Be Seen At Night And Avoid A Connecticut Auto Accident

Even though the calendar has moved past the shortest days of the year and the nights are getting longer, it is still quite dark at night.  Being a pedestrian anytime during the day can be dangerous and lead to injury, but if you are out walking, running or biking at night you might find yourself in a position of peril.  If you are out and about after dark you are most certainly putting yourself at risk of getting into a Connecticut auto accident that could injure you.  

As daylight continues to grow and the days get longer the danger of being a pedestrian at night does not shrink and the time at which you may be out after dark could still cause you safety concerns so it is important to understand how to be safe when you are not behind the wheel of a car, but are navigating the streets of your community. 

With that in mind it is important to take steps to make sure you can be seen by passing automobiles and trucks driving at night.  If you take a few steps to be seen, you can make sure that you are doing all you can to stay safe and not putting yourself at risk of getting injured while just out for an evening stroll or bike ride.

Here are a few things you can do to keep yourself safe as a pedestrian:

1. Carry a flashlight.  If you don’t have an actual flashlight use the one that is on your phone.  A bright light is not only a good thing to have to keep you from tripping or falling while walking, but it also makes you more visible to passing cars and trucks.  Be cautioned though that you should never shine your flashlight into on-coming traffic and it should only be used to keep your path lit and yourself visible to others.

2. Regarding your phone and this applies to going out at night or during the day, never walk, run or ride while looking down at your phone.  Just as drivers of on-coming traffic should avoid distractions from their phones, so should you as a pedestrian.  If you are looking down and not at the path forward you are much more likely to be in the street when traffic is passing and this could lead to an accident and an injury for you.

3. Try not to walk, run or ride alone.  If you are out at night and you are alone it is much harder for traffic to see you.  If you are with a group of people you will likely be more visible.  While it may not always be possible to have company on your walk, run or ride, if it is possible you should take the opportunity to go out with a group instead of by yourself.

As a pedestrian who is out at night you need to take extra precautions to avoid getting into a Connecticut auto accident.  If you are cautious you can make it to and from your destination safely and without incident.  While these safety measures do not guarantee your safety, they will certainly help protect you as you enjoy a night out as a pedestrian.

Whether you’ve taken these steps or not, if you get injured you may need to speak with an attorney to review your situation.  Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your details and talk with you about how they may be able to work with you to protect your long-term interests.