According to the latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2019, 17% of all traffic fatalities were pedestrians. So, as a pedestrian, you need to be cautious in areas where there’s lots of traffic, especially in big cities.
With cars, buses, and other vehicles speeding by in cities, it’s important that you take precautions to protect yourself. But exactly how do you do that?
Here are five ways you can stay safe as a pedestrian in a busy city.
Consult A Lawyer If You’re Injured In An Accident, e.g. In Queens
Before looking at the ways in which you can remain safe, it’s worth mentioning that if you’re involved in a road accident as a pedestrian and the accident causes you to sustain injuries, you do at least have the option to claim compensation if the driver was negligent or inattentive.
So, if you’re injured in an accident in a big city like New York or a busy borough like Queens, your first step should be to consult a lawyer. Just ensure the attorney has specialist experience in your type of case.
When you contact a pedestrian accident consultancy lawyer, he or she can help you explore your legal options and assist you in claiming the financial compensation you deserve. You could obtain compensation to cover things like medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. However, if you take note of the following five tips to help you stay safe as a pedestrian, you could avoid being involved in an accident as a pedestrian in the first place.
1. Look Both Ways Before Crossing
Even though everyone learns to look both ways before crossing the road when they are children, many adults forget to do so. If you don’t look both ways when crossing a road in a big city, you’re putting yourself at more risk.
Even if you have the right of way, you should always check if any oncoming traffic is coming. Just because you’re abiding by the rules of the road, it doesn’t mean drivers are.
Every year, many pedestrians are injured or killed in accidents simply because they didn’t take the time to look before crossing the road. So, make sure you do so in order to stay safe.
And if you’re a keen cyclist, you should also take note of ways you can remain safe.
2. Use Crosswalks And Obey Traffic Signals
Following on from the last point, it’s vital that you don’t cross busy city roads at the wrong place.
Always use crosswalks and always obey the traffic signals to reduce the risk of being involved in an accident as a pedestrian.
3. Wear Bright Colors And Reflective Strips
To provide yourself with an additional level of safety, you should wear bright colors or reflective clothing, especially at night or in low-light conditions. The easier you make it for drivers to see you, the less likely it is you’ll be involved in a traffic accident.
Wear bright colors like orange, yellow, and red, and use reflective strips on your shoes or clothing. Drivers will then be able to clearly see you.
4. Look Out For Vehicles Turning Into Streets Or Parking Lots
When walking in busy cities, you need to watch out for vehicles turning into streets or parking lots.
Make sure you look out for cars and other vehicles turning into streets and parking lots and ensure the driver sees you before you proceed on your way.
5. Make Eye Contact With Drivers
To ensure drivers see you when they’re turning into streets or parking lots, make eye contact with them. Indeed, you should always try to make eye contact with any driver that is approaching before you proceed with actions like crossing the street.
It’s especially important to make eye contact at night or in bad weather conditions.
