Pedestrian Safety Tips for Adults and Children in Alabama

Alabama is blessed with beautiful sceneries, sunny weather, and a walk-friendly environment. However, pedestrian accidents involving motorcycles and vehicles remain a significant concern that cannot be disregarded. At the law offices of Stephen Thompson, we offer expert advice in personal injury law and remain committed to ensuring your safety on Alabama roads. For those injured in unfortunate motorcycle accidents, we fight diligently to ensure you receive the justice you deserve. Given our experience in this field, we understand that prevention is the best solution. Here are a few pedestrian safety tips for adults and children in Alabama.

Pedestrian Rights and Responsibilities

Every pedestrian and motorist have a shared responsibility for keeping our roads safe. While pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks and intersections, it's also incumbent upon them to follow established safety rules and guidelines to prevent accidents. Individuals on foot should utilize sidewalks when possible, cross at designated crosswalks, and obey traffic signals.

Visibility is Key

Motorists often have difficulty seeing pedestrians, especially in low-light conditions. Therefore, it’s vital that walkers make themselves clearly visible to drivers. This can include wearing bright or reflective clothing when walking at night and swinging an arm or carrying a flashlight to catch motorists’ notice. Even during the day, maintaining eye contact with drivers at intersections can help ensure your presence is known before you cross the street.

Safe Crossing Practices

When it's time to cross the street, never assume that vehicles will stop. Look left, right, then left again before you cross. Cross streets at marked crosswalks or intersections and obey traffic signals. It's also important to make sure drivers in all lanes you cross see you and stop. Keep an eye out for vehicles that are turning or backing up and never dart out in front of a parked vehicle.

For Children: Teach and Lead By Example

Children may lack the ability to judge speeds and distances accurately until age 10 or older. As a result, adults should accompany young children when crossing streets. Parents and caregivers can teach them safe crossing practices, and more importantly, exhibit these behaviors themselves. Schools and communities can also play their part by organizing events like a ‘walking school bus,’ where groups of children walk to school together with one or two adults.

Bicyclist Considerations

Motorists and pedestrians must also consider the safety of bicyclists. When walking on shared paths, stay to one side and listen for bicyclists approaching from behind you. Bicyclists should be given the right of way.

In Case of an Accident 

Despite your best efforts, should a pedestrian accident occur involving a car or a motorcycle, it's crucial to take prompt action. Contact the local police department, seek immediate medical attention, gather as much information as you can from witnesses, and document your injuries. Importantly, trust your case to an experienced personal injury lawyer who is versed in Alabama's specific pedestrian laws.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident in Alabama, turn to Stephen Thompson, a dedicated and skilled personal injury attorney. Our law firm is committed to helping accident victims recover the compensation they deserve to offset expenses related to medical treatment, lost wages, pain, and suffering. 

With experience and an in-depth understanding of Alabama law, Stephen Thompson is capable of tackling complicated motorcycle accident cases and navigating the most complex legal challenges. When searching for an Alabama personal injury lawyer or a motorcycle accident lawyer, let Stephen Thompson be your first choice.

Our primary goal is to not only fight for justice in the aftermath of accidents but also to educate and inform our clients on best practices for pedestrian safety to prevent unfortunate incidents. We believe that by sharing information and supporting each other, we can make the roads of Alabama safer for everyone.

Free Initial Strategy Session

All Initial Strategy Sessions are Free. If you would like to discuss your options, you are invited to fill out one of the Contact Forms. I will attempt to contact you if I think I can help you.

During your Initial Strategy Session, I will asist you in creating a strategy on how to best pursue your claim, whether it be the result of a Car Accident Claim, 18 Wheeler Injury, or, Alabama Workers' Compensation Claim. At your Initial Strategy Session, you will receive the following:

• First - I will listen to your story. You will have a chance to tell everything to someone who wants to hear what happened to you.
• Based on the information that you provide, I will give you my best advice on both what claims you have, and the next steps you should consider to proceed with your claim(s).
• If your claim is something that I think I can help you with, I will explain the services that I can provide for you, and what the next steps are that we should take. We will start working immediately.
• If your matter is something that I do not think I can help you with, then I will attempt to put you in contact with another lawyer that might be able to help you.
• Either way, what should happen is we will put to rest some of the unkowns that you may be experiencing. We will start to shed some light on what you can expect, and how to best pursue the benefits you deserve.

Don't delay getting the recovery you deserve! Contact us today for your free Strategy Session!