Pedestrians are struck by motor vehicles at an alarming rate. The most recent national statistics show that over 4,000 walkers or joggers were fatally struck by a car in 2010. Countless other pedestrians who have suffered permanent disabilities.
These catastrophes happen far too often at intersections, crosswalks, parking lots, sidewalks or other parts of a street.
The causes of these accidents include:
- Inattentive driving (i.e. speaking on cell phone or texting)
- Not obeying traffic controls like a stop sign or traffic light
- Failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian in a designated crosswalk
- Speeding or traveling too fast for conditions
But with increasing frequency, pedestrians are cited for jaywalking by police. In Connecticut, these tickets are $50 a pop.
Here is a quick overview of the “rules of the road for pedestrians”:
- Use a crosswalk when available
- Stay within the boundaries of the crosswalk
- Obey the signals regarding when and when not to cross the intersection
- Pay attention to your surroundings (i.e. don’t text and walk)
It was often assumed that a walker or jogger was not a fault for their injuries. Those days are over. Insurance companies and law enforcement officials are no longer automatically sympathetic to an injured pedestrian.
Therefore, if you are injured as a pedestrian you should:
- Get immediate medical attention
- Obtain the police or accident report and determine whether it is factually correct
- Have a lawyer review the report to advise you as to its legal sufficiency
- Document in writing everything you recall about the incident
- Consider hiring private investigator or attorney to get witness statements