Baltimore Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

What To Do If You Are Hit By A Careless Driver

Any car accident involving a careless driver can be devastating. But when you consider a car striking an unprotected pedestrian, the results can be life-altering. Serious pedestrian accidents can cause severe injuries like paralysis, internal bleeding, broken bones, and much more.

The United States Department of Transportation revealed that pedestrian accidents are all too common, especially in a major city like Baltimore. One study found that a pedestrian was killed in a traffic accident once every 88 minutes in the United States. In contrast, non-fatal injuries occurred much more frequently.

Motor vehicle drivers possess a duty to watch for and yield to pedestrians under certain circumstances. For instance, when a pedestrian is crossing the street at a marked crosswalk. When a careless driver strikes a pedestrian under these circumstances, their actions constitute negligence, and they will be liable for the harm they cause. 

Recent Increase In Baltimore Pedestrian Accidents

Maryland pedestrian accidents have exhibited an alarming increase in recent years. Over the past five years, an average of 3,200 pedestrian accidents has occurred annually, with 92% of those accidents resulting in injury or death. During that same period, Maryland averaged 107 pedestrian accident fatalities per year. And even more recently, in 2018, the Maryland rate of pedestrian accident fatalities increased by 25%.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics in Baltimore

Did you know that most pedestrian accidents in Baltimore happen between the hours of 6 and 9 p.m.? Roughly 3 out of 4 accidents where a car hits a pedestrian take place in the dark. This is why it’s important to look both ways before crossing the street and wearing bright, reflective clothing if jogging at night.

Children account for 21% of fatalities and 9% of pedestrian injuries. Those in the age range 20 to 24 have the highest rate of pedestrian injuries. In comparison, fatalities occur the most to pedestrians struck by a vehicle between the ages of 50 to 54. The bottom line is that Baltimore can be a dangerous place for pedestrians even if you’re safe and careful. Often, a distracted driver can run a red light or not adhere to a crosswalk, hitting a pedestrian while crossing the street. 

If you or someone you know has been injured in a pedestrian accident, call the Baltimore pedestrian accident lawyers at Hyatt & Goldbloom today.

Maryland Traffic Laws And Baltimore Pedestrian Accidents

Maryland lawmakers have enacted, and continue to create, legal measures to protect pedestrians in Baltimore and throughout Maryland. Knowledge of Maryland’s pedestrian traffic laws is essential for pedestrians and motorists alike. Although extrinsic circumstances often contribute to pedestrian accidents in Baltimore, knowing and adhering to Maryland’s pedestrian traffic laws will help promote safer roadways. One area of emphasis is for drivers to be aware of and respect crosswalks and the pedestrians using them due to the number of crosswalk accidents in Baltimore. If you’ve been hit by a car while crossing the street, speak with an experienced Baltimore crosswalk accident lawyer today.

Maryland Pedestrian Traffic Laws That Apply To Motorists

One group of Maryland’s pedestrian traffic laws explicitly apply to motorists. As a driver, knowing these laws helps raise awareness of potential high-risk situations that can give rise to pedestrian accidents in Baltimore.

• Motorists must stop for pedestrians at a crosswalk. You must come to a complete stop when a pedestrian is crossing at a crosswalk, regardless of whether they are crossing through your lane or an adjacent one.
• Motorists cannot pass another vehicle that has stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the street. Passing a vehicle under these circumstances is against the law regardless of whether the pedestrian is at a crosswalk.
• Motorists must always yield right-of-way for pedestrians when the vehicle is turning at a green traffic light or arrow. This law applies whether you are turning left or right, you must always yield for a pedestrian on an adjacent crosswalk.
• Motorists cannot block a crosswalk. You must always stop short of the crosswalk when stopping at a stop sign or traffic light.
• Motorists must yield to pedestrians when turning right at a red light. You must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at the adjacent crosswalk (where you will be making a right turn). 
• Motorists must drive at reduced speeds in areas dangerous for pedestrians. Drivers must follow this rule in addition to adhering to posted speed limits. 

Maryland Traffic Laws That Apply To Pedestrians

In addition to pedestrian traffic laws for motorists, Maryland also has traffic laws that apply directly to pedestrians. These laws serve to promote the safety of pedestrians on Maryland’s public roadways. Also, pedestrian traffic laws create a level of predictability for motorists to know where pedestrians will be on the road. Maryland traffic laws that apply to pedestrians include:

• At an intersection with traffic control signals, Pedestrians can only cross the street at a designated, marked crosswalk.
• Pedestrians facing a red traffic signal cannot enter the roadway.
• Pedestrians cannot begin walking into a crosswalk if there is a solid Do Not Walk or raised hand signal. This applies whether or not there is active traffic on the roadway.
• Pedestrians cannot cross diagonally through an intersection unless authorized to do so by a traffic control device. 
• Pedestrians should yield the right-of-way to vehicles when crossing the street anywhere other than in a marked crosswalk or in an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. 
• Pedestrians must use sidewalks when they are provided. If there are no sidewalks, pedestrians should walk on the left shoulder or side of the road facing traffic. Pedestrians should not walk along a road if there is a sidewalk available. If there is no sidewalk available, you may walk facing traffic on the left shoulder or on the left side.

Adherence to traffic laws as a pedestrian is critical for lowering your chances of being in an accident. Nonetheless, there are certain times when despite doing all the right things, it is impossible to avoid an accident caused by another person’s unexpected negligence. By following traffic laws and taking appropriate precautionary measures, you can significantly lower the likelihood of a pedestrian accident occurring. Further, by following Maryland’s pedestrian traffic laws, you do not risk being contributorily negligent should an accident occur. Here are some precautions you should take to help avoid pedestrian accidents in the city:

• Walk smart and be predictable when walking. 
• Avoid distractions and the use of electronic devices while walking. Focus on getting to your destination safely. You should never be looking down at your cell phone when walking on the sidewalk or crossing the street. Not only can this cause you to inadvertently walk into harm’s way, but it prevents you from reacting to dangerous situations.
• Crosswalks and traffic lights DO NOT stop cars. The WALK signal does not mean it is safe to cross. It only means it is your turn to cross. You must always confirm the roadway is clear before doing so.
• Walk only on the sidewalk. If there isn’t a sidewalk nearby, walk on the side of the road facing traffic. As a general rule, if no sidewalk is available on either side, you should walk on the left side of the road and as close to the shoulder as possible.
• Stand a safe distance away from the roadway and traffic while waiting for a bus.