Articles Posted in Pedestrian Accidents

Hit-and-run collisions pose a significant risk to Florida’s pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. When a driver flees the scene, it is less likely that a victim will get necessary medical care. To make a medical condition work, some victims will suffer additional injuries after being struck and dragged by a vehicle. According to recent reports, South Florida, as well as Tampa, Jacksonville and Orlando are some of the most dangerous places for pedestrians. The analysis was compiled by the National Complete Streets Coalition and discussed in a CBS 12 report.

Pedestrian safety is a significant issue in South Florida and statewide. Due to the weather and number of state and federal highways, there are more pedestrians and a higher risk of accidents and injury. Florida not only has a high rate of pedestrian accidents, it also has a high rate of hit-and-run collisions. Our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys are dedicated to representing the victims of hit-and-run accidents. We are also committed to raising awareness to prevent future accidents and to hold negligent drivers accountable.
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Recently in Weston, a hit-and-run driver struck a pedestrian on U.S. 27, causing the adult male victim to suffer serious injuries. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Authorities are looking for the driver, but our pedestrian accident attorneys in Broward know that many times in these situations, when the driver is never caught, victims must turn to their own insurance company for help. We are experienced in handling claims involving uninsured (or unidentified) and underinsured drivers.

Nationwide, pedestrian deaths have seen a dramatic increase of 15 percent between 2009 and 2012, even as the instance of all other motor vehicle fatalities declined by 3 percent. The Governors Highway Safety Association reports that based on preliminary data for the first six months of 2013 in all 50 states plus D.C., there were 1,985 pedestrian fatalities. That’s a marked decrease from the 2,175 that was reported in the first six months of 2012;. Whether those figures continued to bear out for the rest of the year remains to be seen, as more recent statistics are not yet available.
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It’s Halloween, and that means more than haunted houses and sweet treats. It means some serious risks for pedestrian accidents. As a matter of fact, Halloween is the most dangerous night of the year for pedestrian accidents, especially among young children. According to a recent study, and a look over at more than four million records in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) from 1990 – 2010 for children 0-18 years of age on October 31, it was concluded that there have been 115 child pedestrian fatalities through the 21 years of analysis. That’s an average of close to 6 fatalities on the haunted night each and every year — compared to the average of about 2.6 on every other night of the year.

The deadliest hours for trick-or-treaters were from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. About 60 percent of all of the child pedestrian fatalities on Halloween night occurred during this time. About 70 percent of them happened at areas away from a crosswalk or an intersection and they were most likely to happen among children between the ages of 12 and 15, according to StateFarm.

Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers understand that Halloween is supposed to be a fun, lighthearted night for our youngster, but it’s our responsibility to make sure that this is all good, safe fun. We advise parents to take advantage of local businesses and downtown activities for trick-or-treating, but if you’re set on hitting the neighborhoods, please review and follow these safety tips:
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A simple trip to the airport to pick up an arriving traveler turned deadly after a pedestrian was struck by a charter bus. According to the Huffington Post, the accident happened at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport when the pedestrian tripped while crossing the busy four lanes of traffic right outside the arrival area of the airport. it happened just before 3:00 p.m. outside Terminal 4.

According to accident reports, the woman arrived in an SUV, which stopped in the middle of these four lanes (where traffic is not supposed to stop). The woman exited the rear of the SUV and at one point stumbled and fell to the ground. Upon hitting the pavement, she was run over by a passing bus. No one on the bus was injured.

Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers understand that the airport can be a confusing and dangerous place. With all the excitement of picking up friends and family members, or tossing your bags on a plane and flying out of town, it’s no surprise that safety takes a back seat. Unfortunately, there are plenty of risks to be found in and around airports, whether you’re coming or going.

In this area (in the lanes where the involved vehicles were traveling), traffic is not allowed to stop to let anyone get in our out of a vehicle. But who’s to know that in these busy and confusing travel areas. Are signs working well enough? Are drivers paying enough attention?

“It’s tragic any way you look at it,” said Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue spokesman Mike Jachles.

