Highways are typically an unsafe location for pedestrians as they are exposed to danger from cars traveling at high rates of speed. However, there are times when it is necessary for a pedestrian to be on or near a highway. At such times, it is important for the pedestrian and any drivers within the vicinity to take care in their actions to avoid colliding with each other.
According to reports, a man was killed recently in an accident on I-610 in New Orleans. The man was involved in an initial collision when he lost control of his vehicle and struck a guardrail during the early morning hours. After he and the passengers in his vehicle got out of the car, an SUV driving down the highway collided with the man. He was killed at the scene of the accident, while no one else suffered any injuries. No charges have been filed in the accident at this time, but authorities are awaiting the results of toxicology tests administered after the accident.
When a pedestrian is struck on a highway, the determination of liability can be slightly more complex than in other car accidents. Drivers still owe a duty to others on the road to use reasonable care in their actions to avoid creating unnecessarily dangerous conditions. Pedestrians, however, have a duty to protect themselves from dangerous circumstances. Pedestrians who are injured in a collision with a motor vehicle may have their right to compensation minimized or completely negated if they fail to meet this duty. Drivers may often wonder why pedestrians are on a busy highway in the first place. There are various reasons, including working on vehicles or tending to a previous accident.
Source: fox8live.com, “Driver killed in I-610 accident,” Joe Rawley, May 25, 2015