During the warm summer months in the state of Connecticut, you won’t have to look far to see people enjoying the outdoors. From bicyclists to runners, pedestrians are everywhere.
As a pedestrian, it’s critical to take steps to protect yourself. If you neglect to do so, you’re increasing the risk of an accident with a motor vehicle. And since you don’t have much, if any, protection, this type of accident can result in serious injury or death.
Here are some of the many things you can personally do to protect yourself:
- Use crosswalks when available
- Make eye contact with drivers
- Don’t dart into traffic
- Face traffic when possible
- Never ignore the “don’t walk” sign at an intersection
These all sound like common knowledge, but it’s easy to become comfortable and make a mistake.
While you can do these things to protect yourself, you don’t have any control over the drivers around you. Here are some of the many things they may do that can cause an accident:
- Distracted driving, such as texting or conversing with passengers
- Driving under the influence of illegal drugs, prescription drugs or alcohol
- Reckless driving, such as speeding or failure to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk
- Failure to use turn signals
- Disregard for traffic conditions, such as rush hour traffic jams
- Disregard for weather conditions, such as strong wind or heavy rain
If you’re injured in a car-pedestrian accident, do the following:
- Move to safety, if possible, and call 911 to request help
- Ask bystanders for assistance, especially if you’re seriously injured and unable to administer first aid
- Accept treatment from paramedics and transportation to a local hospital
- Follow the advice of your medical team
- Review the circumstances surrounding the accident, with a focus on the cause
- Contact your insurance company to learn more about your coverage
As you do these things, pay close attention to the steps you can take to protect your legal rights. If a driver caused the accident, you may be able to obtain compensation for your injuries and other damages.
Visit our website and browse our blog for additional guidance pertaining to motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.
