Fort Worth Lawyer | Pedestrians & Negligent Drivers

Pedestrians and Negligent Drivers

Pedestrians have to be particularly careful of negligent drivers. While pedestrians do have the right of way, many drivers get in such a rush that they try to avoid slowing down for pedestrians in crosswalks and on the sides of the roads. This creates a very dangerous situation for the pedestrian. Here are some things you can do to avoid being involved in a crash.

1: Be Aware

When you're walking anywhere near a road, whether it's in a pedestrian shopping area, along a residential street or along a main artery, be sure you keep an eye out around you. Most of the time, a car will hit you without there being much warning that it's going to happen. This is why it's important to be very aware of your surroundings and to be sure that you keep your head up and keep looking around.

2: Time Traffic

If you have to cross in a busy area with a fast speed limit, be sure you allow yourself a moment to time the traffic. Pick an oncoming car and count how long before it crosses in front of you. This will give you some idea of how long you have to cross the street.

3: Colors at Night

Depending upon where you're going in the evening, you may be wearing dark colors. You don't have to wear bright colors just to accommodate drivers, but be aware of the fact that you're hard to see if you're wearing darker colors. Even though you do have the right of way, people may not actually see you when you cross the road, so be wary.

4: Know Your Limitations

If you get annoyed at a driver who won't yield you the right of way, you won't be the first pedestrian to have that feeling. Be aware of the fact that you're not going to win if you turn it into a dispute. You might be in the right legally, but you're not going to win if you try to take on a car that isn't slowing down. Get out of the way if you have to and don't let your pride make you a victim of a negligent or aggressive driver.

If a driver hits you, a Fort Worth car accident attorney may be able to help. You can speak with a car accident lawyer to see if you have a chance of winning a lawsuit against a negligent driver.