You’re probably already taking all the steps that are necessary.

Most runners are well aware of the risks they take from vehicle collisions, and so they are especially cautious in the places where pedestrians and vehicles mix. You should already be following these rules:

• Obey all traffic signs and signals.
• Cross the street only at designated crosswalks, and only when you have the right of way.
• Don’t trust that being right will be adequate protection. Look both ways when crossing the street, even when you know you should have the right of way.
• Watch driver behavior at other times, too. Drivers who are distracted or lose control of their vehicles can end up hurting pedestrians on sidewalks.
• You need to avoid distractions yourself. If you’re listening to music, turn it down so you can still hear traffic sounds and signals.
• Run on designated jogging paths or the sidewalk, rather than in the street.
• Dress appropriately. Wear light colored clothing at night (or early in the morning), with reflective safety patches.

However, the vehicle driver bears most of the burden to prevent car collisions with pedestrians. Basically, driver negligence falls into three broad categories—any one of which can cause a tragic auto accident in Harrisburg. Those categories are:

1. Failure to follow the rules of the road
2. Being distracted from the task of driving safely
3. Inability to maintain control of the vehicle

Those categories are not mutually exclusive; someone who is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol might be negligent in all three ways.

Sharing the streets with passenger vehicles is always going to be risky. As a runner, you will find that being alert to the situation around you is your best defense, but you have to trust car and truck drivers to act responsibly all the time. The sad fact is that sometimes, they will fail to be worthy of your trust.

If you have been involved in a Pennsylvania vehicle accident while running, jogging, or walking, you need the services of a trusted Harrisburg accident lawyer to get you the settlement you deserve. The Schmidt Kramer law firm maintains an office in Harrisburg to serve the needs of injury victims in Dauphin County and the surrounding area.

Call us at 717-888-8888 or (717) 888-8888 toll-free to request a FREE copy of our book, Who Pays The Bills When You Are Injured In An Automobile Accident?, or to sign up for our client newsletter.

We offer FREE, confidential case reviews for injured pedestrians or their survivors, and we never bill for legal services unless we are able to get you a financial recovery.