It’s great to go for an evening walk after work — good for your health and good for your stress levels. However, it’s also dangerous to be a pedestrian in the modern world where many people are driving heavy automobiles and not keeping their eyes on the road as they should.
Here are some tips that every Virginia Beach pedestrian should follow in order to stay safe and avoid getting hit by an automobile:
- Only use crosswalks: If you have to walk a long way to get to an intersection or crosswalk, do it. Most pedestrian accidents happen when walkers attempt to cross the roadway in a place where drivers aren’t expecting to find a person on foot.
- Take care around buses: For Virginia Beach residents who regularly use public transportation, it might be tempting to walk in front of a bus after exiting it — especially if the bus driver is taking his or her her time to get moving. However, this is dangerous as bus drivers may not notice you.
- Keep looking for traffic: Look both ways, look again and keep looking as you make your way across the street. You never know when a vehicle might suddenly show up and hit you. If you weren’t looking continuously, it could seem like it came out of nowhere.
- Don’t expect drivers to follow the rules: Sure, you had the right of way. Sure, the driver broke the law when he or she struck you. Yes, you have a strong claim to pursue financial justice in court. However, you would much rather be injury-free and alive than being on the right side of the law. Don’t expect drivers to follow the rules of the road and always play it extra safe when you’re walking around vehicle traffic.
Did you get struck and injured by a motor vehicle while walking? If you were playing it safe and following the rules of the road, you might have a viable claim to seek financial damages in Virginia civil court.