If you have ever found yourself walking along the side of a highway in California, especially at night, you have probably worried about your safety. Pedestrians should exercise appropriate care to prevent themselves from becoming a statistic. Any potential injury claim could be reduced or even negated altogether if you are injured and evidence shows you were careless.
Reasons why pedestrians are on highways
Whether you’re on an interstate, a local expressway, a divided highway, or some other road where vehicles travel at high speeds, pedestrians are more common than you think, composing more than 10% of all fatal motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians. Motorists may encounter pedestrians on the highway in the following common situations:
• Crossing or entering a highway, especially in rural areas where motorists may not see a pedestrian until it’s too late
• Walking in the roadway after dark, with alcohol use and suicidal tendencies among the contributing factors
• Walking or standing on the shoulder
• Pushing or working on a disabled vehicle
Sometimes pedestrians tend to stand on the highway because of a crash that just happened. Instead of standing on the road itself, you should move off to the side as far away from traffic as possible or stay in your vehicle. If your vehicle becomes disabled, you should also pull off the roadway.
Pursuing compensation for your injury claim
Highway accidents involving pedestrians are frequently more complicated than other types of motor vehicle accidents. Insurance companies and defendants will try to pin the blame on you. Nevertheless, if you have been injured in a highway accident, you should continue to pursue your injury claim if a careless driver hits you.
Sometimes accident victims must think outside the box when trying to recover compensation for their injuries. In some cases, road design can play a part in contributing to injuries. You have a right to file a claim against multiple defendants if you can prove that negligence was involved. Compensation can help pay for medical expenses during your recovery.