Officers are still investigating the accident, and have not reported if there will be any charges filed.

The truth of the matter is that dropping off and picking up passengers is statistically not that safe. Each and every year, there are a number of accidents and fatalities that happen as a result of vehicles driving around airport terminals. These are the lanes near the airport entrances and exits and they’re filled with parking lot shuttles, city buses, cars, cabs and many are double-parked. If you’re not used to this kind of traffic, the layout can be awfully confusing — and dangerous.

These conditions are especially risky for those on-foot travelers.

When you’re walking through this area, it’s critical that you have your full attention on your surroundings. Unfortunately, traffic in the area is more concerned with picking up or dropping off their passengers than on the safety of the traffic around them.

When you’re walking outside an airport, it’s important that you:

-Walk in designated crosswalks.

-Only board/exit vehicles where permitted.

-Stay one step ahead of the traffic around you.

-Only cross the road when you KNOW you have enough time. Avoid hurrying across.

-Only board/exit vehicles in designated areas. You cannot always just stop your vehicle and hop in/out whenever you’d like.

Following these simple safety tips will help to make sure you make it to/from your flight safely.
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Officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are asking that all vehicles meet a minimum sound standard.

In particular, they are targeting hybrid and electric vehicles in an effort to help keep pedestrians, bicyclists and other vulnerable travelers safe out there.

Our Fort Pierce car accident lawyers understand quieter vehicles can increase the risks in traffic — especially for cyclists and pedestrians. With the hybrid and electric cars, vehicles are seemingly silent. Unfortunately, many pedestrians and bicyclists rely on their hearing to help avoid approaching traffic. .

“Safety is our highest priority, and this proposal will help keep everyone using our nation’s streets and roadways safe, whether they are motorists, bicyclists or pedestrians, and especially the blind and visually impaired,” said Ray LaHood with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

These new, fuel-efficient and hybrid cars often don’t run on gas like normal, and at low speeds they’re alarmingly quiet. Under the new proposed standard, officials are asking Congress to require that in the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act these quieter cars meet a minimum sound requirement. They would only have to meet this standard when traveling 18 mph or slower because officials believe that their sound is sufficient at faster speeds.

Sounds would have to be the same for the same make and model of vehicle. The NHTSA has even gone as far as to provide car manufacturers with sample sounds already.

David Strickland with the NHTSA says that it’s all about helping to make our roadways safer for all travelers. He adds that this is a move that will largely benefit those who are hearing-impaired, as well as those who are visually impaired and so rely more heavily on the sound of approaching traffic.

It’s our responsibility as pedestrians to be on the lookout. We need to stay one step ahead of the vehicular traffic around us. Unfortunately, we can’t always rely on the safe habits of drivers. They’re oftentimes distracted if not blatantly ignoring on-foot travelers. Be sure that you’re doing all that you can to make yourself seen — like wearing bright colors, using reflective materials and traveling with a flashlight when it’s dark out. You’re also reminded to always use sidewalks and steer clear of passing traffic. Cross the road by using crosswalks and street corners.

This is especially important for pedestrians here in the South Florida area. According to Transportation for America, South Florida holds the top 4 most dangerous spots for pedestrian accidents in the country. These areas are Orlando-Kissimmee, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Pompano-Clearwater, Jacksonville and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach.

The truth is that many pedestrian-car accidents can be prevented with awareness. Let’s all work together to remain aware of one another out there and work to improve roadway safety for all.
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Florida is in some trouble. According to a recent press release from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of fatalities among bicyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists in the country is on the rise. These numbers were significantly higher in 2011 in comparison to 2010.

Florida is among the nation’s most dangerous state when it comes to all three types of crashes.

With all of this bad news, officials are still patting themselves on the back for some overall decreases. While the total number of traffic fatalities may have decreased nationwide during this time, many forms of transportation continue to grow more dangerous

“Even as we celebrate the progress we’ve made in recent years, we must remain focused on addressing the safety issues that are continuing to claim more than 30,000 lives each year,” said the Administrator for the NHTSA, David Strickland.

