Pedestrian traffic in the area is easily some of the most at-risk traffic. These individuals are much more likely to die in an accident that the occupants of a motor vehicle. According to a recent study from the Ohio State University, the number of pedestrians injured while using a cell phone and walking has actually doubled since 2005.
Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers understand that pedestrians seemingly have to fight for their own safety. It’s never a safe bet to rely on the driving habits of others to keep us safe. And that’s why it’s so important that we hang up the cell phone, put away the text messaging devices and stop the emails while walking near vehicular traffic. It’s important that we’re fully aware of what’s going on around us at all times to help ensure that we don’t become the victim of irresponsible driving habits of a motorist.
“The role of cell phones in distracted driving injuries and deaths gets a lot of attention and rightly so, but we need to also consider the danger cell phone use poses to pedestrians,” said a co-author of the study and OSU professor, Jack Nasar.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) reports that there were close to 228,000 traffic accidents reported in the state of Florida in 2011. Of these accidents, close to 7,050 of them involved pedestrians. In these, there were nearly 500 pedestrians killed and another 6,200 injured.
On average, in this country a pedestrian is injured in a traffic collision every eight minutes. One of the most common causes of these accidents is the inattentiveness from motorists. Oftentimes, pedestrians are completely overlooked along our roadways.
The truth of the matter is that the state of Florida continues to lead the nation in these kinds of accidents. We have beautiful weather, some exercise-conscious residents and accessible amenities. When all of those are combined, there’s no wondering why so many people are outside walking around town.
For pedestrians, it’s important to know the laws, like:
-When crossing the road (not at a crosswalk), it’s important to remember that you must yield to passing vehicles.
-You should never walk diagonally across an intersection that has traffic signals.
-A pedestrian shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device specifically applicable to the pedestrian unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
-Drivers should stop, and stay stopped, until a pedestrian is completely across the road.
-Vehicles should not be parked on sidewalks or crosswalks, interfering with the walkway.
-Pedestrians are not allowed to stand in the portion of a roadway paved for vehicular traffic for the purpose of soliciting a ride, employment, or business from the occupant of any vehicle.
Don’t allow yourself to become a statistics. Pay attention to the road and always be one move ahead of the traffic around you. It could wind up saving your life.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact Richard Ansara at 954 761-3641 or toll-free at 877-277-3780 for a free initial consultation to discuss your case.
More Blog Entries:
Fort Lauderdale Pedestrian Accident Risks Impact the Elderly, Broward Injury Lawyer Blog, April 23, 2013
Spring Break Pedestrian Risks Abound in Fort Lauderdale, Broward Injury Lawyer Blog, March 13, 2013