It is easy to picture how a pedestrian might suffer physical harm, if he or she were hit by an automobile. Yet the same pedestrian might suffer more than physical harm. He or she might need to deal with mental damages.

How does the driver’s behavior normally cause such a problem?

Most injuries to those that are walking across a street happen when an inattentive driver is making a right-hand turn. That could be a turn at an intersection, or a turn into a parking lot or a driveway.

How could pedestrians get harmed physically?

• A fall on the ground could cause a scrape or a deeper cut on the skin.
• A fall could also result in a broken bone.
• If the pedestrian’s head were to hit the road, that could lead to development of a traumatic brain injury.
• Depending on how the hit body responded to the impact, the victim could suffer spinal injuries or even paralysis.

What other damages might result from such an incident?

The person that had been proceeding across the street on foot might suffer mental, psychological or emotional damage. The victim’s Personal Injury Lawyer in Ottawa could seek compensation for such non-economic damages. That would get added to the amount of money spent on treatment of any physical injuries.

How those that have no form of transportation can keep from becoming the victim of an on-road incident.

• Those crossing the street should refrain from crossing at a place where a crosswalk does not exist.
• It pays to stay on the sidewalk as much as possible. Try to avoid a path that does not include a standard sidewalk.
• Only enter a street from a point on the curb, ideally on a corner. Do not run into the street from between some parked cars.
• Wear light colored clothing. Consider purchasing a reflective vest, if you do lots of walking.
• Do not try texting while crossing the street.

How pedestrians benefit from following the above instructions?

If a driver hits someone that is walking across the street, the size of that victim’s compensation could get reduced, if he or she had helped to cause the unfortunate incident. For instance, was that hit walker texting at that point in time? Was he or she crossing at place where a crosswalk had been created?

If the driver leaves the scene, the walking victim must try to find that same driver. Few victims would relish the idea of seeking a driver, while knowing that their compensation could be reduced, due to their own failure to use a bit of extra caution. That fact highlights the benefits that are linked to using some simple, common sense, when forced to proceed on foot.