Pedestrian Injury

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

March 16, 2018 by Brad Johnson

In 2016, more than 1400 Arizona pedestrians were injured in accidents, and sadly, 147 individuals lost their lives while walking in Arizona. Our state is one of the country’s worst for pedestrian accidents. Naturally, there are many reasons for these accidents ranging from distractions to poor driver habits and poor pedestrian caution. Arizona authorities have continued to work on making roads and walkways safer through laws and signage.

There is still much work to do. Drivers and pedestrians alike continue to be distracted by cell phones and other activities. Drivers do not always obey traffic laws and often drive too quickly. Pedestrians may ignore safety warnings and fail to be ever mindful of the traffic around them. When these accidents occur, pedestrians should consult an experienced pedestrian injury attorney. This post explores seven of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents.

Failure to Obey Traffic Signals

Red lights are in place for both drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. When any of these push the limits of the timing on the lights and run through it, a violation occurs. When any of these do not verify that the area is clear, a dangerous collision may happen. Ignoring stop signs, or sneaking through at the last minute after a brief pause is a dangerous game to play for cars especially if the intersection is partially concealed.

Ignoring Right of Way Rules

Drivers must yield to pedestrians even at unmarked crosswalks. Whenever a driver fails to yield at a right of way, he or she is guilty of breaking the law and could be in trouble if an injury occurs. Pedestrians must always be prepared for unexpected movement of vehicles simply because of the sheer size and weight of the moving vehicles. A good way to know is to make eye contact with the driver in the vehicle and also use hand signals when appropriate before proceeding through an intersection.

Driving into the Road Without Looking

When a driver leaves a parking spot and does not verify the roadway is clear, an accident is in the offing. Pedestrians should not run through parking lots. Always look for rear lights, use hand signals, eye contact, and never assume the driver sees you. If they fail to look for a clear space, they could pull out right in front of you or back into you.

Making a Sudden Right Turn

Always stop immediately before making a turn. Executing a turn without stopping is a sure way to stun a pedestrian who is counting on a stop first. Moreover, there are instances where there is limited visibility in an intersection and the driver will not see a pedestrian walking across the street. Corners are often obscured by vegetation or structures that can hide those walking.

Walking Along a Narrow Road

There are roads that have little or no shoulder; these are tragedies waiting to happen when pedestrians are present. Drivers must be always mindful on these roads and not looking at cell phones, eating, or engaged in other activities. With no shoulder, there is no room for error. Drifting onto the edge of the road can cause a serious accident. Pedestrians should walk against traffic when on these types of roads.

Distracted Driving

A growing problem among drivers, walkers, and bicyclists, distracted driving is known to cause more accidents today than ever. Studies have found those using cell phones while driving are more impaired than some drivers are after consuming alcohol. Many states are considering distracted driver laws to protect more pedestrians, drivers, and bicyclists on the roads. Remain alert and focused while walking, bicycling, and driving.

DUI

There are no excuses for impairment caused by alcohol when it comes to pedestrian accidents resulting from DUIs. The National Highway Safety Administration reports that upwards of 15% of pedestrian accidents in the U.S. are caused by people driving while under the influence of alcohol or another controlled substance.

Brad Johnson Injury Law has experienced pedestrian accident attorneys in Phoenix & Avondale, experienced in helping those injured by others while walking retain their rights and be compensated for their injuries and suffering. Our attorneys will aggressively fight for those who are dealing with medical issues because of a pedestrian injury. Call Brad Johnson to schedule your consultation with one of our pedestrian injury attorneys today.

How Are Pedestrians Responsible for Car Accidents?

March 10, 2018 by Brad Johnson

The barometer for measuring whether a pedestrian’s actions caused a car accident is the word “unreasonable”. In other words, pedestrians are almost never the cause of a motor vehicle crash. Yet, when a pedestrian behaves in an unreasonable way and that unreasonable action causes a car accident, the barometer swings toward being a pedestrian-caused incident.

With distraction becoming an epidemic among those behind the wheel, and pedestrians on sidewalks, and in store aisles, it has become commonplace for texting pedestrians to bump into people and things. These and other factors raise a growing list of causes of pedestrian accidents. What ARE those incidents where pedestrians are most commonly at fault for causing a motor vehicle accident?

