Articles Posted in Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents continue to be the second leading cause of fatalities among children between the ages of 5 and 14 across the U.S. According to Broward Health, our young pedestrians are at such great risk for these kinds of accidents because they don’t always understand the rules of the road and because these risks oftentimes exceed their behavioral, developmental, physical, cognitive and sensory abilities.

At the same time, many parents overestimate these skills in their children.

More specifically, children ages 1 and 2 are at the highest risks for these kinds of accidents. Usually, these accidents happen when vehicles are reversing out of a driveway, over a sidewalk or out of a parking spot. The injuries they sustain are oftentimes severe and even fatal. Each year, there are roughly 625 child pedestrians killed and another 40,000 injured in traffic accidents. These accidents can be prevented with a little education.

Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident attorneys are asking parents to sit down and to have a talk with the child in their family, especially as schools are letting out for winter break. They’ll be spending more time outside and consequentially will be at greater risks for these kinds of accidents. In addition to having the talk, make sure that they understand the rules and that you’re still providing them with the proper supervision.

Where do most child pedestrian accidents happen?

-In areas where there are high volumes of traffic.

-Areas where there are a lot of vehicles parked along the street.

-In areas where vehicles are traveling fast, or areas with higher speed limits.

-In areas that have no divided highways.

-In areas that don’t have enough pedestrian-control devices, like crosswalks, crossing signals or crossing guards.

-Communities that don’t have areas designated for children to play in, like playgrounds.

-Residential communities.

-Paved, straight or dry roads.

How can I keep my child safe?

-Make sure that children younger than 10-years-old don’t cross the road without an adult.

-Teach the by example. Always practice your safest pedestrian travel habits when walking with your child. Remember to always cross at street corners, use traffic signals and make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.

-Teach your child to look left, right and left again before crossing the street and to keep looking left and right for oncoming cars as they cross.

-Never let children run into the road.

-While waiting for a school bus, students should remain at least 10 feet from the roadway.

“Pedestrian safety is a concern in our community and our hope is that we can teach children to be safer pedestrians in a way they will remember for years to come,” said Jennifer Belyeu with Safe Kids Broward County
Talking with your child and making sure they understand their responsibility as a pedestrian will help to keep them out of a potentially fatal accident. Have the talk with them today!
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The number of people dying in bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents and pedestrian accidents in the state of Florida is showing no signs of decline.

According to a recent release from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), the overall number of traffic accident fatalities may have declined from 2010 to 2011, but the truth of the matter is that are many categories in which we are seeing significant increases.

“Traffic crashes are largely avoidable, and so I would urge drivers to give their full attention to the road when they are behind the wheel,” said the DHSMV Executive Director, Julie Jones.

Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers understand the risks that pedestrians face along our South Florida roadways. Since the Sunshine State provides just that — sunshine — we get a lot of people taking advantage of the weather by walking and biking to where they’ve got to go. Unfortunately, motor-vehicle drivers aren’t on the same page. They’re practicing almost complete disregard for these vulnerable travelers and are putting them in harm’s way as a result.

Another serious problem affecting the safety of our on-foot travelers is the fact that our roadways were designed with fast-moving traffic in mind. Very rarely do we see roadways that accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists. Each year, there are approximately 500 pedestrians killed while walking in Florida.

Across the nation, pedestrian accidents account for close to 12 percent of the total traffic fatalities. At the same time, less than 2 percent of the available federal funds are allocated for projects to retrofit dangerous roads or create safe alternatives.

Over the average day, a pedestrian is hit by a car or a truck every 7 minutes, according to Transportation for America. Many of these fatal accidents are caused by driver inattention. It’s only takes a little tweak in travel habits to prevent these accidents!

Florida is ranked as the fourth-largest state in the country in terms of population, but continues to be ranked number one when it comes to number of pedestrian fatalities. In Broward County, we have close to 1,800,000 residents (as of 2011) and ranked as one of the top five most dangerous areas for pedestrian accidents, injuries and fatalities in the entire nation.

The risks for these kinds of accidents are only expected to grow. As we head into the holiday travel season, we’re going to have more travelers out on our roadways. Snowbirds and coming into town, residents are taking those holiday vacations and teens are out of school on winter break. With more drivers out there and more pedestrians — risks are escalating quickly! Be safe out there and be considerate for other travelers. We’ve all got a family to get to this holiday season, let’s get there safe and sound. Travel safely!
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White Cane Safety Day helped advocates for the blind to raise a little awareness about the difficulties that these residents face. The campaign was accompanied by a walk through downtown Fort Lauderdale.

According to the Sun Sentinel, police escorted more than 50 walkers through the area.

The walk was closely monitored as nearby motorists were issued warnings because they tried to turn in front of the walkers. According to the president of the Broward chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, Tom Ryan, these walkers had a message to motorists — “Yield to the Blind!” They chanted. “It’s the Law.”

Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident attorneys understand that pedestrians have a tough enough time when they can see. We’re got some busy roadways, designed for fast-moving traffic — and the flow of pedestrians and bicyclists is often secondary. When you add in the difficulties of being blind — you create a death trap. Motorists are more concerned with their phone calls, text messages and speed than with the safety of these vulnerable motorists.

“It was about bringing awareness of people’s disability and the right-of-way they have,” said Ryan.

According to Ryan, there have been more than 200 fatalities in the state of Florida involving sight-impaired pedestrians in the last five years.

There’s even an audible street signal that was put in a number of years ago at the intersection of Broward Boulevard and First Avenue. This crossing signal helps to alert crossing pedestrians with a spoken message or a beep. It says, “You can cross now.” Ryan and his wife have been proposing for years that these signals be installed at more intersections. Throughout the years, they’ve succeeded at nearly 30 intersections across the nation.

There are two more audible crossing devices on Commercial Boulevard. One wasn’t installed until a pedestrian was sideswiped by a passing driver. Unfortunately, the two proposed a device at this intersection twice before the accident even happened.

According to the National Federation of the Blind, there are about 50,000 active members who are pushing for safer roadways for our blind pedestrians. These pedestrians oftentimes use a white cane to help to let motorists know that they’re blind. It’s to help to promote independence and mobility.

Pedestrians using guide dogs or white canes with or without a red tip must always be given the right-of-way. These pedestrians can be partially or totally blind. When these pedestrians are near your vehicle, be careful when turning corners or backing up, particularly if you are driving a quiet hybrid vehicle.

When stopping for these pedestrians, make sure you do so at least five feet from the crosswalk. Refrain from giving them verbal direction. Avoid honking your horn and never block sidewalks. We need to be careful around these pedestrian. They’re some of the most vulnerable in our community.
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Walking is going to get a little safer in the area. The Palm Beach County Office of Community Revitalization and the Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization Board is getting close to $640,000 from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for a 2012 transportation enhancement grant and it’s all going toward helping pedestrians in the area. These funds are going toward the Canal Point Pedestrian Bridge Project, according to the Sun Sentinel. This project will be kicking off in 2015.

What this project is going to do is help to enhance and expand parts of the bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in the area to improve safety programs, refurbish historic and scenic programs, beautify the area as well as help to preserve history and environmental mitigation.

Our West Palm Bewach pedestrian accident lawyers understand that the proposal to create this bridge came in as the most important among those seeking grants. This bridge will help to provide a safe and convenient way for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross over the L-10 Canal. On the other side of this canal are a number of businesses, residential areas and educational facilities.

The Metropolitan Planning Organization Board also claims that the bridge is going to help to complete much-needed infrastructure improvements and will provide job opportunities to the area.

Did you know that there is a pedestrian killed in a traffic accident every eight minutes in the United States? Most of these injuries are the result of not only motorist negligence, but also because of the lack of facilities for our walkers. By taking basic precautions and being aware of your surroundings, the likelihood of an accident can be significantly reduced.

Pedestrians are urged to use the city’s amenities to get around the area safely. One of the most beneficial amenities is our crosswalks. Officials with the City of Fort Lauderdale are here to offer your some crosswalk safety tips!

Crosswalk Safety Tips:

-Wait for the WAIT light before attempting to cross. WAIT does not mean to just start walking. You have to make sure that drivers are doing their part and are actually paying attention.

-Take off the headphones, turn off the MP3 player and put away your phone when crossing the street. Your full attention is needed in these areas.

-Look left, right and left again before starting to cross the street.

-Make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them. Make sure that they see you coming!

-Don’t cross the street if you don’t think you can make it all the way in enough time.

-Look for oncoming cars before stepping passed stopped vehicles.

-Keep an eye out for turning vehicles. They vehicles may be more worried about making their turn than passing pedestrians.

-Always hold the hands of young children.
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The 13th Street Business Alliance of Fort Lauderdale recently voted to hold off on the project to install pedestrian street lamps in the area. According to the Sun Sentinel, the Alliance decided that they were going to wait until the application for county funding goes through before making a move. That’s not expected to be completed until later in the fall.

“They’re expensive, and we’ve already had the money appropriated for them,” said Tim Smith, president of the 13th Street Business Alliance. “But we’re applying for Broward County money and it’s likely we’ll have to match it.”

Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers understand the importance of these lamps. Lights help to make pedestrians more visible to passing motorists. All too often, walkers are overlooked by motorists and find themselves in serious, if not fatal, accidents because of it. Our city needs to do everything it can to help pedestrian traffic. The state of Florida, especially the South Florida area, continues to be ranked one of the most dangerous areas for pedestrians in the entire country.

