San Bernardino Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

Unfortunately, because of mechanical issues, auto defects, and human error, pedestrian accidents are inevitable. Here is a list of the Top 8 Most Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents:

1. Arterial Roads – With a high volume of auto and foot traffic at high rates of speeds in a condensed area, high-capacity urban roads have a high rate of hit and run pedestrian accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents,s and many other situations that often result in serious or catastrophic injury.
2. Quiet Cars – As the advancement of technology increases, so do our cars. With electric cars and gas-efficient hybrid gas-savers on the road everywhere you look, practically silent automobiles can be a silent killer. Pedestrians will turn their heads at loud exhausts and speeding cars with powerful engines, or if a car is sounding like it is approaching them too close for comfort, but if a motor vehicle isn’t making any noise, and pedestrians and drivers are not paying attention, the automobile usually always comes out stronger of the two. Stay alert, stay alive.
3. Improper Lane Use – There are a few ways pedestrians and cyclists are forced into harm’s way. For instance road debris, reckless drivers, and bicycles can force others to jump out of the way, possibly into the way of a moving vehicle or off a high embankment.
4. Unmarked Crosswalks – Crosswalks are designed to highlight a safe yielding zone, appropriate for pedestrians to utilize in order to safely get from one side of the area to the other. When in poorly identified crosswalks or jaywalk king, pedestrians expose themselves to a highly dangerous situation of possibly being struck, injured, and killed by moving vehicles, motorcycles, and or cyclists traveling at slow, normal, or high speeds. Every circumstance is different, and all are still potentially deadly.
5. Left-Hand Turns – Left-hand turns are always a dangerous situation for pedestrians, and other drivers on the road, including motorcyclists and cyclists. The infamous left-hand turn is dangerous because of the blind spot, and inability to observe the speed of the vehicle, cyclist, or motorcycle, and can oftentimes result in a serious or catastrophic injury in the blink of an eye. Many times this is due to inattention to the situation or upcoming road conditions, and because of the severity and high volume of accidents from this situation, drivers are looking out for other cars and motorcycles, rather than pedestrians walking in the crosswalk, unattentive to the vehicle about to race across the street before the oncoming traffic approaching is an issue.
6. Alcohol – Drivers and pedestrians who are under the influence of alcohol, drugs, and medication are a danger to themselves and everyone around them. DUIs are a serious mark on your record and can even be given to individuals riding a bike intoxicated. Yes, you can even get a DUI while riding a bicycle. Intoxicated pedestrians can be inattentive and recklessly stumbling from side to side, possibly into the pathway of a moving vehicle, motorcycle, or cyclist. This can result in the serious injury or death of the pedestrian, driver, passengers, or innocent, unsuspecting, and vulnerable pedestrians or drivers standing by.
7. Dark Clothes – Dark clothes make it more difficult to see you, especially at night, dusk and dawn. This is because it makes you blend into the darkness of the background. It is suggested to were bright, white, and if possible reflective clothing if you use city streets to commute, whether you are walking, riding a bicycle, or some other form of transportation.
8. Electronics – Electronics exist to somehow benefit and make certain aspects of our life easier, more accessible, and stay in touch with friends, family, loved ones, the internet, our online social lives as well as in the event of an emergency. The only problem is human beings have become so dependent on electronics that we lose our sense of current time, reality, and common sense more often than we’d like to admit. When walking through a parking lot, across a crosswalk, through a park, or on the sidewalks, many people are so fixated on the screen of their smartphones, tablets, and electronic devices, we fail to stay alert for any possible dangers like reckless drivers, redlight runners, out of control or speeding cyclist or vehicles and don’t have the ability to avoid potentially dangerous or even deadly situations by jumping out of the way or warning others. Having headphones in your ears is very popular among drivers, runners, and cyclists, but makes it incredibly difficult and many times impossible to warn headphone-wearers of any dangers about to affect them.