Our Tamarac accident attorneys understand that there were close to 2,500 people killed in traffic accidents in the state of Florida in 2011. We were actually ranked as the third most dangerous state in the nation — behind California and Texas.

In 2011, there were more than 32,300 people killed in traffic accidents throughout the U.S. While officials boast this is a 2 percent decrease from the year before, there are still tens of thousands of people dying on our roadways every year. What’s most unfortunate is that most of these accidents are actually preventable. In addition to these fatalities, there were another 2.22 million peopled injured.

There are more reasons than “good driving” for the overall decrease. Officials report that the total number of vehicle miles driven was down in 2011 in comparison to 2010. When people are driving less, there are obviously fewer risks for accidents. Americans were staying home more because of the struggling economy and because of the rising gas prices. But that’s all changing!

Now that the economy is improving and gas prices are dipping, residents are feeling a little more comfortable hitting the road and taking those vacations they’ve passed up in recent years. The total number of vehicle miles traveled is expected to increase and with that we’re going to see more risks and ultimately more accidents, injuries and fatalities. It’s time like these that we need to pay the utmost attention to our driving skills. We also need to pay attention to the most vulnerable travelers along our roadways.

Pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists are urged to be extra careful. Here are the alarming stats:

-Bicyclist fatalities increased by more than 8.5 percent.

-Pedestrian fatalities jumped by about 3 percent.

-Motorcyclist fatalities increased by more than 2 percent.

Snowbirds are in town and visitors are venturing south for the winter. This is when our accident risks are the highest. Be safe out there and stay one step ahead of the traffic around you. Alert and defensive driving habits are your number one defense against a serious accident.
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In a recent pedestrian accident, the life of a young boy was taken. According to 7 NEWS, the boy’s family was checking out of the Forum Hotel in Pompano Beach when the accident happened. The child was playing with a ball outside while parents dealt with business inside.

The boy kicked the ball into the street. He ran to get it and was hit by a passing van. Now, all that marks the scene of the accident is a pink, spray-painted circle where the little boy was hit. The child was taken to the Broward General Hospital after the accident and medical professionals were able to get him breathing again, but it didn’t last long. According to doctors, his injuries were too severe to survive. Police are still looking into the details but are saying that it appears to have been an accident.

Our Pompano Beach accident lawyers understand that children are some of the most vulnerable pedestrians out there. Because they’ve never been behind the wheel of a car and because they’re so young, they are at increased risk of being involved in a serious or fatal pedestrian accident. Parking lots increase those risks.

It’s parents’ responsibility to make sure that these children are always supervised around vehicular traffic. It’s also a good idea to talk with them about safe walking tips to make sure that they are safe and understand the dangers if you might happen to turn your head.

According to SafeKids USA, there were more than 240 kids under the age of 14 who were killed in pedestrian accidents in 2009 in the United States. Since 2001, there has been an average of close to 20,000 kids injured in pedestrian accidents each and every year. The truth of the matter is that the maturity level of a kid who is under the age of 10 makes him or her less able to correctly gauge road dangers and renders him or her at greater risk for injury and death.

Who is most at risk for these accidents?

-Close to 70 percent of child pedestrian fatalities happen to males.

-Kids who live in low-income neighborhoods are more likely to be involved in a pedestrian accident.

-There were more than 100 kids under the age of 4 killed in backover accidents in 2007.

-About 80 percent of driveway-related accidents happen to kids under the age of 4.

-Single parents and younger mothers are more likely to have a child involved in a pedestrian accident.

Parents are asked to always keep an eye on young pedestrians near vehicular traffic. It’s also important that you talk with your kid about the dangers of cars. Teach them to stay away from traffic and to keep their eyes on their surroundings at all times. These kinds of accidents can be prevented, it just takes a little concern, awareness and education.
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The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has been running the Stop Red-Light Running Program since 1995 working to help to educate motorists about the risks associated with running red lights. One of the highlights of this program is National Stop on Red Week, which takes place this first week of August.

