DO YOUR PART TO HELP PREVENT PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS IN MINNESOTA
On March 15, a 24-year-old woman was struck and killed while attempting to cross the street in downtown St. Paul. The woman’s mother, who was crossing the street with the woman was also hit but was listed in good condition at the hospital. Unfortunately, this was not the only pedestrian hit and killed in a car accident recently in our area. A 55-year-old was struck and killed in Brooklyn Park less than 12 hours after the St. Paul accident.
Sadly, pedestrian accidents are far too common. Although the 24-year-old woman’s death was the first pedestrian death in St. Paul this year, so far one pedestrian on average has been hit in the city every other day in 2016. In 2015, 900 pedestrians were hit in Minnesota, with 40 being killed. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take both as a driver and as a pedestrian to avoid a pedestrian accident.
- Put down your cell phone. This is advice for drivers and pedestrians alike. Cell phones are a distraction for both drivers and pedestrians.
- Be extra cautious both as a driver and as a pedestrian when it is dark, foggy, raining or snowing, or when it may otherwise be difficult to see.
- If you are a pedestrian walking in the dark or in bad weather, wear bright clothes so you can be seen. You may even want to wear reflective clothing or carry a flashlight to make yourself more visible.
- As a driver, always watch for pedestrians at crosswalks.
- As a pedestrian, always cross at crosswalks rather than in the middle of the road. Never assume a driver sees you and is going to stop.
- When you are driving, if a vehicle in front of you has stopped, especially if the driver is stopped near a crosswalk, be ready to slow down or stop. Even if you do not see the person, a pedestrian could be crossing the street.
- When walking, if they are available use the sidewalk. When a sidewalk is not available, stay as close to the edge of the left-side of the road as possible.
- When driving in school zones or in neighborhoods where young children often play outside, be extra diligent about watching for children.
No matter how careful you are when crossing the street, sometimes drivers do not pay attention. If you were injured when a vehicle hit you while you were crossing the street, contact us.