It’s horrible to think about a crash resulting in life-changing injuries, but serious collisions do happen all the time. In many of those cases, those who are injured will want to file a personal injury claim against the party responsible for the accident.
Some of the people most significantly impacted by crashes are pedestrians. Pedestrian crashes often lead to severe injuries and fatalities because of factors such as vehicle speed, a lack of protection against bodily impact and size discrepancies between themselves and the vehicle involved.
What’s one of the most significant factors in pedestrian crashes?
Pedestrian deaths and injuries can often be linked to one common issue: Distractions. Whether you’re a driver or a pedestrian, being distracted by what is going on around you is dangerous. Whether it’s listening to music, walking a pet, talking to a friend or changing the radio station in your vehicle, distractions mean that you’re not paying attention to what’s happening around you.
In many pedestrian crashes, the pedestrians themselves are in crosswalks or are cycling in bike lanes. Distracted drivers may fail to see them, hitting them as a result. Similarly, a distracted pedestrian may walk out into a crosswalk thinking that it’s safe, even though the “WALK” signal isn’t active.
So, what can you do to help reduce distractions and prevent crashes? Put down your phone, look up and pay attention. When you plan to walk near roadways, be aware that drivers may be distracted. If your the driver of a vehicle, make sure that you minimize your own distractions and keep your eyes out for walkers and bikers. If everyone watches out for each other, then there is a better chance that crashes will be able to be avoided.
