People choose to walk for transportation purposes for many reasons. Perhaps they live in an urban area where things are easily accessible simply by walking a few blocks. Others prefer to walk for health reasons, and others may choose to walk because it is a more economical option than driving a car. Even when walking in pedestrian areas and on sidewalks, pedestrians are particularly vulnerable to an impact with a moving vehicle.
In Florida, the people who choose to walk are facing a higher chance of an accident than pedestrians in other states. Statistics indicate that Florida is one of the leading states for deadly pedestrian-involved accidents. While there are many factors that affect these numbers, drivers always bear the responsibility of safely and cautiously operating their vehicles while driving near pedestrians.
Built for speed
One of the reasons that Florida is a potentially deadly state for pedestrians is because of its build for speed. Wider roads, longer blocks and street design often contribute to the likelihood that there will be people walking near cars that are driving fast. Urban sprawl and rapid growth may also play a role in these types of accidents, as well.
According to reports, the elderly, minorities and people in lower-income areas are also more likely to die in pedestrian accidents. Possibly playing a role in the pedestrian-accident trend is the fact that sport utility vehicles are more popular than ever. These larger and heavier vehicles are two to three times more likely to kill a pedestrian in a crash than a smaller passenger vehicle.
A serious safety concern
There are many who advocate for certain actions that could make walking safer for pedestrians. Clearly marked intersections and longer signal times could reduce the number of accidents, as could streets designed for slower speeds. However, driver error is to blame for a large number of these types of incidents. An average of 13 people die in pedestrian accidents every day across the United States, which indicates that this is a concern more people should take seriously.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a pedestrian accident, you could have grounds to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim. The civil justice system provides you a way to pursue recourse after suffering harm due to the reckless or negligent actions of another person. Pedestrian accidents often result in serious or fatal injuries, but you do not have to navigate the aftermath alone.
