Pedestrian Accidents in Florida

Florida Traffic Crash data shows there were 7,039 pedestrian accidents over the course of 2011 in the state, leading to the death of 497 pedestrians. This marked an almost 11 percent decline from the 7,894 pedestrian accidents that occurred in 2010. This good news goes against the national trend. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that pedestrian fatalities throughout the U.S. actually increased by three percent between 2010 and 2011.

Yet, while Florida experienced declines in the number of pedestrian accidents, only two fewer pedestrians died in 2011 than in 2010. There were still far too many pedestrian deaths, causing shattered families and tremendous financial and emotional losses.

Many pedestrian accidents could be avoided if drivers were more careful. In situations where a driver is careless and/or doesn’t obey driving laws and a pedestrian is injured as a result, the driver can be sued and be made to pay damages to compensate the injured pedestrian or his surviving family members. When this occurs, an attorney should be consulted to learn about one’s legal rights and options.

When Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen?

Pedestrian accidents can happen at any time. However, NHTSA data shows that certain situations are more likely to cause pedestrian accidents than others. Also, certain people are more likely to be involved in pedestrian accidents than others. According to NHTSA data on pedestrian accidents in the U.S. in 2010:

• 73 percent of all pedestrian deaths due to auto accidents occurred in urban, not rural, settings.
• 79 percent of all pedestrian auto accident fatalities happened at non-intersections.
• 88 percent of fatal pedestrian accidents occurred when the weather outside was normal.
• 68 percent of fatal pedestrian accidents happened at nighttime.
• Seniors ages 65 and up represented 10 percent of pedestrian accident deaths and 11 percent of pedestrian accident injuries in the U.S. in 2010.
• Of all children ages 5-9 who died in traffic accidents in 2010, 19 percent were walking when killed rather than in cars.
• Children ages 15 and under represented 23 percent of injured pedestrians and 7 percent of pedestrians killed in fatal crashes.

The data also shows that men were more likely to become victims of pedestrian accidents. In fact, 69 percent of all pedestrians killed in the U.S. in 2010 were male.

Causes of Florida Pedestrian Accidents

Florida pedestrian accidents can happen for a number of different reasons including:

• Pedestrians crossing at the wrong place
• Drivers failing to yield to pedestrians
• Drivers running red lights or ignoring stop signs and other traffic signals
• Drivers who are speeding and not in sufficient control of the car
• Drivers veering off the roads
• Drivers who are drowsy or distracted and fail to see a pedestrian
• Pedestrians stepping into the road without making sure it is all clear
• Drivers or pedestrians who are drunk.

In fact, according to NHTSA, 47 percent of all fatal pedestrian accidents in the U.S. in 2010 involved either a drunk driver (in 14 percent of deaths) or a drunk pedestrian (in 33 percent of fatal wrecks).

Legal Help is Available for Florida Pedestrian Accident Victims

Injured pedestrians can obtain compensation with the help of a Florida accident lawyer even in situations where they may have been partially to blame for the crash – as long as the driver also shares a portion of blame. The driver is going to be responsible for paying only a percentage of damages equal to whatever percentage of the blame for the accident is attributed to him or her.

Pedestrian accidents can be extremely serious. Pedestrians who are hit by cars, trucks, bikes or motorcycles often experience devastating injury or are killed in the crash. The problem, of course, is that pedestrians have absolutely no protection and nothing to shield them from the blow of the vehicle or to absorb any of the vehicle’s force.

Because pedestrian accidents do often result in catastrophic injury or death, it is very important to consult with a Florida pedestrian accident lawyer.

At Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, we can help. We can represent your interests and work to maximize your compensation from the responsible driver. To learn more and schedule a free consultation, call us today at our toll-free number or take a moment to complete our online form.

We serve victims of pedestrian accidents throughout South Florida and have offices in Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Okeechobee, Palm Beach Gardens and West Palm Beach.

Sources

• Florida Traffic Crash Facts 2011, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
• “New NHTSA Analysis Shows 2011 Traffic Fatalities Declined by Nearly Two Percent,” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
•  Traffic Safety Facts, 2010, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration