Winter Road Safety for Pedestrians

For millions of New Yorkers, walking is a way of life and often a necessity. We walk to the Subway station, to work, to school and even to catch a movie or show. During harsh weather or extreme winter conditions pedestrian activity can certainly become dangerous. There is no question that winter can be a challenging time of year for bicyclists, motorcyclists as well as pedestrians and can cause serious injury accidents. Road surfaces during the winter can be covered by frost, snow or ice. In foggy or wet weather, visibility can be significantly reduced. All of these factors can make our roadways particularly hazardous in the winter.

Safety Tips for Pedestrians
Here are a few important safety tips for pedestrians in New York City who are braving severe winter conditions:
• Be very careful because frost, ice and snow will make walking on sidewalks very dangerous. Sidewalks may not always be treated.
• Make sure you are wearing appropriate footwear, shoes or boots with proper traction.
• Do not walk with your hands in your pockets. Walk with your hands out and wear gloves so you can break your fall if you slip and fall.
• Never walk in the street. Cars and trucks can slip and slide too.
• Make sure you are wearing bright, reflective clothing during gloomy winter days and nights. Avoid walking at night if possible.
• Stay warm, but don’t impair your vision with scarves and hats. Make sure you are able to see ahead.
• Make eye contact with motorists especially at crosswalks and intersections to make sure that they have seen you.
• Follow all traffic signs and signals.
• If you must walk in the street, face traffic and stay as close to the curb as possible. Before you step off the curb, make sure any oncoming vehicles have come to a complete stop.
If You Have Been Injured
Injured pedestrians can claim compensation for damages from the driver or his or her employer. If a dangerous roadway or intersection caused the accident, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. If you or a loved one has been injured or if you have lost a loved one as a result of a pedestrian accident, the experienced New York personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Our skilled attorneys have a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a man who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com