Does a pedestrian have a legal obligation to look back or look behind to see if they are in danger of being struck or run down by a vehicle from the rear?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from Rangel v. Badolato, 281 P.2d 626 (Cal. App. 1955):

Although there is no legal duty placed upon a pedestrian 'to look back or watch behind to see whether he or she is in danger of being struck or run down by any vehicle approaching him or her from the rear', pedestrians as well as every person who travels over the highways by whatsoever means or mode, 'must exercise reasonable or the due amount of care, considering the conditions existing as to the highways, for their own safety. If they fail in the exercise of such care and themselves thereby contribute proximately to the cause of any injury they may sustain at the hands of one having an equal right to use the highways, or if such failure is the sole cause of the damage they have suffered, then, of course, they have no ground upon which to base just complaint.' Hatzakorzian v. Rucker-Fuller Desk Co., 197 Cal. 82, 95, 239 P. 709, 713, 41 A.L.R. 1027; see also La Branch v. Scott, 82 Cal.App.2d 1, 185 P.2d 823.

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