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Personal Injury Lawyers Offering Pedestrian Safety Tips

On December 19, an elderly woman pushing a shopping cart was killed when she was struck by a Toyota pickup truck while crossing Lawrence Expressway. While it is important for drivers to be aware of pedestrians, there are certain steps you can take as a pedestrian to be safer.

  • Whenever possible, avoid being a pedestrian late at night or early in the morning when people are less-likely to see you.
  • If you need to travel late at night, in the early morning, or during bad weather, make yourself visible. Wear bright, reflective clothing. You may also want to use a flashlight, especially if you are walking along streets with poor lighting.
  • Be extra careful when traveling along busy roads. If possible, plan your route so you can avoid having to walk along busy streets. When possible, avoid crossing busy streets.
  • Walk on the sidewalk when one is available. When there is not a sidewalk, walk as close to the curb as possible. If you must walk along the edge of the road, walk on the left side of the road so you will see oncoming traffic better.
  • Use crosswalks when they are available, even if this means walking to the end of the block rather than crossing earlier.
  • When crossing at a light, if there is a pedestrian signal, wait for the hand to indicate that you can safely cross, even if there is no traffic coming.
  • Be sure all vehicles have stopped for you before you attempt to cross the street. Drivers may not be paying attention and may go around another vehicle or simply not stop, hitting you, even if you are using a crosswalk.
  • Avoid doing distracting activities while walking. This includes texting, reading a book, or talking on your cell phone. You should be especially careful about engaging in heated cell phone discussions while driving. Your mind will be on the conversation, and you may not realize you have walked into traffic.

Unfortunately, drivers are not always aware of pedestrians, and accidents requiring the services of personal injury lawyers do sometimes happen. If you were a pedestrian injured by an inattentive driver, the person injury lawyers at Needham Kepner & Fish LLP are here for you. Contact us at (408) 716-1668 or online to schedule a free initial consultation.

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