Cross-border personal injury threats to pedestrians

As winter sets in, authorities in British Columbia are taking special steps to improve pedestrian safety. With the change in weather conditions and the decrease of daylight hours, pedestrians become more vulnerable. Visitors from south of the border may want to take extra care if they move about as pedestrians because cross-border personal injury claims are often challenging to navigate.

A safety campaign was recently launched in Metro Vancouver in which pedestrians are urged to pay careful attention to vehicular traffic. Authorities remind pedestrians that they should not take it for granted that vehicle operators will obey traffic signals at all times. Some drivers may disregard stop signs or other warning signals. It is also wise to wear light coloured or bright clothing to make sure they are more visible to drivers.

Distracted walking can be as dangerous as distracted driving. Safety advisers say pedestrians should stop walking while using their cell phones to text or search the internet for directions or other information. Wearing headphones while walking can also be deadly because it jeopardizes the pedestrian’s ability to hear approaching vehicles or other warning signs.

In the event of a pedestrian accident in British Columbia in which a tourist from the United States suffered injuries, dealing with the insurance and personal injury laws of both countries could be cumbersome. For this reason, many victims of such accidents seek the support and guidance of a lawyer who focuses on cross-border personal injury cases. An attorney can help an injured victim seek recovery of financial losses and other damages sustained.

Source: bclocalnews.com, “Delta Police launch pedestrian safety initiative“, James Smith, Nov. 2, 2017