Articles Posted in Pedestrian Accidents

We’re often talking about the risks of drunk driving. As you know, drunk driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents across the nation. But would you believe that alcohol is also a serious problem in pedestrian accidents nationwide?

According to USA TODAY, more than a third of the pedestrians who were killed in 2011 had a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit for driving.

Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers understand that there were close to 2,000 pedestrians killed in the U.S. in 2011 who were legally drunk at the time of the accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it’s pedestrians between the ages of 25- and 34-years-old who are most likely to be involved in these kinds of situations. As a matter of fact, close to 650 pedestrians of this young age group who were killed in 2011 were under the influence of alcohol at the time of their accident.

In comparison, less than 15 percent of drivers who were involved in fatal pedestrian accidents were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.

This newly-released information has prompted Anthony Foxx, the new U.S. Transportation Secretary, to kick off an effort to help combat fatal pedestrian accidents. In 2011, there were close to 4,500 pedestrians killed in traffic accidents across the nation. That’s about a 3 percent increase from the previous year.

Jonathan Adkins with the Governors Highway Safety Association says that drunk driving campaigns may have actually exacerbated the problem. Oftentimes anti-drunk driving campaigns focus on staying out from behind the wheel when and after consuming alcohol, giving drinkers the idea that it’s better to just walk home. But we’re seeing clearly that this isn’t the case.

The truth of the matter is that alcohol can impair a person’s judgment and can cause them to make poor decisions, whether they’re behind the wheel or on foot. When walking, those decisions can include trying to beat traffic across the road, crossing when a light does not permit and crossing the road at the wrong place.

Currently, there isn’t any information on a rise in the number of alcohol-related bicyclist deaths, but there has been a number of discussions on the matter since bicycling has become an increasingly popular form of transportation across the country. This is especially a problem in the state of Florida, where cycling has become so popular.
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When many people think of distractions and traveling, they think of texting while driving. Well, we’re here with another problem that’s plaguing our roadways. It’s texting while walking.

According to the Sun Sentinel, pedestrians who text while walking are limping their way into South Florida emergency rooms with some serious injuries. If you’re looking down at a phone, how are you going to be able to avoid a car coming right at you? Unfortunately, that’s a scenario we see all too often.

Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers understand that pedestrians aren’t able to rely on the safe driving habits of others to keep them safe. You’ve got to fend for yourself out there and you need your full attention to do so.

“They almost always want to stay in touch with their Twitter and the Internet. They are almost addicted to it,” said Dr. Nabil El Sanadi, chief of emergency medicine for Broward Health.

While it’s okay to update your Facebook and Twitter, you might not want to do it while walking near vehicles that are traveling 50 miles per hour.

This is new behavior that has caught the attention of officials with the American College of Emergency Physicians. It even has its own entry on their “Injury Prevention” website, citing “sending text messages at inappropriate times, such as walking.”

According to the study, the risks for pedestrian accidents are greater in areas with nice, sunny weather — which makes Florida a war zone. When the weather is nice, residents and visitors are more likely to get out and walk, and with more pedestrian traffic we see an increase in the risks and ultimately an increase in the number of accidents.

According to a report from 2012 from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were more than 1,000 people who were treated for injuries related to using a cell phone and walking at the same time. Unfortunately, many officials believe this number is actually much higher because they don’t believe that many of the cases are accurately reported.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were close to 500 pedestrians killed in the state of Florida in 2010. During that year, and most others, we were ranked as one of the most dangerous states in the country for these kinds of accidents.

In the U.S., a pedestrian is injured in a traffic accident about every eight minutes. Most of these accidents happen because we don’t see the dangerous driving habits of those around us in time. Next time you’re heading down the road on two feet, we’re asking you to look up and to stay aware. Your reaction abilities could help you to avoid a potentially fatal accident with a motor vehicle that’s heading straight for you.
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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.
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A 22-year-old female driver from Fort Lauderdale was recently arrested and hit with DUI manslaughter charges after officers say she hit and killed two pedestrians while driving her mother’s vehicle.

According to the Daily Mail, the woman was arrested roughly three weeks after the accident happened in a downtown Fort Lauderdale parking lot.

Authorities report the woman was driving her mother’s Porsche west on Broward Boulevard around 2:00 a.m. when the accident happened. She allegedly lost control of the vehicle as she attempted to turn left onto Southwest Fifth Street. Her vehicle hopped over the curb, went through some bushes and sped through a parking lot, before taking down two pedestrians. One was sitting down on the curb and the other was standing next to his bicycle. Both were killed.

Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers understand that pedestrians are at risk for an accident anytime they’re near traffic. Unfortunately, we cannot predict nor rely on the safe driving habits of other motorists. And Fort Lauderdale is all too popular for walkers and revelers alike. In fact, it’s been ranked among the five deadliest metro areas in the United States when it comes to pedestrian accidents.

