When taking in the scenery poses a threat to your health

Myrtle Beach is a hotspot for many travelers, some of whom may choose to walk from place to place to take in the scenery. Perhaps you are visiting South Carolina and wish to move around via the sidewalk, but you may have concerns about your safety, especially in areas of dense traffic.

Walking can provide a myriad of benefits to vacationers and permanent residents alike. Unfortunately, with little in the way of protection, it may also come with a certain level of risk, and pedestrian-related accidents can be extremely dangerous.

Taking measures to increase pedestrian safety

In areas where pedestrians are close to traffic, strictly adhering to traffic laws and safety procedures is paramount. Since you probably consider your health to be of the utmost importance, you may wish to know about the steps you can take to reduce the chances of a pedestrian accident, which could include the following:

• Awareness: When walking near traffic, having awareness of nearby vehicles at all times is advisable and could even help you spot a potential hazard quickly enough to avoid a disaster.
• Visibility: As a pedestrian, you are inherently more difficult to see, and finding ways to increase visibility, such as wearing bright clothing and traveling in well-lit areas at night, could reduce the chances of a serious accident.
• Distraction: Phone conversations and text messaging are not only serious concerns among drivers, but can also be dangerous for pedestrians, as taking your concentration off the path ahead, as well as nearby traffic, could be disastrous.
• Crosswalks: Although many intersections have clearly marked paths and walk signals, you should use caution before crossing the road. Ensuring that it is safe to cross instead of simply expecting drivers to stop is likely in your best interests.

Unfortunately, even if you follow these procedures to the best of your ability, you cannot control the actions of others, and one negligent decision or action on the part of a nearby driver could pose a significant threat to your health.

When an accident occurs

Along with experiencing a great deal of pain and suffering, serious injuries from a pedestrian-related collision can also place you under a significant financial burden. If the other driver is at fault, you may wish to pursue restitution for damages, but the process can be stressful and daunting, potentially prompting a need for assistance. By obtaining guidance from someone with experience in the area, you could be in a better position to pursue the compensation you deserve and need.