Living in a busy like Chicago can be expensive. To save money, you might try to avoid regular expenses like taking the L, instead opting to walk anywhere you need to go. Though skipping on public transportation can be a great way to stay in shape while keeping your bank account happy, you could actually be putting your life in danger. Pedestrian accidents are actually fairly common across the globe, especially in cities with higher populations. As these issues become more common, it’s important that we determine the changes that need to be made to prevent them.
Pedestrian Accident Causes
While there are steps you can take to try to keep yourself safe on busy city streets, it’s difficult to give any guaranteed tips. This is because it’s typically drivers who are to blame for these accidents. So, even if you look both ways before crossing the street, you’re still at risk of falling victim to a car jumping the curb.
Pedestrians simply have no control in these situations. This is why; if you’re involved in an incident, it’s crucial that you find a skilled attorney to take your case since they will know more about pedestrian accidents and the laws that surround them and therefore be able to help you get the full compensation that you’re entitled to. They’ll be able to help you understand the most common causes, like:
Collisions
Vehicle-pedestrian collisions are a serious epidemic, leading to thousands of people being injured each year. These accidents can have many causes, but the main factors primarily boil down to driver negligence. This can include things like:
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving means that a driver’s attention is stolen away from the road, even just for a few seconds. This could be because of their cell phones, the music in their cars, or even their passengers.
Impaired Driving
Even after just a few drinks, getting behind the wheel makes drivers much more likely to cause an accident. This is because these substances can negatively impact a person’s motor skills and hinder their ability to react appropriately to the things happening around them.
Reckless Driving
Speed limits are put in place for a reason–to keep people safe. Drivers might think that it’s not a big deal to speed in order to get where they’re going a little faster, but pedestrians end up paying the price for their impatience all too often. The big issue with speeding is that it greatly decreases a driver’s reaction time, so they aren’t able to avoid, for example, pedestrians trying to cross the street.
Poor Infrastructure Design
Drivers aren’t always necessarily the ones to blame for pedestrian accidents–or they at least don’t shoulder the blame alone. Oftentimes, the city is equally to blame. Things like poorly designed intersections, inadequate signage, and a lack of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure can all increase the chances of an accident happening.
Lack of Pedestrian Education
Sometimes, pedestrians are partially at fault for the accidents that they’re involved in. The average Joe walking on the street isn’t familiar with traffic laws inside and out and therefore doesn’t know what the best practices are for keeping themselves safe while sharing the road. Because of this lack of education, they end up making mistakes that could cost them their lives.
Poor Visibility
Accidents aren’t only caused by reckless drivers and out-of-the-loop pedestrians. Sometimes, nature is to blame. Chicago is famous for having harsh winters, with heavy snow and sleet, which can make it difficult for drivers to see anyone else on the road, especially pedestrians.
Pedestrian Accident Prevention
Preventing pedestrian accidents requires effort from everyone involved–including drivers and pedestrians alike. Here’s how both groups can do their part to help:
Drivers
Drivers need to drive responsibly. What this means is that they should follow all of the laws of the road, especially when it comes to driving under the influence or texting and driving. Drivers should have their phones on ‘do not disturb’ while on the road so they avoid even the temptation that might come with a new notification. If they’re going out with friends for a drink, they should make a plan for their night that keeps them from driving while intoxicated. Additionally, if the weather is bad, they should exercise caution and drive well under the speed limit to account for the changes in reaction speed.
Pedestrians
Pedestrians can keep themselves safe by learning their local traffic laws. Additionally, they should always be alert when around intersections or when crossing the street. Pedestrians should avoid walking with headphones in so that they can hear oncoming traffic and should minimize distractions like texting and calling.
