Overview
Although roads should be shared between both cars and pedestrians, reckless driving can make roadways dangerous places for walkers and joggers. Sadly, car-pedestrian accidents can cause devastating injuries to pedestrians.
Even if you are the most safety-conscious pedestrian, you cannot predict when an irresponsible driver will put your life in danger.
There are several things you should do to help protect yourself from unsafe driving as a pedestrian.
Ways To Stay Safe as a Pedestrian
As a pedestrian, one of the most important things that you can do is make yourself as visible as possible. This includes wearing appropriate clothing and remaining in designated areas. Follow these safety guidelines for pedestrians:
- Wearing white or bright clothing
- Using reflective gear or blinking light clips
- Staying on sidewalks
- Only crossing at spots with stop signs, traffic lights, and crosswalks
- Avoiding pedestrian activities at dusk or night
While it is important to always look around for vehicles, you should also listen for them. Although it is now popular to wear headphones and listen to music while walking and jogging, you may not be able to hear approaching vehicles. Turn the music down or avoid it altogether to help you stay more aware near roadways.
Pedestrian Safety Laws in Wisconsin
According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, these are a few laws you need to know about as a pedestrian:
- Yield to drivers when crossing a road where there is no intersection or crosswalk or where the pedestrian does not have a green or walk signal and where vehicles have a green signal
- Do not move suddenly into the path of a closely approaching vehicle that does not have sufficient time to yield to a pedestrian
- Walk on and along the left side of a highway when not walking on a sidewalk
If you or your loved one has been a victim of someone else’s negligence on the road, reach out to attorneys at Habush Habush & Rottier for help. Our attorneys will guide you through the legal process and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. When you call us, you will speak to one of our experienced lawyers. The call is free and confidential.