Pedestrian safety is a big issue nowadays. Not only do pedestrians need to worry about being involved with accidents with traffic but there is always the threat for non-drivers of Covid-19 on public transport and in crowded areas of cities. Pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users as they can dart out on to the road without much warning, especially if they are trying to avoid coming into contact with groups of people. That’s why if you are vehicle driver, you need to keep an eye out for them. If a collision does happen, it is very likely that the pedestrian involved could sue for pedestrian accident compensation.
It is important that pedestrians feel safe if they are crossing the street, even if they are socially distancing from others on the street. However, if you have been involved in an accident whilst crossing a road, Gowing Law Solicitors can help you. Read our blog below to learn more information about pedestrian safety during the pandemic.
Pedestrian Safety & Road Traffic Risks
As a pedestrian, you are always at the risk of being involved in a traffic accident. Even if you are following the pedestrian rules of the road. According to a study in 2015, on average 14 pedestrians are seriously injured every day. Think about it this way. A pedestrian is not protected by a vehicle shell, similar to motorcyclists and cyclists, and therefore if they are hit by a vehicle, it is more likely that they will sustain greater injuries that could potentially be life threatening.
Pedestrian traffic accidents may include:
- Hit and Run
- Speeding vehicles
- Darting out during changing traffic lights
- Drunk Driving
- Vehicle left hand turns
- Reversing vehicle
- Being “Doored”
- Being pushed in to traffic
- Illegal vehicle manoeuvres
As you can see, the roads can be extremely dangerous for pedestrians. That’s why, if you are a car driver, it is important to keep an eye out for them. This is because you have a duty of care towards everyone who uses the road. Pedestrians will need to cross the road, therefore you need to look out for them as well. That way you will to get yourself involved in a collision or a future pedestrian accident compensation claim.
Covid-19 & Pedestrian Safety
Now, Covid-19 has turned the world upside. Not only has the UK been through a lock down period, but now that it is easing, there is still a likely chance that a second wave will hit the country. People are going back to work and are creating social bubbles to try and reintegrate themselves in to society. That’s why it is more than likely that more people will be going outside and using public transport to get to quieter areas. If you are a pedestrian, you need to make sure to follow strict social distancing regulations to ensure your safety, as well as the safety of others around you.
To avoid catching Covid-19, you may want to consider following some of these safety regulations:
These are only a few of the examples of how you could socially distance as a pedestrian. In some cities they are considering putting up social distancing signs in crowded areas. Other places may even change the speed limit of their roads in order to promote bicycle and pedestrian use. One of the biggest changes is also in relation to traffic lights. In order to alleviate fears of spreading germs by touching a crossing button, the traffic light system may even become automatic or have a touchless feature installed to help pedestrians cross.
Active Travel & Pedestrian Safety
Another thing that drivers will need to be aware of is “active travel”. According to the BBC,
‘Transport Secretary Grant Shapps ordered English local authorities to make “significant changes” to give more space to pedestrians and cyclists. He said he would be setting up a £250 million emergency fund to encourage what he called “active travel”.’
This emergency fund was created in order to encourage more pedestrians to use the city streets for cycling and walking. This includes using the money to create temporary traffic orders that can install cycle lanes, create zebra crossings, close streets to traffic, and widen the pavement. Basically, it is to encourage more people to actually use the public space for walking. In turn, that means you are going to have to be aware of more people crossing roads. You do not want to be the reason behind an accident due to these changes. Instead, you will have to be aware of pedestrian safety measures.
Keep aware that the pandemic is going to change how we travel, as well as the use of cars and motorised vehicles on the road. The more pedestrians use the street, the more likely it is that a collision may happen. That is why you need to stay alert when driving.
Pedestrian vs Driver Negligence
If you are a pedestrian that has been involved in a traffic accident with a vehicle, one of the most important things that you can do is prove that you were not at fault for the accident. Many pedestrians believe that traffic accidents are solely caused by the driver. This is because they are more protected and so have more “responsibility” whilst they are on the road. Well, this is certainly not the case. Not all pedestrian accident claims result in the driver being at fault. In fact, there are a number of case outcomes where a pedestrian may be at fault for the accident. This is the sort of case where the pedestrian will not be awarded compensation even if they have suffered from injuries.
