Written by Personal Injury Lawyer Lawrence S. Lapidus
It doesn’t matter where you live – anywhere there are people and vehicles, there are unfortunately bound to be pedestrian accidents. This is especially true in recent weeks here in the Washington region when there were three pedestrians struck and killed by vehicles – in other cases, many more were seriously injured.
The Details
According to The Washington Post, two of those three accidents occurred in the daylight hours.
“In the latest incident, a pedestrian described as male was struck about 1:30 p.m. while crossing at Church Road and Fairview Vista Drive in the Bowie area of Prince George’s, according to county police,” The Post says.
It was later revealed that the person hit was a student at Georgetown Day School. Reports say the 14-year old boy named Kamal Nashid had just graduated from 8th grade. He was apparently less than one mile from his home when he was struck near Church Road and Fairview Vista Drive.
The Post writes, “Police said a preliminary investigation found that Kamal was jogging when witnesses said he went into the crosswalk on Church Road before traffic had stopped.”
The other two incidents involved not children, but older pedestrians, both in the Arlington area.
Pedestrian Safety
When accidents like the above happen, police work quickly to determine who is liable. Regardless of who is determined to be at fault, you can work to ensure your own safety. Follow these tips:
- No Electronic Devices – Look around the next time you’re out and about, and you’ll see numerous people walking while looking at their smartphones. Don’t be one of them! Put your phone away while you’re walking so you can pay full attention to your surroundings.
- No Headphones or Earbuds – You may be thinking, “I’m just listening to music.” However, when you can’t fully hear what’s happening around you, you also may not be able to hear an approaching vehicle.
- Look Both Ways Before and During Crossing – One look isn’t enough. Look while you’re crossing as well as before you cross to ensure a vehicle isn’t approaching after you started crossing the street.
- Follow the Signals – The “walk” and “don’t walk” signals are there to keep you safe, so follow those signals to increase your safety.
- Don’t Assume They’ll Stop – Just because a driver is supposed to stop at stop signs, stop at red lights, and stop at crosswalks doesn’t mean they’re going to do so. Never assume drivers will follow the laws. Even better – assume they won’t follow the laws and don’t walk until you know for sure they’re coming to a stop.
Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in PG County and DC
If you or a loved one is injured in a pedestrian accident, call The Lapidus Law Firm for a free, no obligation consultation. When a pedestrian is injured or killed in the Metro DC area and a claim is filed, we will conduct an in-depth investigation to determine who should be held liable. In many cases, improperly placed signage or sign obstruction can be a contributing factor in a pedestrian accident, and there are numerous ways a pedestrian accident could have been prevented. We’ll explore every possibility.
Let us take a look at your case at no cost to you, and we’ll determine if we believe a fair and reasonable settlement is in order. When you choose representation from The Lapidus Law Firm for your pedestrian accident, you also choose honesty, integrity, and a fiercely ethical law firm in DC and Maryland who will give your case the personal attention it deserves.
Call us to schedule your free,no-obligation consultation at (202) 785-5111 in DC or in Maryland at (301) 605-4296. We are here for you.