Watertown Pedestrian Crosswalk Accident Lawyer

Crosswalks are intended to provide a safe way for pedestrians to cross busy streets. While they serve this purpose for many people who travel on foot, accidents at crosswalks continue to be a significant problem in Watertown and other cities across Connecticut. 

Victims of crosswalk accidents need support in their fight to hold the at-fault driver accountable, and the pedestrian accident attorneys at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, have been providing reliable and skilled representation to injured clients for over 100 combined years. Reach out today to speak with a Watertown pedestrian crosswalk accident lawyer about your case.

Common Causes of Crosswalk Accidents Involving Pedestrians

When walking, running, or jogging on sidewalks and roadway shoulders, it is crucial that pedestrians take an active role in their own safety. Distractions and poor decisions made by pedestrians can easily cause accidents, even in areas designated for crossing the street. Texting or looking at a cell phone while walking, crossing against the traffic signals, entering the crosswalk too quickly when there is oncoming traffic, and walking while intoxicated are all contributing factors to pedestrian accidents. 

Even if you are partially to blame, you may still recover compensation as long as you are not more than fifty percent at fault. Whatever percentage of blame you have less than fifty percent will reduce the compensation you can receive by that percentage. For example, if you are found to be five percent at fault, your total compensation will be reduced by five percent.

Despite the many ways that pedestrians can contribute to the accidents that cause them severe and sometimes fatal injuries, drivers must be especially cautious about preventing accidents involving people in Watertown crosswalks. Drivers cause crosswalk accidents when they do not yield to pedestrians, ignore traffic lights, speed, text while driving, and drive under the influence. 

The fact that pedestrians are often an afterthought in city planning and street design also plays a major role in crashes. 

Improving City Design to Prevent Pedestrian Crosswalk Accidents

Driver behavior could prevent a large number of pedestrian crosswalk accidents, but changing city layout and infrastructure is a proven way to improve pedestrian safety. Prioritizing walkability in cities like Watertown can make a major difference in the safety, as well as the overall health, of residents. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) suggests there are three crosswalk enhancements that contribute to increased visibility and, therefore, safety for pedestrians. The FHWA recommends high-visibility crosswalks, clearly designated crosswalks, and lighting as the three main ways to address crosswalk visibility issues. While these improvements create preferable conditions for crosswalks without such features, these three actions alone are not likely to be enough to protect pedestrians from negligent drivers. 

Making changes to existing crosswalks, as well as planning for future improvements, should take the following into consideration: 

• Long crosswalks that force pedestrians to remain in the street for extended periods of time lead to more accidents than short crosswalks. On average, crosswalks with the most collisions are 15 – 43 percent longer. 
• Crosswalk signals that include a countdown provide warnings to pedestrians and create a safer, more predictable crossing. 
• Design and place crosswalks on streets in a way that reflects existing or desired pedestrian movement by taking into account public transportation networks, destinations, and other environmental factors. 

After a Crosswalk Accident in Watertown, Contact the Attorneys at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC

We offer free consultations to injured pedestrians, so there’s no risk in meeting with us to discuss your options for recovering compensation. Contact us today to schedule your consultation with a Watertown pedestrian crosswalk accident lawyer.