If you dig American History or you’re trying to get your kids to appreciate the past, Philadelphia is a fantastic vacation destination. The city takes great pride in its historic landmarks, unique museums terrific food, and, of course, the Philadelphia Zoo.
The attractions bring in thousands of people a year. Philadelphia welcomes everyone and works hard to make its streets pedestrian-friendly, but as with any big city, there are safety concerns to be aware of as you and your family tour downtown or “Center City” and the local neighborhoods.
Traffic Dangers in Philadelphia
Busy city traffic presents continual threats to your safety as you navigate on foot, by bike, or car. You may not be used to the constant flow of vehicles. There’s also the ever-present street and building construction that keeps the city moving forward. These zones can offer unique obstacles and just trying to bypass them can create their hazards.
Pedestrian Threats In Center City
Philadelphia makes pedestrian safety a priority for its residents and its visitors. In fact, the organization Walk Score ranks many sections of Philly as a 90 or above. That means they rate those neighborhoods as a walker’s paradise.
Of course, we know that wherever motor vehicles and pedestrians share space, collisions will eventually happen. In 2018, Philadelphia saw nearly 130 pedestrian accidents that were either fatal or led to serious injuries.
These big-city issues may not affect you until you decide to spend your vacation dollars in Pennsylvania. An encounter with a careless driver during your visit could leave you or a family member injured and in need of medical care while far from home.
Philadelphia Construction Site Hazards
A local study commissioned by The Pearce Law Firm, Personal Injury and Accident Lawyers P.C. found that 41% of pedestrians polled pointed to construction and blocked sidewalks as the biggest pedestrian issue in Philadelphia.
The threats from an untidy construction zone can threaten your safety in several ways:
- Accidents while trying to get around a site that may be blocking an entire sidewalk or lane.
- Injuries from falling objects.
- Slips and falls caused by debris.
- Worksite explosion, collapse, and fire.
- Injuries from exposure to hazardous materials used on the site.
These are just a few of the dangers that can suddenly be thrust in your path. The constant construction and resulting dangers are the prices of progress, but that doesn’t mean you should be held responsible if you or your family are injured.
Construction Accident Cases Are Complex
Construction site accidents are often serious and can cause devastating injuries. However, these cases can be complicated and challenging to pursue because often there are multiple defendants (the property owner, the general contractor, various sub-contractors, the developer, investors, etc.), multiple insurance companies, and multiple attorneys involved.
Contact a Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you came to the great city of Philadelphia to see all the sites but instead found yourself hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you’ll need to protect your future. You might be a long way from home and looking at a long recovery. You’ll need someone on your side with experience in state and Philadelphia law.
After any accident involving a serious injury, contact a highly rated Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer such as Edith Pearce. Unlike the huge firms with dozens of attorneys and many different attorneys handling different aspects of your case, Edith Pearce is personally involved in every case that we handle. She genuinely cares about her clients and you will not be treated like just another case or file.