Sunday afternoon, an 86-year-old man was walking near the Leland Hotel when a bus operated by Nemo’s Bar crashed into him on the sidewalk. The bus was on Bagley near Cass Ave. when a car pulled out in front of it. The bus hit the car, then both vehicles swerved off the road, smashing into the front of the Leland Hotel. No one on the Nemo’s Bar bus was injured; however, the driver of the car was taken to the hospital to be checked out. The man who was hit by the bus remains in serious condition.
Nemo’s Bar bus was carrying passengers to and from the Detroit Tigers game at Comerica Park. The shuttle bus from the popular Corktown bar regularly drives bar patrons to and from major events in downtown Detroit. The investigation is ongoing, but police do not believe alcohol played a role in the accident.
Drivers Cause a Majority of Pedestrian Accidents
This seems like an obvious statement, but there are many lists of safety tips for pedestrians. These lists focus on how pedestrians can be safer while walking. The steps, which usually include items like crossing at crosswalks where expected, wearing high visibility clothing, and avoiding distractions like phones and headphones, are sensible. Each year in the U.S. 4,000 pedestrians are killed after being hit by a motor vehicle. There are 75,000 accidents involving pedestrians annually.
Regardless of the steps they take to protect themselves, pedestrians are basically defenseless if they are actually struck by a vehicle. This is why it’s critical for drivers to understand the ways they can prevent such accidents from happening. Some of the most common causes of vehicle accidents in which pedestrians are injured or killed include:
Failing to Fully Stop at Traffic Signals or Signs
City planners don’t randomly place traffic signals and stop signs. They’re used to increase safety where there is significant cross traffic or where people are likely to cross most often. “Rolling” a stop sign prevents the driver from checking for other vehicles or pedestrians before continuing through a crosswalk and into an intersection. This can be a deadly mistake.
Driving Under the Influence or Driving Distracted
Obviously, if your attention is elsewhere, you have taken your eyes, hands, and/or mind off your driving. Given the distance a car can travel in a short time, driving distracted is always dangerous. When driving under the influence, a driver may believe he or she is driving safely, but drugs or alcohol impede perception, judgment, and reaction times.
Illegal U-Turns
There’s reason they’re illegal. Typically, U-turns are forbidden where traffic patterns, speed of traffic, or low visibility make the maneuver unsafe for drivers and pedestrians.
By far, the riskiest group for any kind of accident is the one made up of new and inexperienced drivers. They are far more likely to take the dangers of driving too lightly and to engage in the other practices on this list.
If you were injured by a motor vehicle while walking, the pedestrian accident attorneys at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm would like to speak to you. Even if you were being negligent in your behavior, it is likely the driver of the vehicle that hit you would still be at least partially liable. Call us today for a free consultation about your case: 1-800-LEE-FREE.
