Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Our Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers know that the city can be particularly deadly for pedestrians. Over the span of just hours, two women this week were struck in a pair of hit-and-run incidents – one critically and one fatally – while walking along Chicago roadways, the Chicago Examiner reports.

The 66-year-old female, who died, sustained extensive head and chest injuries after being hit shortly after midnight while walking in Long Grove. A 21-year-old was struck shortly before 7 p.m. while walking along North Long.

In the Chicago area alone, there were 52 fatal pedestrian accidents in 2009 and 3,484 traffic accidents that involved pedestrians. Of those, more than 2,900 victims reported some injury and another 461 sustained incapacitating injuries. In Illinois, in 2008, fatal traffic accidents claimed the lives of 1,043 drivers and passengers and 135 pedestrians, or nearly 13 percent of all traffic-related deaths.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, across the U.S., pedestrian-related traffic fatalities occur every 120 minutes and pedestrians are injured about every 8 minutes. Almost three-quarters of fatalities happen in urban settings. In an effort to promote safety, the NHTSA offers a handful of precautionary tips for drivers and pedestrians alike:

FOR DRIVERS:

~ Make scanning sidewalks and shoulders for foot traffic a habit.

~ Before making a turn, check for pedestrians as well as fellow drivers.

~ Yield to pedestrians – especially when signage and signaling indicate they have the right-of-way.

~ Drive slowly and anticipate unexpected, if not distracted, foot traffic when driving in a parking lot.

~ Respect that in or near school-zones and public parks, children and families are likely to pop out from anywhere.

FOR PEDESTRIANS:

~ During the day, wear bright colors.

~ When walking at dusk and dawn – or any time in between – carry a flashlight and wear reflective gear.

~ Don’t assume crosswalks and traffic signals will protect you. Anticipate driver inattention – in most cases they are watching other cars and road conditions – they aren’t looking for you.

~ Make eye contact with drivers before stepping onto any roadway. Look both ways before entering a crosswalk.

~ Avoid distractions like headphones or cell phone chatter – pay attention to your surroundings.

~ If there is a sidewalk, use it; if not, walk facing traffic. DON’T jaywalk.