As noted by Accident Recovery in Dallas, TX, “Every year there are thousands of road accidents in the United States, and over 100,000 of these involved pedestrians getting injured or killed.”  It is also stated that many of these injuries are a result of people “slipping or tripping on wet, slippery or greasy surfaces, as well as unexpected holes in sidewalks that result from missing manhole or utility covers, and other hidden hazards on areas that residential and business property owners, as well as local city, state and even federal government entities should be properly maintaining.”

Bicycle riders and other pedestrians must abide by the same traffic laws as motor vehicle drivers.  They must abide by traffic signs and signals.  Bicycle riders must provide lights and reflectors when riding at night and remain as close to the outside of the road as possible.  However, what if they are abiding these rules, yet become a victim of environmental circumstance?

Slip and fall accidents are categorized into 4 separate groups:

• Trip-and-fall accidents, where there is something in your way- like a stack of books in a walkway that is normally clear
• Stump-and-fall accidents, where there is a bump in the road, like a power cord that runs between two cubicles that wasn’t there previously
• Step-and-fall accidents, such as a missing manhole cover or utility cover in the sidewalk
• Slip-and-fall accidents, for example, you slip and fall on a wet or greasy floor and there are no warning signs posted anywhere.

The United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration states that sidewalk corridors must provide pedestrians access with the following characteristics:

• Wide pathways
• Clearly defined pedestrian, furniture and frontage zones
• Minimal obstacles
• Minimal protruding objects
• Moderate grates and cross slopes
• Rest areas outside of the pedestrian zone
• Minimal changes in level
• Firm, stable and slip resistant surfaces
• Good lighting

It is stated that the sidewalk surfaces must be firm and stable and should also be slip resistant under dry conditions.  Though concrete is indicated as a slip resistant surface material that is safe to all types of pedestrians, like walkers, wheelchair users and cyclists, items such as sidewalk covers could help enhance their safety.

Accident Recovery. “http://www.accidentrecovery.org/other-accidents.html.” http://www.accidentrecovery.org/other-accidents.html

United States Department of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration.  “Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access – Sidewalk Corridors.”

Filed under: Safety Tips by Beth Faraci