Tips for drivers to help keep pedestrians safe

Pedestrian safety is an important topic and negligent drivers who do not take pedestrian safety seriously may end up being liable for damages pedestrians suffer in an accident. Pedestrian accident victims may face living with the harm of a pedestrian accident for a lifetime and should be familiar with legal protections available to them.

There are several useful safety tips drivers can follow to help keep pedestrians safe including:

• Being on the lookout for pedestrians everywhere and at all times.

• Exercising additional caution when driving in situations when it is hard to see, including night driving and driving in bad weather.

• Slowing down and preparing to stop if needed when making turns or otherwise entering into a crosswalk.

• Yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks and stopping well in advance of crosswalks to allow other vehicles to observe pedestrians so they can also safely stop for them.

• Not passing vehicles stopped at crosswalks because there may be pedestrians crossing the driver cannot see.

• Not driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs which can impair the driver’s ability to safely drive and observe pedestrians and others on the roadway.

• Following the speed limit, especially in areas that are heavily pedestrian trafficked and in school zones and neighborhoods where children are present.

• Exercising extra caution when backing up and always looking for possible pedestrians behind the vehicle.

When a driver is careless and strikes a pedestrian, injuring them, the pedestrian may suffer physical, financial and emotional damages. A personal injury claim may be able to help the victim with their damages and is useful to understand the benefits of.