Pedestrian Safety Tips

The road systems were primarily made for automobiles to travel on, but the fact is that we when we drive down a street we are sharing the road with the pedestrians walking along and across it. This creates the potential for accidents to occur. In large, congested cities such as Chicago, the potential for accidents is especially high, as more people tend to walk through the streets to get to and from places. The following tips can help you minimize the risk of injury as a pedestrian.

Follow the Laws Created for Pedestrians

There are numerous laws that have been created with pedestrian safety in mind. Jaywalking is an infraction that refers to the illegal crossing of a street. If you run across a street at a non-designated area or cross a crosswalk at the improper time, then you are jaywalking. Both of these violations frequently occur without penalty, but the laws are there for a reason – they keep pedestrians safe.

Stay As Far Away as Possible From Motor Vehicles

Pedestrians along streets are virtually defenseless against accidents involving themselves and motor vehicles. One of the best ways to avoid one such an accident is to be alert and aware of the vehicles around you, and to remain as far away from the vehicles as possible. If you are walking along a sidewalk, you don’t have to walk directly next to the street. Allow yourself some distance from the street while continuing to watch the vehicles that are near you. This can significantly reduce your chance of being struck by a vehicle.

Contact Us

Practicing the tips provided above can help you avoid being negligent in the case of an accident. However, even if you try your best to be safe as a pedestrian, it is still possible for a negligent driver to cause injury to you. If this has happened to you or someone you know, you may be able to recover damages. Contact the Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers Friedman & Bonebrake, P.C. at 312-466-8200 to learn more about your legal options.