Drivers are required by law to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks and may face criminal charges and civil liabilities if they hit a pedestrian. For pedestrians, the consequences of being struck by a vehicle are more serious than who was in the wrong. Knowing you are not at fault may be little consolation to you if you are injured in the incident. Pedestrians share an equal responsibility with drivers in preventing accidents from happening.
The Rules
There are laws detailing whether a pedestrian or a vehicle has the right-of-way. In some cases, the pedestrian must yield to a driver, though the driver must attempt to alert or avoid any pedestrian violating the law. Illinois law states that:
- Pedestrians have the right-of-way within the area marked as a crosswalk, regardless of whether a traffic control device is present.
- Vehicles must yield to any pedestrian who has entered a crosswalk before the traffic signal has changed.
- Vehicles have the right-of-way over pedestrians trying to cross a street where there is not a crosswalk.
- Pedestrians are not allowed to suddenly walk into a street and into the path of a moving vehicle.
- Pedestrians cannot diagonally cross an intersection unless allowed by a traffic control device.
Safety Tips
Many of Illinois’ pedestrian laws follow common sense for crossing a street safely. It would be dangerous if pedestrians were allowed to abruptly dart across the street with little regard for vehicles, which may not be able to stop in time to avoid hitting them. Even when obeying the law, there are safety practices pedestrians should follow.
- Look both ways before you cross the street. This phrase is drilled into children because it is important. Do not assume that a vehicle will stop because you have the right-of-way.
- Make sure drivers can see you. Wear reflective materials when it is dark. Understand that parked vehicles or other large objects that you walk in front of may obstruct a driver’s view of you.
- Stay on the sidewalk. If the sidewalk is impassible, either wait for it to clear or head back to the nearest crosswalk in order to cross to the other side of the street.
- Use pedestrian bridges and tunnels when available. They are the safest way to cross a street and were probably installed for a reason.
- Be aware of how intoxication may affect your ability to walk and make safe decisions.
Your Rights
Pedestrians can be entitled to civil damages if they have been struck by a vehicle. A Plainfield, IL pedestrian accident attorney can represent you in your personal injury case. Call Flaherty Law, LLC at 815-860-5702 for a free consultation.
Source:
http://www.math.uiuc.edu/~dan/Crosswalks/ http://police.illinoisstate.edu/safety/pedestrian/