In a major metropolitan city like Cincinnati, our readers should think to themselves, “How often am I a pedestrian every day?” Do you cross the street to get from your car to your office? Do you walk to lunch? Do you go for a run after work for your daily workout? Many people may not realize just how often they are pedestrians and, therefore, potentially in harm’s way and at risk of being involved in an auto-pedestrian accident.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more pedestrians have been exposed to the dangers of automobile collisions in the last few years – the statistics show an increase. In fact, in 2015 alone, 5,376 people died in auto-pedestrian accidents. That was an increase of almost 500 from 2014.
So, what can pedestrians do to protect themselves from being victims in these types of accidents? Well, probably the most important thing to do is to be constantly aware of your surroundings. The old adage of “look both ways” before crossing the street is, perhaps, more important today than it ever has been. Drivers on the streets of Cincinnati are often distracted by their cellphones and other electronic devices – they may not be looking for you or other pedestrians.
Of course, the ultimate responsibility for avoiding auto-pedestrian accidents also lies with the drivers of the vehicles on our streets. In many situations, drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians. Any Ohio residents who have been hit and injured in an auto-pedestrian accident may have a personal injury claim to attempt to recover financial compensation.