Preventing a Tragedy by Knowing the Dangers of a Distracted Walker
Each year, distracted pedestrians cause thousands of needless accidents, all of which could be avoided. What is even more tragic is that many of these accidents occur because drivers swerve or slam on their brakes to avoid hitting the distracted pedestrian, only to cause further destruction when they slam into other innocent drivers. This is why it is important to not only avoid falling into the trap of becoming a distracted pedestrian, but also to know what to do as a driver when you encounter an oblivious walker. The following are some useful tips for avoiding a pedestrian collision:
- Anticipate the zombie effect. Know that pedestrians looking at electronic devices and wearing headphones may not respond to either the sight of your car or the sound of your horn. Anticipate the fact that they will continue walking without even a glance in your general direction. If a plugged-in walker does stop, try to establish eye contact with him before you proceed in order to guarantee that he stopped for you and not just to skip a song on his playlist.
- Drive defensively. Assume that a pedestrian who has his head down is distracted and not paying attention. Although it is his life on the line, being defensive can prevent a traumatic collision.
- Slow down. When driving through heavily populated pedestrian areas, slow down to decrease needed stopping distance and leave plenty of space between you and the car in front of you in case you need to suddenly brake.
- Yield to pedestrians. Although it may be their dangerous mistake, be prepared to accommodate distracted walkers. Allow them the right of way when you can, as a pedestrian-vehicle accident is a one-sided affair that generally results in the pedestrian suffering the devastating injuries.
- Don’t be a hypocrite. Put away your own electronic devices in order to avoid distractions yourself. Not only will this help you focus on the foot traffic around you, but it will also increase your reaction time.
If you or a loved one has been catastrophically injured in a crash—whether as a driver or a pedestrian—you could wind up suffering catastrophic injuries and medical debt. By calling an experienced and aggressive personal injury lawyer, you may be able to reduce that debt through injury compensation. Call us today at 800-232-3711 for a free consultation—and see what legal options await you.