Most people would be surprised to learn that a recent study showed that there is a significant increase in traffic fatalities at night compared to daytime fatalities. Worse yet, fatal pedestrian and bike accidents are also much more common at night during the day. Keep reading to find out why these increases exist, what you can do to stay safe at night, and what to do if you are injured or lose a loved one in a nighttime accident.
The Many Reasons for Increases in Accidents at Night
Studies show that there are a number of reasons that accidents are so much more common at night than they are during the day. First, many pedestrians and bike riders are harder to see at night. This does not have to be the case – simply wear bright clothing and reflectors on your clothes, helmet, bike, etc. Of course, most people have worse vision at night than during the day, but if you take care to make yourself more visible, this does not need to be an issue.
Second, many drivers are drowsy at night. This could simply be because the sun has gone down and this naturally makes people drowsier, or it could be the result of the fact that a person is driving past the point at which they should be sleeping. More drivers are impaired at night as well, simply because more people drink alcohol at night.
Another contributing factor is the lack of well lit crosswalks. In fact, many California intersections do not have clearly delineated pedestrian crosswalks. Many roads do not have streetlights. It is also true that drivers are more likely to be looking out for pedestrians during the day than they are at night.
Pedestrian and Bike Accidents Can Result in Serious Injuries and Death
Due to the fact that cars weigh so much more than people or bikes, and the fact that cars are often traveling many times faster than a car or bike could, it is not hard to see why cars can so often cause serious injuries to pedestrians and bike riders. Common injuries from these accidents including concussions and other brain injuries, fractured bones, damage to the spinal cord, paralysis, and even death.
What to Do if You Are Impacted by a Nighttime Pedestrian or Bike Accident
If you are injured in this type of accident then we hope you will get medical care as soon as possible. You should also contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for your free legal consultation. If you have lost a loved one in a fatal accident, we can help you too. This is a difficult time for everyone involved but Attorney Vargas has the experience and resources to hold the at-fault party responsible. Call now to get started.
