No matter what type of vehicle you drive, if you are out on the road, you are at risk of being involved in a car accident. Most car accidents involve two or more vehicles, which can be devastating. However, you might be surprised to learn that 14% of all vehicle-related fatalities involve pedestrians. In fact, a pedestrian is injured in a car accident every seven minutes.
To help decrease the number of pedestrian car accidents, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has put together a list of safety tips.
- Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times. Safety is a shared responsibility.
- Use extra caution when driving in hard to see conditions, such as nighttime or in bad weather.
- Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.
- Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too.
- Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing that you can’t see.
- Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
- Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street.
- Follow slower speed limits in school zones and in neighborhoods where there are children present.
- Be extra cautious when backing up – pedestrians can move into your path.
Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers are committed to helping Norfolk car accident victims get the compensation they deserve. If you were injured in a car accident, call our Norfolk personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation.