No one wants to be out for a walk and become an injury statistic. But the sad fact is that many will. Consider the following:
- An estimated 70,000 Americans were injured while on foot in 2010.
- Another 4.280 were killed.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that in 24 hours an average of 324 people will visit emergency rooms for pedestrian injuries and every two hours someone dies.
- About 20 percent of all traffic deaths of children 14 and under are pedestrian accidents.
These numbers make Pennsylvania pedestrian safety a major concern. Here are some tips to keep yourself and your children safe when sharing the roadways with traffic:
- Always use designated crosswalks when crossing the street.
- Be extra vigilant at intersections. Cars may not yield even though you have the right of way and some drivers run stop signs and red lights.
- Best of all, walk on the sidewalk, but if there isn’t one, walk facing oncoming traffic.
- If out at night walking, reflective clothing is preventative. So is carrying a flashlight.
- Always look left, right, and then left again when you prepare to cross a street. Once you begin to cross, continue to look both ways. And walking is safer than running as there is less chance of falling.
- Watch out for cars that are backing up, pulling out of driveways, or turning. Too often they just don’t see you.
And especially for parents of young children:
As Pennsylvania pedestrian accident attorneys, we know that sometimes no matter what you do, someone else’s negligence can cause a mishap. If this has happened to you or a loved one, please call Schell Law Office at 215-545-9000 for a free case consultation. Greg Schell will do the traveling for all central and eastern Pennsylvanians and meet with you in your own hometown.