Late Night Safety Tips: How to Get Home Safe in the City

Walking is usually the most common way of heading home, especially if you have been hanging out with friends nearby, going out for exercise, or running some errands. People typically don’t stress about walking alone during the day, but it could be a different case at night.

It is ideal for taking certain precautions when walking on the streets by yourself to protect yourself from any harm. Walking in well-lit areas and avoiding dark streets is a good way of staying safe when you are headed home. Your safety at night should be your priority which is why taking the right measures is essential.

Here are some valuable tips to safely walk home at night:

Planning the Route

When walking at night, try planning your route before heading out. This is particularly true if you are walking in a place you are not that familiar with. A planned route will ensure you don’t get lost and stay safe.

Being Aware of Surroundings

Whenever you are walking at night, always be aware of your surroundings. Be on the lookout for dark streets and suspicious people. Stay focused on your path and the things happening around you. This will help you react quickly and make smart decisions in an emergency.

Informing Someone About Your Plan

Always inform your family, friends, or neighbors when you plan to walk alone at night. This might seem unnecessary, but knowing that a loved one is aware of you being out can help you feel safe. In case something happens, someone would know your plan and can get help immediately.

Carrying Pepper Spray or Safety Alarm

It is a good idea to always have a safety alarm or pepper spray with you at all times to protect yourself from any attacks. A portable alarm can come in handy as it creates a loud noise and attracts people. Moreover, pepper spray allows you to get away from your attacker quickly.

Avoiding Distractions

Always have your phone in hand so you can use it immediately in case of any emergency. However, avoid scrolling on your phone, listening to loud music, or chatting with your friends while walking in the dark alone. This will prevent you from staying focused during your walk. Never wear headphones, as you won’t be able to hear any sound that could indicate something is wrong.

Trusting Instincts

Your gut feeling can help you stay safe no matter when you are out. Take immediate action if you sense unwanted attention or feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Change your route, go into a shop, and call for a cab or ask a friend to pick you up.

Remember, it is always better to stay safe than be sorry later. If the area near your home is not secure or is usually dark, it is always wise to walk with a friend or take a cab home. Following the right safety tips can ensure your safety when walking alone at night. Be sure to stay alert and aware of your surroundings.

Now a Word from Bradley Pollock

Auto Legal Talk

By Bradley Pollock of Bell & Pollock Injury Attorneys

You’ve had too much to drink and it’s time to go home. By now you know better than to get behind the wheel of a car but did you know that in many states, including Colorado, you can also be charged with driving under the influence (“DUI”) while operating a bicycle? Colorado’s DUI statute (C.R.S. § 42-4-1301) specifically includes bicycles in its definition of “vehicle.” Therefore, operating any vehicle, including a bicycle, with a blood alcohol concentration (“BAC”) above .08% can lead to you being charged with DUI or DWAI (driving while ability impaired) for a BAC above .05%. You can also be arrested for DUI for operating a bicycle or other vehicle under the influence of marijuana or other drugs.

Riding a bicycle while intoxicated may seem like it’s not harmful to anyone other than the rider but don’t tell that to someone who veered off the road to avoid a drunk bicyclist and struck a tree. Drunk bicyclists can also injure pedestrians on sidewalks and cause accidents between other vehicles on the road. In addition to finding yourself criminally liable, you may also be held civilly liable if you injure someone when operating a bicycle while intoxicated and/or negligently.

If a judge and, ultimately a jury, believe your conduct was “willful and wanton” you could be on the hook for punitive damages that your insurance probably won’t cover. The purpose of punitive damages is to deter conduct that the offender knows is dangerous but does anyway with a reckless disregard for the safety of others. Punitive damages are designed to punish the wrongdoer, as opposed to compensatory damages, that have the primary purpose of reimbursing the victim for the harm they’ve suffered by the actions of the negligent party. Compensatory damages include reimbursement for medical bills and lost wages, as well as, compensation for pain and suffering.

If you’ve been injured by the carelessness of any another or by the negligence of an intoxicated driver, contact one of our experienced lawyers at the Law Firm of Bell & Pollock to go over your options and establish a Legal Game Plan.™

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More Information

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• Don’t Get Hurt Twice in the Same Accident – This enlightening guide dispels some of the most common (and harmful) myths about car crashes, insurance companies, attorneys, and financial recoveries.
• The Essential Guide to Car Insurance in Colorado – This guide helps all drivers better understand car insurance. If you’ve ever had a question about a claim, dispute or car insurance in general, this is a must-read.
• Cowards of the Street: Hit & Run – This book uncovers the facts about hit and runs and how to financially recover from these crashes. It also shares about what you can do to protect yourself before and after a hit and run accident occurs.
• Colorado’s Workers’ Compensation: The Ultimate Guide – This insightful book reveals everything you need to know in order to protect your rights as a worker – and to position a Colorado workers’ compensation claim for success.
• Legal Game Plan – This educational book helps you better understand insurance company’s hidden game plan…and come up with one on your own!
• Motorcycle Accidents (or How to Go Full Throttle Against the Insurance Companies) – This informative read will help motorcyclists come up with a plan of action to combat the insurance agencies. If you ride a motorcycle, you need this book.
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• Distracted Driving and Your Injury Claim – This comprehensive work assists all drivers in understanding the dangers of distracted driving and its relationship to your injury claim.
• Premises Liability (Landowner Responsibility and Injury Recovery) – This definitive piece renders the details behind the history of the Premises Liability Law in Colorado and highlights examples of responsibility which further offers a practical guide for injured victims.

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