Incidents Where Pedestrians are Responsible & at Fault

Distraction is a growing problem. Both pedestrians and drivers alike fight the urge to check their phones for messages, check their GPS for directions, or check their phones to watch the Dow Jones. Technology is only part of the problem, as more people are eating, drinking, talking, and smoking while walking.
Drunk walking. The same reasons that drinking and driving is banned are another reason to consider walking while drinking a risky activity. Slower reaction times and poor spatial judgment are combined with a relaxed state of mind to stir up a dangerous soup for drunken pedestrians.
Ignoring traffic signs and rules. Anytime a person crosses a street or roadway, the propensity to be hit exists. Rules and signs are in place to offer pedestrians the safest possible crossing. Pedestrians who walk astride the law are putting themselves in danger.
Bus vs. pedestrians. Many urban pedestrian accidents involve buses. With people onboarding and leaving buses in busy streets, often other traffic does not witness the person leaving the bus until it is sadly too late.
Pedestrians wearing dark nighttime colors. Walking after dark is difficult, as it is a challenge for the walker to see where he or she is going. The worst part about darkness for the pedestrian, though, is being seen or not being seen, as it were. Pedestrians walking in the dark in dark clothing are a collision waiting to happen. If you must walk at night, white or reflective clothing is critical.

Irresponsible or negligent pedestrians can be as dangerous as an impaired driver in wreaking havoc with motorists. One problem that emerges from pedestrians behaving badly is a panicked driver who is fearful of hitting the person. Drivers often cannot stop or control their cars in a split second, and they make poor driving decisions. At this juncture, the driver has one of several circumstances to deal with. The driver either hits the pedestrian and then is forced to manage the situation and prove he or she was driving lawfully. Or the driver slams his foot on the brake, causing him or his passengers to be injured. Or the driver steers away from the pedestrian and ends up hitting other vehicles, bicycles, structures, or other people.

If you have been involved in a car accident where a pedestrian’s actions caused or contributed to the accident, you need a pedestrian accident attorney to help guide your next steps. If you were the driver, the pedestrian, or a passenger, you may be eligible for medical damages if you were injured or lost wages if you were unable to work for any reason afterwards. The best thing for you is to avoid engaging in any blaming game with the others involved. Your pedestrian accident attorney can help you sort out all the facts and decide the best approach to dealing with your role.

Brad Johnson Injury Law has been helping people with pedestrian accidents for more than 20 years. When your situation calls for expertise and an attorney who knows the courts and the laws around pedestrian accidents, we can help. Call today to schedule your consultation. Preserve your rights and call today.

The Importance of Pedestrian Caution In Traffic

June 15, 2010 by Brad Johnson

Everyday you hear about accidents involving pedestrians. The reason is because people are often careless about where they’re walking. They’re not mindful of their surroundings, they think that cars are always going to stop to give them the right of way, and some people just plain think they’re invincible. But people aren’t invincible and that’s why all pedestrians need to be cautious in traffic. That means looking both ways before you cross the street, never assuming someone is going to give you the right of way, and always taking the proper precautions so that every driver on the road sees you and knows you’re there. As long as you do these things, you will be able to go about your business without being involved in a traffic accident that you may not survive.

Cars are very useful for getting us where we need to go, but they’re also two thousand plus pound machines. A person wouldn’t stand a chance if they were hit by one of these cars. Every person should know and realize this. Yet it never fails; there’s always that person who rushes across the street without a care as cars honk and swerve to avoid hitting him. Most of the time these people are just in a hurry and they never consider that they could be hit by a car. Everyone thinks that a traffic accident is going to happen to someone else. But if you don’t watch where you’re going, you are going to be the subject of the next early morning news story involving a pedestrian and a fast moving car.

Watch Your Surroundings
No matter where you’re walking to, and even if you’re just walking along the sidewalk, always be aware of your surroundings. Be mindful of where traffic is, which direction it’s traveling and make sure you position yourself so that you’re seen by these drivers. If you’re going to cross the street, look both ways before you cross at an intersection. Never “jaywalk”! Never take chances! It’s better to be late going somewhere than to not arrive at all. As long as you keep a keen eye for any traffic and you’re watchful of where you step, you’ll have a much better chance of reaching your destination.

Right of Way
While it’s true that pedestrians have the right of way when crossing a roadway in a marked crosswalk, when it comes to traffic, you should never rely on this fact. Never assume that a car is going to stop to let you pass in front of them. Remain cautious at all times when dealing with a vehicle when you’re on foot. It’s better to let the car go by, even if you have to wait a few seconds longer.

Remain Visible
If you’re a pedestrian dealing with traffic at night, make sure you wear reflective or bright clothing so that drivers always know you’re there. If it’s daytime, make sure you walk towards traffic so that you see them and they see you. Never wear black at night while dealing with traffic, and never cross a street unless the drivers know you’re there. As long as they know you’re there, you have a better chance of reaching the other side of the street in one piece, which is the goal of every pedestrian exercising caution in traffic.

Use the crosswalk!
The Brad Johnson Injury Law law firm offers free consultations, so don’t accidentally waive your rights or the compensation that is due you if you are involved in an accident with a moving vehicle while walking.