Walking near public roads is dangerous. While pedestrians technically have the right to share the road with motor vehicles, they have nothing to protect them if a crash occurs. Pedestrians are in a very vulnerable position and should always make their safety a top priority.
Sometimes, the reason that people decide to walk to their destination is because they recognize that driving can be dangerous. What pedestrians may not understand is that the same risk factors that lead to some of the worst collisions can also cause pedestrian crashes.
Drunk walking can be a deadly mistake
Someone who drove to a bar or party might decide that walking home and retrieving their car later is their best option. While driving drunk is never a safe choice, walking drunk isn’t necessarily a viable alternative. People may want to call for a ride instead.
A significant portion of pedestrian crashes involve inebriated pedestrians. Roughly 30% of fatal pedestrian crashes involved a pedestrian who was legally drunk. People under the influence of alcohol or drugs may struggle to monitor their surroundings and could stumble, putting them at elevated risk of life-altering collisions.
Distracted walking is dangerous too
People generally acknowledge that they should not text or post to social media while operating a motor vehicle. They may not second-guess those same behaviors when they are on foot.
Distracted pedestrians May step out in front of oncoming traffic. They may fail to notice hazards in the street that could cause them to fall. The decision to pay attention to a mobile phone instead of one’s surroundings can increase the pedestrian’s chance of severe injury or death.
Those walking instead of driving can increase their risk of injury with the same behaviors that cause motor vehicle collisions. Thankfully, those who remain aware of their surroundings can often reduce their risk of experiencing a pedestrian crash. Sadly, even when pedestrians do make reasonable safety choices, they can still end up hurt because of unsafe behavior by drivers.
Filing an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit may help those injured in pedestrian collisions hold motorists accountable. Pedestrians should not have to absorb medical expenses, lost wages and other costs generated by motorists who don’t prioritize safety.