Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents in Broward County Likely with Distracted Drivers

For the entire month of April, our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident attorneys will be recognizing National Distracted Driving Awareness Month 2012.

This is the perfect time to ask drivers throughout the state to curb the distractions behind the wheel, not only to avoid motor vehicle accidents but to help keep our pedestrians and bicyclists safe. These vulnerable travelers are commonly affected by distracted drivers. Pedestrians and bicyclists are already commonly overlooked by motorists. They face some of the most dangerous risks for accidents in our state. When you throw a distraction into the mix, they’re virtually invisible to drivers and accidents are likely.

In the state of Florida, pedestrians and bicyclists get to enjoy the open outdoors year round. That’s one of the benefits of being in Florida — beautiful weather. With all of these travelers on our roadways, pedestrian and bicycle accidents in Broward County are likely. For that reason, we’re asking motorists to put down the phones, ignore the text messages and turn off the electronic devices at the wheel to help keep everyone safe along our roadways. Safer roadways starts with you.

In recognition of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month 2012, the National Safety Council (NSC) is asking all drivers to take the pledge to drive distraction free! It’s a simple pledge and can help to save lives on our roadways.

“It’s time to start changing the social acceptance of cell phone use while driving,” said Janet Froetscher with the NSC.

Take The Pledge:

-Vow to put away the distractions while driving through our state.

-Vow to speak up if you’re driving with a driver who is engaging in distractions behind the wheel.

-Vow to help spread the word. Talk with friends and family members about the risks that are associated with distracted driving. Recruit them to take the pledge with you! The more, the better!

In 2010, there were roughly 235,460 car accidents in the state of Florida. In these accidents, there were nearly 2,445 people killed. Nearly 500 of these fatalities were pedestrians and nearly 100 were bicyclists. Florida has been ranked year after year as the most dangerous state in the country for these travelers. An alarming number of these fatal accidents were the result of distracted driving. As a matter of fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that about 3,000 people were killed nationwide in 2010 because of distracted driving. That’s one out of every four accidents.

Help to reverse this trend and make our roadways safer for other motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists and tale the pledge to make April and every month after distraction free behind the wheel. more If you or someone in your family has been injured or has been killed in a distraction-related pedestrian or bicycle accident in in Broward County or in any of the surrounding areas, contact Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney Richard Ansara at 954 761-3641 or toll-free at 877-277-3780 for a free initial consultation. Call us any time.

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