Avoiding Pedestrian Accidents

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Personal Injury

Automobile accidents can be deadly when two automobiles are involved. When pedestrians are involved in automobile accidents, their injuries tend to be serious, and more often than not they lead to death.

Recently, a pedestrian was involved in accident caused by the automobile driver. The pedestrian was crossing the street when the automobile driver fatally hit him. Although these accidents are often devastating, they happen too frequently here in Wisconsin. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in 2012, there were over 118,000 automobile accidents and 1,273 accidents involving pedestrians. As a result of those accidents, over 1,200 pedestrians suffered injuries while another 35 pedestrians were killed.

Traffic and Pedestrian Laws in Wisconsin

Wisconsin law provides the rules of the road for automobiles, pedestrians, bicyclists, etc. The law provides that, at any crosswalk in the state of Wisconsin, that is either marked or unmarked, automobile drivers are required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians. In all other scenarios, pedestrians are required to yield to automobile drivers when they are proceeding towards a green light. If the automobile is passing through a green light, decides to turn, and a pedestrian is using the crosswalk, the automobile driver may not pass until the pedestrian is no longer endangered. See Generally Wis. Stats. 346.23, 346.24 and 346.25.

Common Causes of Automobile and Pedestrian Accidents

In some cases, the automobile driver causes the accident with the pedestrian. These common causes can be attributed to:

• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
• Distracted driving;
• Rolling through stop signs;
• Driving through crosswalks; and
• Failing to abide by traffic signs.

Ways Pedestrians Can Avoid Automobile Accidents

The best way to avoid accidents with automobiles is to take a proactive approach when walking on sidewalks or streets with automobile traffic.

• First, you should always look both ways, even if you are approaching a one-way street;
• Second, pay attention to street signs, pedestrian signs and stop lights. Make sure you cross the street when it is the appropriate time and your signal is green, if possible. When a pedestrian signal is not available, exercise extreme caution when crossing the street;
• Third, pay attention and look for drivers who may be speeding. They may not have enough time to slow down before reaching the stop sign or red light;
• Fourth, try to wear bright or reflective colors when walking at night. If you do not have any bright colors, try carrying a flashlight, at the very least; and
• Fifth, always use sidewalks when reasonably possible. If you have no choice but to walk on the street, walk facing oncoming traffic, so you can see the automobiles coming at you.

 Consult an Attorney

If you or a loved one suffered injuries as a result of an automobile accident when crossing the street, you should contact an experienced Milwaukee personal injury attorney who will be able to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions and get you the compensation you deserve.