Common Causes of Pedestrian/Vehicle Accidents

Each year in the United States, approximately 70,000 pedestrians are injured in accidents involving motor vehicles. These accidents can happen anywhere that people walk, jog or participate in outdoor activities – so it’s important for both pedestrians and drivers to be aware of potential causes of accidents.

Tips for Pedestrians

The most important thing that pedestrians can do to reduce the risk of being hit by a vehicle is to stay alert and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Look around periodically to monitor traffic. Take extra care at intersections and use crosswalks when available. Never use headphones or ear-buds when walking or jogging – this can prevent you from hearing a vehicle coming your way. Other factors that often cause accidents are distracted walking (talking on your cell or texting) and being intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.

Tips for Drivers

Following are some of the main factors that can cause drivers to hit pedestrians.

Distracted Driving – Using a cell phone while driving has become one of the most common causes of these type of accidents. Just don’t do it – ever. Other distractions to avoid while driving include eating, drinking and smoking.

Driving While Intoxicated – Driving while drunk or high on drugs greatly impairs driving skills and can easily lead to an accident.

Speeding – Speed limits are there for a reason – so it’s no surprise that excessive speed is a major cause of accidents.

Backing Up– Whether backing out of your own driveway or in a parking lot – driving in reverse always increases the risk of hitting a pedestrian. Take extra care and always pay attention to your car’s mirrors and/or backing technology.

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