Both drivers and pedestrians are prone to certain behaviors that can increase the risk of an accident.
Sometimes, the issue of pedestrian accidents is presented as being all the drivers’ fault or all the pedestrians’ fault. The truth of the matter is, both drivers and pedestrians can easily cause accidents through their own negligence. In California, negligence and liability for accidents can be shared so it is very important to identify all possible contributing causes of an accident when seeking compensation.
Driver Negligence
Many pedestrian accidents are caused by drivers who fail to take the necessary precautions when navigating in areas with foot traffic. Some common examples include:
Failure to yield when turning at an intersection: When pedestrians have the “walk” signal at an intersection, cars are supposed to yield to them. Unfortunately, drivers often forget to look for pedestrians or simply do not see them. This is especially likely to happen on left-hand turns when the pedestrian is coming from behind the driver.
Failure to stop: Pedestrians expect drivers to obey traffic laws. Therefore, if a pedestrian sees a car approaching a red light or a stop sign, they may venture across even though the car has not yet started to slow down. Often drivers run stop signs and red lights because they are distracted and not looking at the road, so they could easily miss the pedestrian as well as the traffic signal.
Speeding/Intoxication: Whether a driver is speeding or under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medications, their reaction time may be diminished. This means that they may be more likely to strike a pedestrian in the road.
Pedestrian Negligence
Of course, pedestrians can also be negligent in their use of the road. In this case, drivers may be unable to avoid an accident. Some possible examples of this kind of pedestrian accident include:
Jaywalking: Ideally, it is safest for pedestrians to use marked crosswalks when crossing the street. However, not all intersections have crosswalks, stoplights, or even stop signs. Even so, it is still better to cross at the intersection rather than jaywalking in the middle of the block. Drivers simply are not expecting pedestrians to pop out in the middle of the street and an accident could easily cause an accident.
Distracted walking: Pedestrians are expected to remain aware of their surroundings and avoid stepping out in front of cars or crossing intersections against the light. Unfortunately, when pedestrians are looking at their phones, wearing headphones, or otherwise distracted, they can be just as prone to accidents as a distracted driver.
Intoxication: One final cause of pedestrian accidents is intoxication, which can prevent individuals from exercising proper care and judgment. They may walk into the middle of the street or even try to cross a busy highway.
Injured By a Negligent Driver? We Can Help
If you have been injured by a negligent driver while out walking, you need to consult a pedestrian accident attorney like Fernando D. Vargas right away. Attorney Vargas can help you prove how your accident happened and untangle any complicated issues of shared liability.
To learn more, please call 909-982-0707 and request a free initial consultation.
