Last month's fatal hit and run accident in Santa Monica which resulted in a pedestrian's death is a reminder to Santa Monica drivers to be on the constant look-out for pedestrians. The track record of drivers in Santa Monica is not pretty: Santa Monica continues to lead the state in pedestrian accidents out of 104 similarly-sized California cities.
Tips for Drivers to Avoid Hitting a Pedestrian:
- Wait for the pedestrian to reach the other side before you move. You may be able to save a life by alerting other drivers to the presence of a pedestrian who might otherwise have gone unnoticed until it was too late.
- Use caution near schools and where children play. Speed zones are reduced in residential areas and around schools. Remember, young children don't always remember safe crossing rules. Look out for them.
- Come to a full stop. The "California stop" is both unsafe and illegal. Be sure to stop completely at all signals and stop signs before entering a crosswalk or intersection.
- Do not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. A pedestrian hidden from your view may be crossing. Pedestrians have the right of way at corners, whether or not the crosswalks are painted on the ground.
- Yield the right-of-way to pedestrians. Safe crossing is a two-way street. It is the pedestrian's right but that right is far from absolute.
- Always stop for any person using a guide dog or a white cane, with or without a red tip. It's the law.
If you have been involved in a pedestrian v. vehicle accident, call the Santa Monica personal injury lawyers at McGee, Lerer and Associates. Consultations are free. You pay nothing up front. Our fee is a percentage of what we collect for you. If we collect nothing, you pay us nothing.