Since this program started, it’s been able to help to reduce the number of red-light runners by nearly 20 percent. Still, there are far too many motorist speeding through intersections and causing deadly accidents. It’s not only motorists who are at risk either. Oftentimes, bicyclists and pedestrians are the ones who suffer a brunt of the damage and injuries.

Our Fort Lauderdale accident attorneys understand that these accidents are accounting for a large amount of the traffic fatalities we see every year. As a matter of fact, the number of pedestrians fatalities in 2010 saw a steep increase from the year before. Many believe that the increase in these fatalities is a direct result of red-light runners.

Pedestrians are urged to cross the road at crosswalks and at street corners, but many may be hesitant because of the fear of encountering a red-light runner. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is urging motorists to slow it down, to obey traffic signals and to keep an eye out for these vulnerable travelers.

As a matter of fact, the NHTSA reported that the number of pedestrian fatalities recorded in the U.S. rose by nearly 5 percent in 2010.

“Whether you choose to travel by foot or car, it’s important to share the roads and stay alert,” said USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood.

The most recent statistics show that nearly 4,300 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents in 2010. That’s nearly 200 more than the year before. These accidents accounted for nearly 15 percent of all traffic fatalities for the year and nearly 5 percent of all of the injuries reported. Most of these accidents happened in urban areas at non-intersections. About 90 percent of them happened in clear weather. About 70 percent occurred at night.

Florida saw a good portion of these accidents, too. We’re consistently one of the deadliest states for pedestrian accidents, injuries and fatalities in the nation.

We have large number of pedestrians, tourists and older residents, and that’s why it’s so important for both vehicular and on-foot traffic to be on the lookout for one another, especially in hard-to-see conditions and at night.

Pedestrians need to keep their attention on their surroundings at all times. You can’t rely on the driving habits of others to keep you safe. Be on the lookout for motorists who aren’t obeying traffic laws and who are putting your safety in jeopardy. Avoid engaging in distractions while walking and stay as far away from traffic when you can.
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We oftentimes talk about the risks of distracted driving, but there’s a new problem on the block — distracted walking. Pedestrians need to keep their eyes on their surroundings, especially on motor vehicle traffic, to help to steer clear of hazards and away from dangerous drivers.

According to Yahoo News, the number of pedestrians who landed in the hospital because of a distracted walking accident has more than quadrupled in the last seven years. There has also been a spike in the number of pedestrians injured and killed in recent years.

“We are where we were with cellphone use in cars 10 years or so ago. We knew it was a problem, but we didn’t have the data,” said Jonathan Akins with the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Our Lantana pedestrian accident lawyers understand that Florida is one of the most dangerous states in the country for pedestrian accidents. It’s important that on-foot travelers throughout the state keep an eye on the traffic around them. Alert walking habits may be one of your best defenses against a potentially fatal accident. We can’t rely on the safe habits of drivers the drivers around you.

Many state and local officials are looking for ways to help to reduce these risks now. Many are even asking state government to take the lead. Officials in Delaware even launched a “Look up. Drivers aren’t always looking out for you.” campaign to help to get pedestrians to pay more attention. And officials with the Utah Transit Authority also adopted an ordinance to ban this behavior, giving those who disobey a $50 fine.

There are also a lot of areas that have tried to pass laws to ban distracted walking. Nearly all of these attempts failed.

Researchers are studying the problem. Officials in Maryland looked at nearly 120 pedestrian accidents in which these walkers were wearing headphones. In about 70 percent of these accidents, the victims were men who were under the age of 30.

In 2011, there were nearly 1,200 people who were sent to the ER because they were injured in a pedestrian accident while walking and using an electronic device. Officials believe that this number is actually much higher because, in many cases, distraction is not admitted by the pedestrian.

Pedestrians are asked to keep their head up and their eyes on their surroundings. You run the risk of falling off a curb, walking into traffic that hasn’t stopped for you, or even tripping on road hazards.
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