Pedestrian Risk Factors in NYC

Ladyblogger
September 15, 2012

(U.S. Law) New York City is well-known for the massive amounts of pedestrian traffic that it’s streets accommodate on a daily basis. Walking through a city with a population of over 8 million people and countless tourists does lead to some risk factors for pedestrians, however. Whether you or a local resident or a tourist, it is a good idea to keep an eye out for the following risks:

1) Taxis – When you are working as a taxi driver in a city that is almost constantly gridlocked, you have to find quick solutions or you will never make any money. Due to this, taxi drivers will weave in and out of traffic whenever possible, so it is imperative for pedestrians to keep an eye out when they are crossing the street.

2) Signal Changes – In highly trafficked areas, such as Times Square, it is common for extremely large groups of pedestrians to cross the street at the same time. If the signal changes before you finish crossing the road, then an overly eager motorist may accidentally hit you. It is better to wait for the signal to change again than to try to rush across the intersection and end up in an accident.

3) Large Crowds – If you are crossing the street with a group that is so large that it is swelling out on the sides, then you are at risk of being hit by a car that is driving on the cross street. Keep in mind that the crosswalk lines are on the ground for a reason; if you cannot stay within them, then you should not cross the street.

4) Tourists – Both residents and tourists sometimes become entangled in the action of someone who is visiting the city. Most tourists spend the majority of their time looking up and taking photos rather than paying attention to what they are doing. According to www.manhattanaccidentattorneys.net, with so many other pedestrians bustling around, it is rather common for a tourist to bump into another person. This can cause anything from a minor annoyance to an actual injury like falling into the path of oncoming traffic.

5) Subway Stairs – The stairs leading into the subway are not always in the best repair, so make sure that you keep an eye out for loose or broken steps. Failure to notice one of these issues in advance may cause a pedestrian to fall down a flight of stairs.

6) Subway Tracks – Although it is extremely rare, some pedestrians fall onto the subway tracks. This can cause a serious injury or even death, so it is vital to be aware of your positioning when you are waiting for a train. Always stay behind the safety line and watch out for huge incoming crowds that may accidentally push you forward.

7) Sidewalk Construction – Whenever sidewalk construction pops up, pedestrians are forced to squeeze into a smaller than usual space. As you can imagine, this can be difficult to deal with. No matter what happens, though, do not walk in the road unless you are certain that the area is clear.

Walking through “The City” is surprisingly easy and safe considering how many potential risk factors there are. If you pay attention to your surroundings and avoid the key risk factors, then you can safely navigate the streets of New York City without any issues.

See also this guide to some of the top motorcycle accident attorneys in NYC here.

Author Anthony Joseph is a researcher and a contributing author for www.manhattanaccidentattorneys.net. Your attorney will do much more than just go to bat with the insurance company. They can also help to uncover negligence and fault for the accident, help stall your medical bills until your settlement arrives, get you back to work sooner rather than later and even help you with handling the emotional stress. Just reducing your burden of dealing with the insurance company alone, can help alleviate the stress from your case.