce their chances of being involved in an accident.
Consider these aspects of being a pedestrian so you can make sure you’re more visible to motorists:
- Clothing. Your clothing can easily signal your location to drivers. If you’re going to be walking, make sure your clothes are bright and reflective. This way, drivers will be able to see you from far away and light will reflect off you. People who wear dark clothing tend to blend in with their surroundings. While it may be obvious to you that a car is headed in your direction, the driver may have no idea that you’re there. When they do see you, they may not have time to brake or steer out of the way.
- Flashlights. If you’re walking at dusk or at night, bring some extra tools to make yourself visible because this is the hardest time for drivers to see ahead of them. At dusk, drivers are adjusting to the light that’s getting lower, but may not have their headlights on yet. When their headlights are on, it only illuminates what is directly in front of them. When you bring a flashlight, you have something that they will be able to identify from further away. Make sure not to accidentally shine it in motorists’ eyes.
- Well-Lit Areas. Pedestrians may not have a specific destination in mind and just enjoy the feeling of walking. If this applies to you, do some extra planning for your route. Make sure the area is well-lit with plenty of natural light during the day and street lamps at night. Sidewalks and other designated walking areas are also a benefit to your safety.
- Think Ahead. Plan ahead for the time of day that you’ll be walking. If you know that you may be walking in the dark, perhaps bring a change of clothes and a flashlight with you when you leave your home so you’ll be prepared if you’re walking at times where it’s harder to see.
- Walk Toward Traffic. When there aren’t sidewalks, the best way for you to walk on the road is towards traffic and as far to the side of the road as you can get. This way, you’ll be aware of cars coming toward you and drivers will be able to see you because you’re coming closer to their field of vision. Getting as far from the road as possible will help you be safer and won’t put motorists in a situation where they have to swerve to avoid you or gauge how close they are to you. Some motorists may have trouble judging distance, which could mean they accidentally hit you or overcorrect to avoid you and hit another vehicle in the lane next to them.
The Law Office of Todd W. Burris Is Here for You
If you’ve been wrongfully injured in a pedestrian accident in Lexington, you deserve representation who will fight for your rights no matter what. Get in touch with our office today to schedule an obligation-free consultation. We’ll discuss the validity of your case and how you should proceed.
