Pedestrial Accident

 

Walking, way of life for both residents and visitors. Yet, not enough has been done to protect pedestrians’ safety while they are on foot for vacations, school, church, and work.  In fact, a recent report reveals that the metro area of Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach-Miami was 13th among the United States’ most dangerous metropolitan areas for pedestrians between 2010 and 2019. According to the report by Smart Growth America, an organization focused on pedestrian safety, there were 1,675 pedestrian fatalities during this time period or 2.8 deaths per 100,000 residents in South Florida alone. Florida had 5,893 pedestrian deaths during the same decade.

Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Being hit by a car while walking can be one of the most traumatic experiences someone might ever face. Unfortunately, with so many pedestrians on roads, these accidents happen more and more every day.

Distracted Driving

It’s never been easier to become distracted while behind the wheel. Distractions abound with cell phones, apps, state-of-the-art sound systems, and even other passengers, children, or pets. When drivers don’t ignore potential distractions, they often take their thoughts and eyes off the road and their hands off the wheel, significantly increasing the risk of an accident. By the time they see a pedestrian, it’s far too late to stop on time, if they even see them before they hit them.

Impaired Driving

Drivers on the road who are under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or even prescription medications put everyone at risk, especially pedestrians. Many impaired drivers drive right through crosswalks, whether they are occupied or not, and make left turns directly into groups of pedestrians resulting in severe accidents.

Impatient Driving

In most circumstances, pedestrians have the right of way. Even if a pedestrian doesn’t see a vehicle and begins to cross the street against a light, they still have the right of way. Drivers who fail to keep watch for pedestrians on the road or attempt to drive around pedestrians walking in crosswalks cause avoidable accidents, injuries, and fatalities.

Recklessness

Reckless drivers are responsible for many pedestrian accidents every year. Pedestrian safety relies on drivers who drive defensively and ensure they do all they can to prevent accidents. When drivers get behind the wheel only caring about getting where they are going, the chance that there will be innocent victims increases.

Inclement Weather

Rain can make roads slippery, requiring a farther stopping distance to avoid hitting vehicles. Sometimes downpours can be so extreme that they significantly reduce visibility. High winds can also contribute to auto-pedestrian accidents.

Road Construction

Road construction is typically an inconvenience, but it can also be a safety hazard. Many motorists don’t realize that construction zones can force pedestrians to walk in areas where they may not expect them to be. Drivers should be highly alert to pedestrians in construction areas.

Vehicles Turning Left

Even when a crosswalk has signals, drivers can fail to pay attention to them. One of the riskiest areas for pedestrians is in the path of a vehicle making a left turn. Drivers attempting to negotiate such a turn are often focused only on oncoming traffic to determine when to turn, so much so that they fail to see any pedestrians that could be in their path.

Multi-Lane/Arterial Roads

While on arterial roads, drivers must be aware of other drivers changing lanes, speeding, making dangerous lane changes, or even tailgating. Because of this, most drivers are naturally not keeping a lookout for pedestrians or focusing on traffic signals.

Faulty Motor Vehicles

Sometimes, a defective motor vehicle can lead to a pedestrian accident. Suppose a tire was faulty or a vehicle’s brakes failed, leading to an accident. In that case, the injured party may be able to hold the vehicle’s manufacturer or its parts manufacturer liable with the help of a skilled Broward County pedestrian accident attorney.

Types of Pedestrian Accidents

Multiple factors can contribute to a pedestrian accident. However, there are a few types of accidents that are the most common in Florida. A pedestrian accident occurs anytime a car, truck, or motorcycle collides with a person who isn’t inside a vehicle. Walkers, shoppers, runners, and others on foot can be involved in any of the following types of accidents:

• Crosswalk accidents: A pedestrian is legally using a crosswalk at the time of the collision, and a vehicle doesn’t give the pedestrian the right-of-way and hits them within the crosswalk
• Back-over/parking lot accidents: A vehicle backs up, such as pulling into or out of a parking space, and hits a pedestrian while they are in reverse. Back-over accidents are frequent in parking lots where cars may be blocking a driver’s view to either side, and shoppers are quickly and constantly crossing the paths of the parked vehicles.
• Loss of control accidents: Includes hitting a pedestrian after losing control of a motor vehicle or sideswiping a pedestrian on a sidewalk. It’s common for these accidents to cause a pedestrian to be “run-over” and trapped under the car or truck or crushed between the vehicle and another immobile object, such as another vehicle, sign, post, or building.  Unfortunately, these kinds of collisions are one of the most perilous to a pedestrian’s health and life.
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