Examples of pedestrian negligence may include:
- A pedestrian being distracted by their phone
- A person crossing the road trying to beat an oncoming vehicle
- People distracted by talking to each other and not watching the road
So, should you make a claim, it is important to know whether or not you were the main cause of the accident. If you were at fault for the traffic collision, it is unlikely that you will be able to get compensation.
What should I do if I have been in a traffic accident?
If you have unfortunately been involved in a car accident as a pedestrian, you may have experienced injuries that need to be looked at by a medical practitioner. These may only be minor, but in other cases you may also have sustained broken bones or traumatic head, spine and brain injuries. Make sure to focus on your injuries before taking down any evidence of the accident. Your health is what really matters, so get examined as quickly as possible.
With that said, there are a number of ways you can strengthen your case against any other party if they are liable for your injuries. The most important thing you can do is find evidence to prove you are not at fault:
- Take photographs and videos of the scene. You may want to take pictures of the environment to detail where you were and what time it occurred. That way the driver who hit you cannot dispute it.
- Images and videos of your injuries can help detail the severity of how badly you were hurt. These will be crucial in determining the amount of compensation you are awarded.
- Information about the other driver’s insurance details and images of their vehicle.
- Take witness statements and contact details from people who saw your accident.
- CCTV footage may have captured your accident. Ask your solicitor to help you collect this evidence.
- Call the police to get a police report taken of the accident. You can collect a copy of this report.
- Save all receipts that have come from your expenses (i.e. medical and lost wages).
What can I claim for?
Now that you know how to handle an accident that you are involved in, do you know what you could actually claim for? Pedestrian traffic accidents can get complicated, especially if you solely set your mind on claiming for physical damages.
A solicitor can help you consider other options of compensation that include:
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Emotional damages
-
Financial damages
- Broken goods/property
-
Medical expenses
Your financial expenses may include wages that you have lost due to being away from work or the time you have spent in hospital. You can also claim for any medications that you have had to pay for or even recovery therapies (such as physiotherapy).
Make sure to look at everything that has happened in your accident. You need to consider cause and effect, as well as how has your daily life been impacted. These are what damages actually are. From these, a compensation tally can be totalled.
How much money can I claim?
Pedestrian safety is extremely important when it comes to sharing the road. However, if you have become the victim of a car collision then you may be considering how much money you could claim. Now, the first thing you need to know is that each traffic accident claim is different. Some people who have experienced life changing injuries may be able to claim thousands. However, others may get hundreds. It entirely depends on the extent of your injuries, whether the other party admits liability and the evidence of your losses. The more you can prove, the more likely that you are going to get a higher pay-out.
How long do I have to make a road traffic accident claim?
From the day of your accident, you have exactly three years to make a claim. We would recommend waiting at least two weeks to see the extent of your injuries and to process any evidence. Once you have sufficient evidence and know the extent of your injuries, this is when you should get in contact with a trained road traffic accident claims solicitor. They can help you understand the claims process and take the stress off you. This can really help if you have suffered severe injuries and are trying to recover. You may simply not have the time to make a claim on your own, especially if you have to balance work with your hospital appointments and work commitments. We can help you balance your schedule and make your claim.
Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with your claim
Here at Gowing Law, we understand that pedestrian safety is key to helping people feel safe in public areas. It is not easy to recover from a collision with a car or any other type of vehicle. That’s why our trained solicitors are here to help you get the compensation that you deserve.
All of our experienced team in Manchester work remotely and so would be happy to assist you all from the comfort of your own home. They can offer free advice and consultations about your case. If you decide to work with our team of specialists, they can work with you on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means that you will not need to pay any fees if we do not win your case.
If you are interested in learning more about how we can help you with your RTA claim, please get in contact as soon as possible! All you need to do is call 0800 041 8350, email info@gowinglaw.co.uk or contact us directly through our live chat. This is located on our contact page. One of our staff will then get in contact with you as quickly as possible.
Learn more about RTA claims!
If pedestrian safety near roads is something that you are passionate about, you will be delighted to know that we cover more about them in our blog section! This contains articles about different law issues, including safety and accident claims on the road. Take a look at some of our suggested reading below:
We also cover other topics about financial mis-selling, personal injury and accidents at work. Please let us know if you would like us to write about a question you may have. We would be happy to know your suggestions. If you message info@gowinglaw.co.uk we can also sign you up to our weekly newsletter.
We look forward to seeing you in our next blog!
