How To Avoid A New Haven Pedestrian Accident When Attending Holiday Festivals

November 23, 2022
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Whether you’re heading out for a Thanksgiving Day event or something holiday specific in December like the tree lighting on the green there are chances for lots of joy, but also room for running into issues which could cause a New Haven pedestrian accident.  Holiday events and festivals can often be joyous and fun, but they can also be crowded and leave the streets of the city much more crowded than usual.  With increased foot traffic and vehicle traffic not reduced you will need to follow some safety steps to insure that you are not getting into a dangerous situation.

Before you even get to an event you should familiarize yourself with the area to make sure that you don’t get lost or find yourself somewhere that is unfamiliar that could lead to a stressful or unsafe situation.  If you can, find the location on a map before heading out and make sure you know where you’ll be walking and standing during the event.  This is an important step for your safety.  Since these events are mostly held outdoors and the weather can be unpredictable this time of year you will also want to make sure to check the weather before heading out for your evening.

Once you’re ready to go and you head to the event here are some things you can do to make sure you are not putting yourself or your group in harms way.

1.) Arrive early so you are not rushing.  If you are walking quickly or even running to get a good spot for viewing of a particular event you will likely find yourself making mistakes and putting yourself or someone in your group in an unsafe position.  Make sure you arrive to your destination early enough that you can walk safely and still get to where you want to go in a timely manner.

2.) Wear appropriate footwear.  Walking on city streets in November and December can be hit or miss.  Sometimes there will be pockets of black ice that make the walking treacherous.  If you find yourself walking and run into a situation where the sidewalk or the road are slippery you will want to make sure you have the appropriate footwear on so you can traverse the walkway safely.

3.) Make sure you are visible.  Walking along city streets (even on the sidewalks) can be treacherous, but if you are not visible and aren’t wearing either reflective clothing or at a minimum brightly colored clothing it can be difficult for you to be seen.  If you can’t be seen by on-coming traffic you may be at risk of getting hit by a vehicle that can’t see you.

4.) Always cross at an intersection with lights and crosswalks if at all possible.  Even if you look both ways and start to cross a city street where there are no lights or crosswalks, there is the potential that a vehicle may come out of nowhere that you did not see and you could get hit and injured in a New Haven pedestrian accident.  If this happens you may get seriously injured and need hospitalization.

Going to a Thanksgiving or Holiday event in New Haven can be so joyous and leave you full of the spirit of the season, but if you don’t take the proper safety steps you may find yourself in a situation where you are injured and your festive night turns into a drastic nightmare.  Take these steps and make sure you get to and from your destination safely so you can truly enjoy the season.

If you do end up in an accident, you may need to speak with an attorney who can review your case.  Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will speak with you and work with you to protect your long-term interests.