Safety tips for pedestrians in Chicago

Ask anyone in our region and they will be happy that spring weather has finally arrived. Temperatures in the mid 50’s in the morning and mid 60’s in the evening hours are ideal conditions for taking a walk, whether it is to venture to a favorite café or to catch a baseball game.

With additional people on the streets comes the possibility of additional pedestrian accidents. In fact, an NPR report from February highlights a disturbing trend. Pedestrian accidents remain at a 25 year high. Even with new safety features that protect drivers and passengers, pedestrians may not see the same benefits.

As such, drivers and pedestrians should be aware of the following safety tips.

Be mindful of your surroundings – We have all heard of distracted driving and know of its dangers, but as cell phone apps have become ubiquitous with our culture, they are distractions that could lead to accidents. So paying attention to your surroundings is critical.

Cross at crosswalks – In areas where city blocks are quite long, going all the way to a crosswalk may seem horribly inconvenient compared to crossing a busy street. However, dodging traffic can be very dangerous, especially at night. Further, pedestrians’ legal protections may not apply outside of a crosswalk.

Alcohol intake matters as a pedestrian – Alcohol lowers a person’s inhibitions and may cause them to take chances that they normally would not take. Simply put, inebriated pedestrians are more likely to be in accidents.

If you have been injured as a pedestrian, you may be entitled to compensation. An experienced personal injury attorney can advise you.

The preceding is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.