Chicago is starting to heat up and that means more people are enjoying the outdoors. Many people walk for exercise or fun, but there are a lot of people who take advantage of the warm weather for commuting when they are close enough to their destination.
With more people walking in our fantastic city, everyone needs to be more careful in order to avoid Chicago pedestrian accidents.
Chicago vs. National Pedestrian Fatalities
Although pedestrian fatalities in Illinois were down year over year in 2019, national fatalities were up. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) estimated 6,590 pedestrian deaths across American in 2019–the highest figure since 1988.
The organization cited higher instances of distracted driving, drowsy driving, and sports utility vehicle (SUV) use as reasons for the increase. All of those factors can contribute to Chicago pedestrian accidents at the city’s busy intersections.
While failing to yield and speeding are two traditional causes of pedestrian accidents, more and more are a result of distracted driving, thanks to increased mobile phone capabilities. And it is not just vehicle drivers that are guilty of not paying attention to what is in front of them.
Conversely, pedestrians are just as hooked on their smartphones as drivers are, walking along with their heads down, looking at their phones, oblivious to what is going on around them.
There are simple steps that both drivers and pedestrians can take to help decrease the risks of these incidents. The first is to put their phones away. Next, pedestrians and drivers need to make eye contact. Lastly, pedestrians should not assume the driver sees them, and drivers should not assume the pedestrian sees them.
Safety Tips For Pedestrians
Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys hopes that everyone in Chicago takes advantage of the warmer weather in order to celebrate National Walking Day. More importantly, we hope that you do so safely. With that in mind, here are some crucial safety tips that help prevent pedestrian accidents:
- Never cross a street between other vehicles. Always cross at an intersection or crosswalk.
- If there are pedestrian crossing lights at the intersection, use them and make sure to wait until you see the appropriate signal to cross.
- Even with a signal to cross, make sure to look left, right, and back again. A driver may not be paying attention and not realize there are pedestrians crossing.
- Do not wear headphones while walking. You may not be able to hear everything around you, including a vehicle coming at you.
Contact a Pedestrian Accidents Attorney
If there is no sidewalk, always walk against traffic so that you can see keep a close eye on oncoming traffic. Walking with traffic could lead to a deadly accident.
Should you get into a pedestrian accident, Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys is ready to assist you. Our caring and compassionate staff will help you get the medical attention you need, while our skilled lawyers will fight to win you the highest compensation possible. Give us a call 24/7 at 844-977-1900 or use our convenient LiveChat feature. If you wish to visit us in person, our office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Consultations are free and we do not collect any fees unless you win your case.