Walking is an extremely healthy way to get around, but only if it is done safely. Unfortunately, too many pedestrians in the Bay Area end up in unsafe situations, leading to many serious injuries and deaths. More than half of San Francisco’s traffic-related fatalities are pedestrians, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), putting the city at the number one in the Bay Area for pedestrian deaths.
Yet, experts estimate that more than a million walking trips occur every day in San Francisco, meaning that walking can be done safely in our fair city. Use the following tips to reduce your risk when walking around, and make sure to contact a pedestrian accident lawyer in San Francisco if you are injured during your trip.
Be Visible
Try to walk in areas where you can be easily seen. and use extreme caution in areas where you cannot. For instance, if you are walking along a street with no sidewalk near a blind curve, anticipate that vehicles may have a tough time seeing you and pay close attention to warning signs of an approaching one.
Similarly, use more caution along streets and pathways with poor lighting at night. Ideally, you will have some sort of reflective clothing on while walking at night and bright dayglo colors during the day.
Obey Traffic Laws
San Francisco has some fairly pedestrian-friendly laws, but they do not mean that pedestrians are invincible. California Vehicle Code §21954, for instance, says that jaywalkers should not present “an immediate hazard” to oncoming vehicles, meaning that you should not seize the right-of-way if it means a vehicle will have to slam on their brakes or swerve to miss you.
Cross only at marked crosswalks and intersections, and avoid walking in areas of the road where vehicles may have a tough time seeing you or avoiding you. If a sidewalk is not available, walk along the shoulder against the flow of traffic.
Always Assume Someone Might Hit You
The key to avoiding accidents is to think defensively. In other words, stop when approaching a potentially dangerous situation — like crossing a busy intersection — and assume that someone may be not paying attention at all or may come closer to hitting you than usual.
By anticipating the mistakes others might make, you can react quicker to situations where they accidentally put you in danger out of their own carelessness.
Pay Attention and Avoid Distractions
Always be sweeping your surroundings visually for possible hazards and threats, and keep your ears open. Never walk staring at your cellphone or with loud music playing, as both can cause you to miss signs of incoming danger. Distractions can also cause you to place yourself in danger, such as crossing into traffic because you were checking your text messages.
Try to Avoid Notorious Corridors
SFMTA asserts that 60 percent of all severe and fatal injuries in San Francisco happen on just six percent of the city’s streets. Corridors in districts 3 and 6 are particularly notorious for these accidents. Try to find alternate routes with slower traffic or deeper buffers between sidewalks and traffic, when possible.
Work With a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in San Francisco When You Get Injured
If you are injured while walking in San Francisco, you may have a right to compensation for your medical costs, lost income, and related damages. Even in situations where you share partial fault with the driver, you are entitled damages proportional to their percentage of fault if it is greater than or equal to 50 percent.
You can always talk over your case with the advice of a San Francisco pedestrian accident lawyer to determine the best way to proceed.
Contact Gruber Law today if you have been injured as a pedestrian, and you will receive a free consultation to help you decide what to do next.
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