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Is DC Safe For Pedestrians?

From the View of a DC Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

No matter what quadrant of the city you live in or if you happen to be passing through DC, you’ll find one common thread:  pedestrians are everywhere.  With a population nearing 700,000 and commuters and government employees alike filing into the city every day, it’s no wonder pedestrians are packing neighborhoods and city sidewalks daily.

So then, one might wonder – is the District of Columbia safe for all these pedestrians going from point A to point B?   Your DC Pedestrian Accident Lawyer has the answers.

DC is Very Walkable

Washington, DC frequently lands in the top ten of the most walkable cities in the United States, most recently snagging the 7th spot behind New York (#1), San Francisco, Boston, Miami, Philadelphia and Chicago (#6).

DC gets high praises for its metro system that extends far beyond the city’s borders.  The Capital Bike Share Program and neighborhoods like Dupont Circle, The U Street Corridor and Chinatown are especially highlighted because of their ease to access just about anything you need, whether it be a grocery store, a post office, a gym, fine dining or a quick bite to eat via carry-out.

The conveniences are too many to count, which is evident in the many new buildings featuring condos and apartments constantly under construction.  However, for all the is great about the nation’s capital, pedestrians need to be mindful of the many areas that leave their safety at risk.

The Pedestrian Dangers in DC

It was just six months ago when four pedestrians were struck by a vehicle in downtown Washington, DC. Only one month before that, a man was hit and killed in the Southeast section of the city.

As if pedestrian-car accidents aren’t bad enough, walkers also need to be mindful of other potential hazards on their path.

Drivers May Not Be Able to See You

Nightlife in Washington, DC is very popular, especially in the “walkable” areas noted above.  Although there are clearly marked crosswalks in most areas, pedestrians should still consider their clothing when the sun goes down in the evening hours. Dark clothes can sometimes be hard to see, so if you’re going out at night, it is best to dress in clothes in lighter colors.

Faulty, crumbling sidewalks

The sidewalks in Washington, DC are far from perfect.  Whether it be uneven because of tree roots or crumbling from wear and tear, be sure to watch where you step.  A slip and fall or a trip and fall can lead to a lifelong injury that results in chronic pain and a compromised quality of life.  These sidewalks should be repaired by city officials promptly, so no pedestrians are left at risk due to the city’s negligence.

Drivers turning left while pedestrians are crossing the street

While crosswalks are meant to allow pedestrians to cross the road safely, they certainly aren’t guaranteed to do so.  This is especially true when it comes to those busy intersections that enable drivers to turn left into the very path where pedestrians are trying to cross the street.  Drivers often wait in the middle of the intersection while walkers finish crossing but are often rushed to get out of the intersection if their light turns red and traffic in the opposite direction begins moving forward.

How both walkers and drivers are being allowed to walk and drive in the exact same path is often questioned, but the city has yet to remedy this potentially fatal flaw.

DC Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian accident in Washington, DC, you need to reach out to The Lapidus Law Firm.  Four decades of defending pedestrian rights in Washington, DC, and Maryland mean you’ll have a seasoned pedestrian accident lawyer on your side to guide you through the legal process.

Call DC personal injury lawyer Larry Lapidus today for a free consultation at (202) 785-5111.  Pedestrian laws in DC are in place to keep you safe and that should never be compromised.  If you are a Washington, DC pedestrian and you or a loved one have been injured while on foot in DC, call the Lapidus Law Firm today.  We can help!

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