Florida leads the nation in vehicle vs. pedestrian accidents. According to the City of Fortlauderdale, a pedestrian is injured in a traffic collision, on average, every eight minutes. Most pedestrian injuries occur as a result of combined inattentiveness of motorists and the failure of pedestrians to use crosswalks.

There are a few things that you can do as a pedestrian to help to reduce your risks of an accident in Broward County:

-First, you want to make sure that you’re aware of your surroundings at all times.

-When there are no sidewalks available for use, remember that it’s safer to walk facing oncoming traffic.

-Pedestrians are to follow all traffic devices, just as vehicles.

-You want to make sure that drivers always see you before proceeding.

-Be wary. Most drivers are nice people, but don’t count on them paying attention. Watch out – make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.

-Remember that alcohol and drugs can impair your ability to walk safely. Just as these two have a negative effect on drivers, they have negative effects on walkers, too!

-Keep an eye on our younger pedestrians. Children may not be able to understand the traffic around them. and therefore may put themselves at an increased risk for a potentially fatal accident.

-Avoid walking at night. This is when fatal pedestrian accidents are more likely to happen. Drivers have a more difficult time seeing you when it’s dark out.

-Try to avoid busy roadways. You want to use the roads less traveled whenever possible.
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A female pedestrian was hit and killed by Broward Sheriff’s deputy’s patrol car. According to CBS Miami, the woman and her boyfriend were attempting to cross Federal Highway (near Broward Health Imperial Point Hospital) at roughly 3:00 a.m. when the accident happened. Investigators are still trying to figure out how fast the officer was traveling.

“I heard the hit, and saw her landed on her head,” said the victim’s boyfriend.

Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers understand that Florida continuously ranks as one of the most dangerous states in the country for these kinds of accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were nearly 500 pedestrians killed in the Sunshine State in 2010 alone. These fatalities accounted for roughly 20 percent of all of the traffic accident fatalities recorded throughout the year.

The sad truth of the matter is that these accidents are becoming a little more common on our roadways. At a time when we’re seeing a decrease in nearly all of the different categories of traffic accident fatalities, pedestrian fatalities are moving in the other direction.

Roughly 75 percent of the pedestrian accident fatalities recorded throughout the year occurred in an urban setting. Nearly 80 percent of these accidents happened at non-intersection areas (in comparison to intersections).

And most can’t blame it on the weather either. Close to 90 percent of all pedestrian fatalities happened during normal weather conditions (clear/cloudy), compared to rain, snow and foggy conditions.

But the time of day/night did have an effect on these numbers, as close to 70 percent happened during the evening and nighttime hours.

To help to stay safe out there, pedestrians are urged to:

-Know and obey all traffic laws.

-If there are sidewalks available, use them. If there aren’t any, make sure you walk against traffic. That way you can see what’s coming your way.

-Make sure that you always cross the road at a crosswalk. These are marked areas on the road especially for pedestrians. They’ve got signals, too — listen to them. These are the safest areas for someone to walk across.

-Look left, look right and look left again. You want to make sure no one is coming from any direction before crossing the street.

-Make sure the traffic around you can see you. Wear reflective clothing and bright colors to help ensure that you’re seen by everyone.

-Avoiding walking at night if you can. This is when you’re most likely to get into an accident.

-Be careful at intersections where drivers may fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians while turning onto another street.

-Be wary. Most drivers are nice people, but don’t count on them paying attention. Watch out – make eye contact to be sure they see you!

-Talk to your kids about how to be safe while walking. Children are some of the most vulnerable for these kinds of accidents.
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You better buckle your seat belt if you don’t want to get a ticket (or you don’t want to get injured in an accident).

According to officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), law enforcement officers throughout the country will be on the hunt as part of the “Click It or Ticket” safety campaign. They’ll be looking for motorists without a seat belt on — both day and night.

Our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers understand that motorists are less likely to wear their seat belt at night — and this is when fatal traffic accidents are most likely to occur. Although we saw a record high of seat belt usage in 2012 (more than 85 percent), we’re still losing thousands of lives out there in collisions.

According to recent studies, we can thank seat belts for saving roughly 12,000 lives in 2011. Officials believe that if all motorists were to buckle up during every car ride, we could have saved another 3,500 people. The proof is in the numbers. It’s time to buckle up to stay alive. You may think your safe-driving habits are going to be enough, but you’ve got to remember that accidents do happen. You’ve got to be ready whenever those unexpected accidents occur.

“The ‘Click it or Ticket’ program builds on those earlier efforts – sharing the message that seat belts save lives,” said DOT Secretary Ray LaHood.

