Pedestrian accidents - What are the risk factors?

Pedestrian accidents can be prevented if you know the risk factors. Our Pennsylvania law firm is pleased to provide the following safety information:

Crossing the street

The most dangerous thing a pedestrian can do is cross the street -- particularly at a non-intersection. Crossing at crosswalks increases your chances of being seen by motorists. There are, however, no guarantees that a motorist will actually stop and let you cross the street. Always err on the side of caution and make sure a driver is stopped before crossing the street.

Poor motorist visibility

Another danger to pedestrians is poor visibility. It is not uncommon for a driver to be blinded by the sun and fail to see a pedestrian in the road, especially in the early morning hours and during winter afternoons.

Children between the ages of 5 and 9 are at the greatest risk of being hit by a car because their small stature makes them less visible to motorists and because they are unable to locate a moving object through their sense of hearing. Adults, unlike young children, can usually sense a vehicle coming towards them, even if they don't see it. The ability to locate a moving object through hearing doesn't begin to develop in children until they're about 10 years old.

Walking after dark

Motorists also don't expect to see pedestrians out after dark. To make matters worse, many motorists have some degree of "night blindness," which is a vision impairment in low light. Walking at night also increases a pedestrian's chance of being struck by a drunk driver. If you must walk at night, be sure to wear reflective clothing.

Injured in a car accident? Put our experience to work for you.

For over 25 years, our attorneys have represented more than 30,000 people who have been injured in all types of accidents including car accidents. In addition our legal team has answered over 350,000 injury-related legal questions. When an injury from a car accident occurs and legal help is needed, experience counts.

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If you, or someone you care about, have been injured in a car accident, you can contact our law firm for a free evaluation by:

• Filling out a simple online form so we can evaluate your claim
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Our law firm will evaluate your claim free of charge and advise you on your legal rights to collect compensation. There is no obligation to use our services, and there is never a fee unless we get money for you.