Each year, over 80,000 U.S. residents are injured in pedestrian accidents, and about 5,000 are killed. Pedestrians face a number of risks on public streets – not only from motor vehicles, but also from bicycles, dangerous roadway conditions, and hazards on private properties that line public streets. Any of these can work alone or together to cause injury to a pedestrian. The experienced Anaheim car accident attorneys at A1 Accident Lawyer have a strong reputation for efficient, professional legal guidance. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a pedestrian crash, contact us to help you take legal action against the responsible parties and secure the financial compensation you need to recover.

How Common Are Pedestrian Accidents?
Pedestrian deaths and injury accidents may happen for any number of reasons, and often times are caused by driver distraction of some kind. According to the CDC, these distractions often fall into three main categories, which include visual distraction (not paying attention to the road with your eyes), manual distraction (not having your hands on the wheel), and cognitive distraction (not focusing your thoughts on the task at hand – driving). When drivers aren’t paying attention to the road, pedestrians can be injured as a result.

Texting or Using Your Phone While Driving
Driving and texting simply do not mix. According to the National Safety Council, cell phone use is estimated to play a role in more than 25% of motor vehicle crashes each year. Texting while driving not only takes a driver’s hands off the wheel and eyes off the road, but it also shifts the driver’s focus away from safely operating their vehicle. Even if the driver is using a hand’s free device to send a text message, the driver cannot be completely aware of every other vehicle and pedestrian present at that given moment. As a result, far too many pedestrians are injured each and every year throughout the country because of texting while driving, and pedestrians in Anaheim are certainly not immune to this danger. Drivers responsible for car accidents caused by texting can be held liable for damages associated with physically recovery and other losses.

Distracted, Drunk or Drowsy Driving
Driver inattention is a major cause of pedestrian accidents in the United States. The ability of drivers to pay attention to the road and to pedestrians and other people in their path is severely impaired when a driver is distracted, intoxicated by alcohol or other substances, or too sleepy to pay proper attention.

Dangerous Road Structure or Layout
In tightly-packed urban areas, drivers are forced to slow down, to make frequent stops, and to notice more thoroughly their surroundings, including those on foot or on bicycles. Faster highways with fewer intersections, on the other hand, reduce the expectation by drivers that pedestrians will be present, and thus decrease the vigilance with which drivers watch for those on foot.

Dangerous Intersections
Intersections that lack the necessary signs and signals for proper traffic control pose a serious risk to pedestrians. Drivers may not realize they need to slow down, stop, or use certain lanes to turn, and may not realize that pedestrians will be crossing at the intersection – especially if there are no crosswalks or sidewalks in the vicinity.

Obstacles on Private Property
A major part of California streets run along private property lines, whether in residential areas or in commercial districts. Obstacles like fences, mailboxes, personal possessions, and other objects can all cause or contribute to an injury, particularly when they block the view of a pedestrian or driver.

Lack of Safety Awareness
Pedestrians can take several steps to reduce the risk of being involved in an accident. Wearing brightly-colored clothing can alert drivers and others to a pedestrian’s presence and walking on the left side of the road facing traffic can help pedestrians see oncoming traffic.

Anaheim Pedestrian Attorneys at A1 Accident Lawyer
Pedestrians that have been involved in an injury accident due to the reckless actions or wrongdoing of another party may wish to pursue rightful compensation for their injuries. The Anaheim personal injury lawyers at A1 Accident Lawyer are highly experienced at helping injured clients obtain financial reimbursement to cover damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, as well as pain and suffering. Call us to discuss your circumstances at (714) 535-5090.