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Three pedestrians were killed on Monday, Dec. 13 when they were struck by an Amtrak train headed from San Diego to Los Angeles, according to KTLA News in Los Angeles. Thought to be possible taggers, the men in their early- to mid-20s were walking along the train tracks over Telegraph Road when the Amtrak train struck the pedestrians.

The conductor of the train tried to avert the pedestrian accident but could not apply the train’s brakes in time, causing a fatal collision with the men. LA County fire department and LA Sheriff Homicide detectives arrived on the scene shortly thereafter and pronounced the men dead.

A train accident is rare. Most often, pedestrian injuries occur on the road involving vehicles, and the risk of a pedestrian accident is higher than once thought: a pedestrian is killed every 120 seconds according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Pedestrian accidents generally occur because:

A driver has failed to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian at a crosswalk. Generally, a pedestrian has the right-of-way for crossing the street, walking in a parking lot and on sidewalks. When a driver fails to give you the right-of-way, and if you’re injured as a result, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.Hit-and-run accidents. A hit-and-run car accident can frequently involve pedestrians. Try to gather license plate information if you can.A driver not making a complete stop. If a driver is not paying attention and fails to make a complete stop, s/he may not be able to see you on the road and can collide with you. In the case of the Amtrak train, even though the conductor was aware of the men traveling the tracks, he was unable to make a complete stop in time. This can often happen on the road as well.

Pedestrian safety is often overlooked as a possible public hazard. But unfortunately, accidents like these can happen anytime, but there are ways to avoid being hit as a pedestrian on the street.

To stay on the safer side of pedestrian travel, try to:

Wear white or bright clothing when walking. If you’re pro-pedestrian, then consider wearing brighter clothing so drivers can see you on the road.Use reflective vests. Bicyclists will find this tip extra useful because reflective gear can greatly increase your visibility, especially as oncoming headlights approach you. Cars can see you much more quickly using reflective gear versus dark, inhibitive clothing.Don’t J-Walk. Even if you think it’s safe, do not cross the road without using a crosswalk and following pedestrian safety rules. You never know when a car will take a turn out of nowhere and hit you.Don’t travel along railroad tracks. Even if you think you’re quick enough to get out of the way of a train’s path, don’t linger around or walk alongside train tracks. While this seems like an obvious tip, there are many travelers who use train tracks for longer distances since train tracks offer a more direct route without having to use street travel. Like the pedestrians killed in the Amtrak accident, it’s safer to simply stay on the sidewalk versus any alternative travel via train tracks.Don’t walk at night. As seen in a previous blog post involving a pedestrian accident in San Marcos, it’s never completely safe to walk at night, especially on busy areas near freeways and on-ramps. Avoid pedestrian activities at dusk and night hours.

If you have been injured as a pedestrian, attorneys at the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC, can help evaluate your case. The free review is comprehensive: we collect information involving you, your injuries, the person(s) involved in the case, and the nature of the case. It’s private and free—call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or use the contact form. A personal injury attorney specializing in pedestrian accidents will contact you immediately.

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