Walking to a destination is a fitness-friendly, eco-conscious choice and a great way to take in the fresh air and sunshine. Unfortunately, walking can bring pedestrians into close proximity to heavy, fast-moving vehicles, which can have devastating consequences in an accident. A pedestrian is highly vulnerable to severe injuries in an accident involving a car or truck because they lack surrounding structures, seatbelts, or airbags to protect them. Tragically, most pedestrian accidents result directly from driver negligence; however, a pedestrian can take steps to protect themselves by knowing the most common dangers they face when walking.
Left-Turn Accidents Involving Pedestrians
One frequent way that moving vehicles strike pedestrians is when a driver makes a left turn. Left turns require crossing both lanes of traffic. As a result, a driver preparing to make a left turn may focus primarily on traffic approaching from the right and then strike a pedestrian approaching from the left as they enter an intersection or roadway. A pedestrian approaching a vehicle that’s preparing to make a left turn should practice extreme caution, including not moving in front of the car until they’ve made eye contact with the driver to confirm that the driver sees them approaching.
Right-Hooking Accidents in Slow-Moving Traffic
In congested roadway situations, a vehicle may travel very slowly in stop-and-go traffic. In a right-hooking accident, a driver passes a pedestrian walking on the right as they approach an intersection. At the intersection, the driver makes a right turn into the pathway of the pedestrian and hits them. A pedestrian moving alongside slow-moving traffic should be cautious when approaching an intersection, even when a crosswalk gives them the right of way. It’s best not to assume that the driver knows you are there just because they passed you only moments ago.
Reversing Accidents In Parking Lots
Most people feel safe when walking in a parking lot because traffic moves slowly as drivers seek or move into spaces. Unfortunately, the National Safety Council warns that thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths occur in U.S. parking lots each year. One of the most common causes of serious pedestrian accident injuries is parking lot reversing accidents, or back-up accidents. These occur when a driver reverses out of a parking space and hits a pedestrian. Pedestrians in parking lots should carefully watch for reverse lights and avoid walking behind a car with its engine running and a driver in the seat.
A “Trapped Pedestrian” In a Crosswalk
Some pedestrians are struck by vehicles in a crosswalk due to the “trapped pedestrian” scenario. This occurs when a pedestrian begins crossing an intersection under a “Walk” signal, but the signal changes to “Don’t Walk” after they have already entered the intersection. Vehicles may begin crossing in both directions, leaving a pedestrian trapped in the crosswalk and vulnerable to collisions from either side.
Bus-Exiting Pedestrian Accidents
Drivers must stop when a school or city bus stops to pick up or drop off passengers. Unfortunately, some drivers move into the left lane and pass a bus just as a pedestrian who has exited the bus crosses the street in front of the bus, causing a pedestrian accident. Tragically, this is a significant cause of child pedestrian deaths.
Pedestrians should always cross in front of a bus to avoid the blind spot in the rear, and cross far enough ahead so the driver can see them. Then, a pedestrian should look both ways before stepping out from the front of the bus. Often, the noise of the bus’s engine covers the sound of an approaching vehicle.
At Miller & Hine, our St. Louis personal injury lawyers fight to recover damages for victims of negligence. Contact us today for a free consultation.