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Motorists have a responsibility to follow traffic laws and exercise a reasonable amount of care while driving — but we all know that accidents happen. When a driver fails to pay attention to foot traffic, signs, or lights on the roadways, it can result in a pedestrian accident. These behaviors are some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents:

DISTRACTED DRIVING

Distracted driving includes a wide range of behaviors, including talking on the phone, texting, changing the radio, applying makeup, eating, and socializing with passengers. Distracted driving lengthens the driver’s time of response to changes in their surroundings — including pedestrians in the area, even though those pedestrians often have the right of way.

SPEEDING

Speeding is a traffic law violation in its own right, and it can even cross a line into reckless driving charges. Not only does speeding increase the likelihood of a driver causing a pedestrian accident, but it also increases the potential severity of the injuries the pedestrian may suffer due to the increased speed and force of the vehicle.

INTOXICATED DRIVING

Like speeding, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol is a traffic violation as well as a behavior that increases the risk of a pedestrian accident. Intoxicated driving not only slows a driver’s reaction times but also impairs their overall motor function.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

Responsible drivers will adjust their driving behaviors for fog, snow, rain, and other storms, but others fail to take their climate surroundings into account. When changing weather makes driving conditions more challenging, the risk of a pedestrian accident rises. In particular, weather conditions can impact visibility with fog or rain, or limit a driver’s ability to slow or stop due to icy or wet roads.

LEFT-HAND TURNS

Left-hand turns are unavoidable, but they still pose a significant risk of a pedestrian accident, especially when pedestrians are crossing the street. Typically these accidents occur when a driver focuses too intensely on automobile traffic in an intersection and fails to attend to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

For a free consultation or to learn more about pedestrian accident settlements, contact Sloat & Nicholson at 1-800-873-3202.