More than 60 percent of motorists who were killed in a nighttime accident were not wearing a seat belt at the time of collision. That’s compared to the less than 45 percent who die in an accident during the day.

So how many lives could seat belts save in Florida? Consider this: In 2010, there were more than 235,000 motor vehicle accidents reported in the state. When you break it down, that means that there were close to 650 accidents each and every day.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), there were close to 2,500 motorists who were killed in these accidents. Another 200,000 people were injured. Could fewer have been injured with more seat belt usage? You bet! Even conservative federal stats would put lives saved in Florida at 250 a year or more.

Whether you want to avoid getting a costly citation, or you want a better chance of surviving an accident, you should remember to buckle your seat belt during each and every car ride. It’s important to make sure that everyone in your vehicle is buckled too, especially your little ones.

Just as a refresher, don’t forget Florida’s seat belt laws: All front seat passengers and all passengers under the age of 18 are required to wear a seat belt. All children under the age of 18 fall under the Florida Child Restraint Requirements.
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The Memorial Day holiday weekend is a common weekend for everyone to get out. Whether you’re getting out of town or just getting outside, most of us have an extra day to enjoy at our leisure.

Unfortunately, this time serves up some serious risks for accidents — vehicular, pedestrian and bicyclist risks increase with holiday traffic. Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers are asking drivers to be on the lookout for our walking and riding friends. With our sunny Florida weather, both residents and visitors will be outdoors, heading to the beach, out running errands and getting in some exercise during this long weekend. With this increase in traffic, we need to increase our awareness to help prevent accidents.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), there are going to be more than 400 traffic accident fatalities during the long Memorial Day weekend. Another 44,000 traffic-related injuries will be reported.

According to the Florida Drivers Association, it’s the motorist’s responsibility to do everything possible to avoid an accident with a pedestrian. Bicyclists, skaters and skateboarders in a crosswalk or driveway are considered pedestrians. As a driver, you’re required to yield to pedestrians at intersections with traffic signals. You’ve also got to yield to pedestrians crossing the street or driveway at any marked mid-block crossing, driveway or intersection without traffic signals.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that there were close to 500 pedestrians killed in the Sunshine State in 2010. We were ranked as one of the most dangerous states in the country for these kinds of accidents. Memorial Day weekend is among the deadliest times of the year.

If you’re on the upper end of the age scale, you should be extra careful out there. The NHTSA reports that older pedestrians (over the age of 64) accounted for close to 20 of all pedestrian fatalities and an estimated 10 percent of all pedestrians throughout the U.S. who were injured in 2010.

If you’ve got young ones in your family you better be careful, too. Nearly a fifth of all children between the ages of 5 and 9 who died in traffic accidents in 2010 were pedestrians. Children under the age of 16 accounted for more than 5 percent of all the pedestrian fatalities recorded in 2010. They accounted for close to 25 percent of all pedestrians injured in traffic crashes during that same time.

But we’re not leaving the responsibility entirely up to the drivers. We’re also asking pedestrians to practice smart travel out there, too. Be one step ahead of the traffic around you and avoid busy, fast-paced roadways. Always make yourself visible to vehicular traffic, whether you’re on foot or on your bike.

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day and look out for the safety of travelers around you.
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Pedestrian accidents are a serious concern here in South Florida. A lot of our travels are done by foot and by public transportation. While we may see it as just another part of daily life, there are elderly pedestrians out there who see it as a huge obstacle, for their health and their safety.

According to Transportation for American, there will be close to 20 million Americans over the age of 64 by 2015. These Americans will be living in areas where public transportation is poor or non-existent. And that serves up a serious problem when you consider that many of these residents are moving about town without a driver’s license. They rely on alternative forms of transportation to get to appointments, doctor meetings and everywhere else they’ve got to go. As that number rises quickly, and as the baby boom generation ages, infrastructure in South Florida has not kept face.

Unfortunately, the lack to transportation availability for these aging residents leaves them on the side of the road and in harm’s way. According to a recent publication from Transportation for America, “Aging in Place, Stuck without Options,” there are a number of metro areas across the county that are leaving elderly residents with few ways to get around. Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers understand that this is only going to increase the risks of pedestrian accidents for our elderly residents.

In this report, researchers break down metro areas by the number of residents in each of these areas and rank them by how many people will be considered elderly in 2015 and what kind of transportation options will be available to them. As you might know, the state of Florida ranked very poorly.

For example, Miami is estimated to have more than 57,000 residents between the ages of 65 and 79 with poor transit access in 2015. That means than more than 15 percent of our population is going to be stuck without options.

But this is an issue that spans across the nation. Local governments and cash-strapped states are going to be turning to the federal government for funds to help meet these needs. This is super important as Congress gets ready to enact a new, long-term transportation authorization.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were close to 500 pedestrians killed in traffic accidents in 2010.

