Our car accident attorneys at Lewis & Keller consider ourselves to be champions not only for our clients, but for everyone in our Winston-Salem community. That means we want to protect our friends and neighbors and do what we can to ensure their safety. Our managing attorney, Lea Keller, emulates this champion mindset in everything she does here. In order to further her efforts to support the protection of our community, she is writing letters directly to the people of Winston-Salem, covering subjects she feels they should know in order to stay safe and protect their rights. Continue reading for this week’s letter written with October being National Pedestrian Safety Month in mind.
Eyes Up
Dear neighbors,
While the car manufacturing industry has made incredible strides in safety features for vehicles, it is actually getting MORE dangerous to be a pedestrian. Pedestrian deaths increased from 12% in 2009 to 17% in 2018. So what can we do as pedestrians – and as drivers – to get these numbers back down?
It basically boils down to vigilance on both sides – keeping your eyes up. As a pedestrian, it is incredibly important to be aware of your surroundings. Walk facing traffic so you can see what’s coming. Don’t use both headphones, don’t let your phone distract you, and don’t assume drivers will see you. Make eye contact with drivers, get those eyes up. In so many of the pedestrian cases we see there is a notation on the crash report that the person injured was in dark clothing. That will work against you if you try to make a claim for injuries.
As a driver, be aware and alert and leave your phone alone. Drive defensively, and anticipate the movement of others – eyes up. Remember that hitting a pedestrian with a 3000 pound car is likely to cause catastrophic injuries and possibly death, so take that responsibility seriously.
Pedestrian cases are among the most difficult we deal with here at Lewis & Keller. Often the pedestrian is killed or so badly hurt that they can’t really give us their side of what happened. Those cases are pieced together from physical evidence, witnesses at the scene, and little else. Because these types of incidents lead to such serious injuries, it is even more important that we do what we can to reduce the frequency with which they happen. Raising awareness is one way to do that. Whether walking or driving, keep those eyes up.
Sincerely,
Lewis & Keller is Here for You
We hope this letter from our managing attorney was helpful and inspires you to practice road safety both as a driver and a pedestrian. If you are injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s recklessness, our car accident lawyers at Lewis & Keller can help you seek compensation for your losses. We will be your champion, fighting for your rights, while you recover from your injuries. Contact us today to get started with a free consultation.
