Pedestrian and Cyclist Accidents

If you are unfortunately involved in a pedestrian or cycling accident in North York or Toronto, you need a lawyer. The team at P&M Personal Injury Lawyers is ready to help.

Pedestrians and cyclists be aware!

The weather will eventually improve again. With the beautiful weather comes the desire for people to enjoy the great outdoors, and it is important to be mindful of the dangers posed to pedestrians and cyclists. Data indicates that the summer months are the deadliest for these groups with regards to the potential for auto collisions.

Active transportation collisions are most likely to occur at intersections and at major arterial crossings. Toronto ranks poorly amongst other Canadian cities for road safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and the estimated cost of collisions is over $60 million a year.

Pedestrians Lawyer North York

The city of Toronto continues to expand in size and become more population dense. As with many other large urban cities around the world, the easiest and most efficient way of getting around is simply by walking to your destination

Pedestrian accidents are most common on arterial roads, and in intersections and midblock crossings. Crossing at midblocks is especially dangerous given that vehicles are often travelling at higher speeds. Another alarming statistic is that pedestrians account for over half (52%) of all fatalities and 11% of all injuries from collisions with automobiles in the city of Toronto. The youth and elderly are especially at risk, as young adults have the highest number of collision – related injuries, and over 50% of pedestrian fatalities were people aged 65 and older.

Bike and Cyclists Toronto

Biking is a popular and efficient way of getting around the city in the summer. The City of Toronto encourages cycling as it promotes a healthy lifestyle and avoids the congestion and environmental impact of automobiles.

Remember to always wear your helmet, take advantage of routes with cycling lanes, and use your arms to signal your intention to change lanes. Ensure that your bicycle is equipped with reflective devices and a fully functioning horn/bell.

Be especially careful when riding too close to parked cars, as many drivers swing their doors open creating an unexpected obstacle.

When arriving at crosswalk with traffic lights, get off your bicycle and walk it across the intersection. This is a bylaw in many areas of Toronto.

What does this mean for me?

As the City of Toronto continues to expand and densify, there will be more incidents where pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers will be in closer proximity and at a higher risk of an accident. Being aware of your surroundings, being prescient of the possible risks and taking care and responsibility in your daily activities can go a long way towards minimizing the likelihood of collisions and injury.

In addition to this, we encourage everyday citizens to be knowledgeable of your rights as a fellow user of the road. This means that one should be educated on the statistics and advocate for greater safety measures such as funding crosswalks, pedestrian zones, lights and bike lanes. Finally, it means taking responsibility for your own safety whether you are a driver, pedestrian, or cyclist. Knowing the right of way, looking both ways before crossing the street, and exhibiting careful road behaviour can help save lives and reduce injuries.

Here are some helpful Tips if you are involved:

1. Take photographs of where the collision occurred: Factors like crossing in a designated crossed walk, the distance between intersections and lack of suitable crosswalks help improve the liability assessment.
2. Preserve the clothing that was worn during the collision: Bright colours and reflective clothing are important factors in assessing liability – especially at night. Take photographs of the clothing so they can be shown to your lawyer and potential jury.
3. Identify witnesses: Independent witnesses often tip the scale in terms of assessing liability. Politely ask for the names, phone numbers, and emails of any willing bystanders who witnessed the accident.
4. Look around for cameras: Surveillance cameras are increasingly being affixed to nearby houses, buildings and store fronts.
5. Maintain your bicycle: Ensure that your bicycle is properly serviced at the beginning and end of each riding season and save all maintenance records. Keep a recent photo of your bicycle on file to be able to prove that it was in great condition.