It may only take a momentary lapse of a driver’s attention for him or her to strike a pedestrian. Pedestrian accidents often cause devastating injuries and even death. High speeds, driver impairment and poor visibility are among the leading causes of pedestrian accidents, but who is most at risk of being struck?
Risk Factors for Pedestrian Accidents
Children and the elderly are most at risk of injury or death as a pedestrian. Alcohol impairment may also increase the likelihood that you’ll have an accident while walking along or across a roadway. Other factors that may lead to increased chances of being struck as a pedestrian include:
- Walking at night without a flashlight or reflective clothing
- Crossing outside of a designated crosswalk or intersection
- Inclement weather
- Walking in the roadway rather than on the sidewalk
- Not facing traffic if walking along the shoulder
It’s important to note that while the law requires drivers to exercise great care to avoid this type of accident, the motorist is not necessarily always at fault. Crashes can be caused by the carelessness of a pedestrian.