As spring approaches and the Chicago-area weather warms, motorists may see more pedestrians out and about. These individuals may be walking to and from work or school, or they may be out for social reasons or as a way to get exercise. Regardless of the reason, motorists need to be aware of pedestrians and avoid actions that could lead to a serious pedestrian accident.
One way motorists can do this is by obeying traffic signals and yielding to pedestrians. It has become far too common for drivers to ignore crosswalks, assuming that pedestrians should wait until traffic has cleared. When motorists fail to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, the resulting wreck can be severely injurious or even fatal for the pedestrian. Other ways motorists can seek to avoid these wrecks is to obey speed limits and signal before they turn.
Pedestrians, too, can take steps to protect themselves from moving vehicles. First, they should be sure to follow all walk signals. Second, they should be sure to only cross the street at designated crosswalks. Lastly, these individuals must refrain from darting out into traffic and disrupting the flow of traffic. Those who fail to heed this advice may put themselves at risk of harm.
However, no matter how safety conscious pedestrians are, a negligent driver can cause a serious accident in the blink of an eye. Victims are then oftentimes left to deal with their physical, emotional and financial losses. They may wind up with extensive pain and suffering, significant medical expenses and lost wages. In an effort to recoup these losses, victims may want to consider whether filing a personal injury lawsuit supports their best interests.
Source: FindLaw, “Pedestrian Accidents Overview,” accessed on Feb. 21, 2016
