It’s summertime and there is not only and increase in vehicle traffic, but there are more pedestrians and bicycles on the road than at any other time of the year.

Pedestrian safety should be in the front of everyone’s mind when traveling at any time of year, but especially in the summer months. Children are out of school. Others choose to commute by bicycle. Groups gather for walks, fund-raisers and other outdoor activities all over our nation.

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTASA) ,“Pedestrians were one of the few groups of road users to experience an increase in fatalities in the US in 2015, totaling 5,376 deaths.”

But how can we be more aware?

First, we must pay attention when we are near or on the road. By being fully focused on the task at hand, either it being walking a dog, biking to the store or heading to the library, we need to be paying attention. By taking that time to set aside your hand held devices (like cell phones) or choosing to use a hands free device you will be able to pay more attention to what is going on around you. Using headphones listening to your music will make it hard for you to hear danger coming from behind sooner, and could contribute to you or another suffering a possible life changing injury. So be smart about this. Walking with your back to traffic is also very dangerous. Obviously, walking off the side of the road facing oncoming traffic is more safe than walking with your back to traffic and on the roadway.

As the driver of an automobile or motorcycle you must also focus on the task at hand.  With so many children out of school the chances increase of a ball rolling or pet dashing out into the road closely followed by a child that may not have his or her safety in the forefront of their mind.

Accidents happen in a fraction of a second, and most can be prevented with a bit of care.

We hope that you all have a safe and accident free summer. If you should be involved in an accident, we are here to help you.

The Tindall Law Firm, LLC, provides experienced representation to injury victims and their families in Connecticut, whether they are injured while a pedestrian, while riding their bike, or while operating their automobile. We understand your concerns because we have helped thousands of people who were faced with the same issues after a serious injury or a wrongful death. To schedule a free consultation with a Waterbury personal injury lawyer, please call  203.755.0018 today.