Transportation for America reports that Florida is home to the four deadliest metro areas in the nation for pedestrian accidents, Orlando, Tampa/St.Petersburg, Jacksonville and Miami/Fort Lauderdale/Pompano Beach.

It’s important that we keep our elderly residents independent and thriving. But it’s important that we do this by helping them to get to where they need to be safely.
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The month of March is one of the busiest we see in the area. People from all over the country enjoy our sunny and sandy beaches and soak up that Florida sunshine.

With all these visitors, and with kids let out of school for spring break, we see a significant increase in traffic on our coast. Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident attorneys know walkers have traditionally faced some of the greatest risk.

A motor vehicle encounter can be deadly for walkers, even when the vehicle is moving at slow speed. Because of our year round sunshine and because of the popularity of our beaches, Florida continues to be ranked as one of the most dangerous states in the country for these kinds of accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that there were close to 500 pedestrians killed in Florida in 2010. During that year, we were ranked as the second most dangerous, only behind the state of California.

Unfortunately, pedestrians can’t always rely on drivers to keep them safe.

On average, a pedestrian is injured every 8 minutes in the U.S. Most of these accidents happen because drivers aren’t paying attention at the wheel and because our on-foot travelers aren’t using crosswalks. It’s important that we all obey traffic signals. By taking basic precautions and being aware of one’s surroundings, the likelihood of an unnecessary collision can be dramatically reduced.

As we head through the month of March, we’re asking drivers to be on alert. Make sure you’re looking for pedestrians as you head through our city. It’s important to remember that pedestrians can be unpredictable and can be found almost anywhere — so be on the lookout. You’re riding in what could be considered a deadly weapon to a pedestrian.

For the pedestrians, the City of Fort Lauderdale offers some important tips to help to keep you safe out there.

-Make sure that you’re walking where you’re supposed to. Stay off of freeways and other restricted zones.

-Always use a sidewalk when one if provided.

-If sidewalks are not available, walk on the edge of the road or on the left shoulder of the road, facing the traffic flow.

-Cross only where it’s legal to do so.

-Make sure that drivers can see you. Always wear bright-colored clothing and retro-reflective materials. When you’re traveling at night, carry a flashlight with you.

-Be cautions when crossing. Make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them. You want to make sure they see you.

-Never walk under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

-Be careful at intersections, where drivers may fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians while turning onto another street.

-Use extra caution when crossing multiple-lane, higher speed streets.

Enjoy your spring break, but please do so safely.
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Driving at night can be dangerous, particularly as we enter the height of season, which includes spring break. Broward pedestrians face some of the highest risks.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), about 40 percent of drivers worry about hitting a pedestrian or an animal while driving at night. Another 25 percent of drivers worry about not seeing road markings.

Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers understand the problems that nighttime driving pose to the safety of all travelers. According to a recent study, about 70 percent of drivers fear evening driving. This fear stems from a lack of visibility. We base about 90 percent of our movements at night behind the wheel on what we can see. When our visibility is reduced, the risks for accidents skyrocket.

With tourist season in full swing and Spring Break right around the corner, we’ve got pedestrians and bicyclists along our roadways at all hours of the night — especially in the downtown area. These spots are popular for both residents and tourists as they provide plenty of entertainment. Unfortunately, they also present some serious risks for collisions between motor vehicles and pedestrians and bicyclists.

Although there’s 60 percent less travel during the evening hours, this time sees about 40 percent of fatal traffic accidents. There accidents can be avoided with a little awareness.

Officials with MADD offer you some safety tips to help your nighttime driving. Review the following tips and share them with friends and family members to help to reduce the risks of accidents for everyone.

Safe Nighttime Driving:

-Before you head out at night, make sure you’re well rested. The last thing you want to do is drive while feeling sleepy at the wheel. Try to avoid driving while your internal clock says you should be sleeping. If you’ve got to drive during this time, make sure you’re well rested.

-Check your vehicle’s mirrors. Make sure they’re clean, clear and positioned properly.

-Have your headlights checked. Make sure they’re angled to positions that help you. Oftentimes little bumps and turns can throw off the angling of your headlights. Make sure to have them realigned.

-Make sure that your windshield wipers are in good working order. You also want to make sure that your windshield wiper fluid is topped off. The last thing you need is to be stuck on the road at night when it’s dark in inclement weather without the ability to keep your windshield clean.

-Stay alert. You want to keep your eyes moving. Keep an eye out for pedestrians. bicyclists and other travelers along our roadways. The last place you want to direct your attention toward is a cell phone, a GPS or on another passenger.

-Never outdrive your headlights. This means that if you can’t stop within the area that’s illuminated in front of you, then you’re driving too fast.
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