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Can pedestrians and motorists coexist in Oakland?

by | Mar 4, 2020 | Pedestrian Accidents

The busy streets of Oakland are home to not only tens of thousands of college students, but also hospital employees, patients and visitors and employees in the retail venues and event centers. As a result, busy streets are being navigated not only by native residents, but also visitors who are not accustomed to the area and the traffic around it. The location of many campuses mean that students are crossing main, busy streets in throngs and those unaccustomed to it might end up striking a pedestrian.

The co-existence of pedestrians and motorists is often hard to achieve, as drivers are often impatiently going from one place to another and overlook the pedestrian in front of them or in their blind spot. Pedestrians can be talking to one another, looking for their destination or admiring the sights and sounds, and never expect to be run over by a distracted driver. Many often forget that tragedy can literally be a step away.

Police officials routinely conduct a number of safety efforts, from social media messaging to traffic enforcement. They also monitor traffic equipment. Universities also step in to help freshmen understand the nature of the city they are in, including hosting bicycle safety days. One university also tries to monitor activities such as braking and speeding. In addition to this, the city is also collaborating on improving roads to create one-way traffic, add bike lanes and moving crosswalks.

The city still has not forgotten the tragic bicycle accident of the 34-year-old assistant director of a university’s Russian and Eastern European Studies. The 49-year-old man who caused the chain car accident had synthetic cannabis in his system at the time and was driving with a suspended license.

Pedestrians and cyclists can follow as many safety measures as possible, but if a motorist is not paying attention, a tragic pedestrian accident such as that mentioned above can result. When that does happen, it might be possible to file a wrongful death or personal injury lawsuit against the negligent driver who caused the accident. An experienced attorney may be able to provide guidance on how to get compensation to cover one’s pain and suffering and medical expenses.