Back in January, the Community Redevelopment Agency was looking at this part of Fort Lauderdale for improvements to make traffic flow more smoothly and to make the area more pedestrian-friendly. Unfortunately, funding is an issue. Since then, the Alliance has appealed to the County Commission and to the City and has requested whatever funds might be available to the area.

Smith said they’re ready to do anything that they have to just to get their hands on funding. It’s a necessity and the area needs improvement for the safety of travelers.

The city of Fort Lauderdale has put up nearly $80,000 from its Business Capital Improvement Program. Smith says getting money from the county is another story, a long and drawn out story. He hopes that this will soon come to an end when the alliance presents their proposition in just a few months.

The treasurer of the Alliance, Mark Hensel, says that they just want safer areas for travelers. He adds that it’s clear that the area needs help. He says it should be no big deal if the Community Redevelopment Agency were to do its job; properly tax the area so that funds could be pumped back into it to make is better for all.

Smith says they’re not asking for much, only what they deserve. He said the area owes it to their residents. All they want is better lighting, more parking and safer pedestrian walkways and they’re ready to do whatever they have to to get their hands on it.
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Broward County and Miami-Dade continue to be the most dangerous areas in the state for pedestrian injuries and fatalities, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV).

With the beautiful weather year round and the proximity of all of the local hot spots, pedestrians are welcomed on our roadways nearly 365 days a year. Vehicular traffic doesn’t always offer the same welcome to our on-foot friends. Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere in the area might see a quick spike as the city recently received approval and funding for the long-awaited Wave Streetcar Project.

According to the Sun Sentinel, the city was recently informed by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) that it will be getting nearly $20 million to fund the launch of the project. Wave Streetcars will provide streetcars for riders to get around the city.

“It’s a pretty exciting development for us,” said John P. “Jack” Seiler, Mayor or Fort Lauderdale.

Our Fort Lauderdale accident attorneys understand that U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz spent a number of years trying to get the grant. With this money, streetcars will be permitted in the area to help to get pedestrians through a near 3-mile corridor in the downtown Fort Lauderdale area. Not only is it supposed to help get residents and visitors to where they need to be, but it will also help to create a plethora of jobs both during the construction of the project and well after. It’s also expected to help to lure in nearby residents and tourists to the downtown area. With more visitors, the city is expecting a growth in economic development. Unfortunately, safety officials are also predicting a spike in pedestrian accidents throughout the area.

If more people will be using these cars to get around then we can expect less vehicular traffic. Congestion will be eased significantly, say transportation officials. The current proposed streetcar routes will connect to existing public transportation routes. We hope planners keep pedestrian safety a top priority.

Seiler says that he is thankful that the city of Fort Lauderdale has been presented with this kind of opportunity to launch a project like this in the current economy. He adds that the sooner that it starts, the better.

As of now, the design and the development phases are scheduled to start in 2012. When those plans are completed, transportation officials estimate that construction will wrap up by the end of 2015. Transportation officials are hoping that this system will help to increase connectivity and mobility for everyone in the city, reducing fuel emissions and improving the quality of life for everyone.

Also involved in this project are the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Florida Department of Transportation, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, Broward County, the city of Fort Lauderdale and the DDA.
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In an early morning pedestrian accident in Fort Lauderdale, a woman and a man were hit by a passing vehicle as they attempted to cross, on foot, State Road 7. According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the man died at the scene of the accident. The woman has been taken to Broward General Medical Center and is listed in critical condition. The accident happened just after 3:00 a.m.

According to The Miami Herald, the accident happened as a driver of an SUV headed northbound on 7. The driver said he was following another vehicle when that vehicle moved out of the way to avoid the pedestrians and he didn’t have time to do the same. Before he could swerve to avoid the two walkers, he slammed into them. The driver stayed at the scene of the accident and cooperated with investigators. The accident is still under investigation.

Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers understand that many residents rely on their feet and on bicycles to get around. Those who don’t have to rely on these forms of transportation often choose to walk and bike around the area as a fast, friendly, healthy and cost-effective way to get through the city. During this time of the year, more and more residents are setting out on foot and on two wheels. It’s important for drivers to keep an eye out for these vulnerable travelers. Accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists oftentimes produce fatal results.

Pedestrian accidents are a huge problem in the state of Florida. We are continuously ranked number one when tallying pedestrian accidents for each year. Nationally speaking, drivers just aren’t paying attention to these vulnerable travelers. As a matter of fact, there were roughly 48,000 pedestrians killed across the U.S. from 2000 to 2009. In addition to that, there were nearly 700,000 pedestrians injured in traffic-related accidents during this time, according to Transportation For America. Statistics reveal that a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle every 7 minutes in the U.S.

What’s even more alarming is that areas in Florida make up the top 4 most dangerous spots for fatal pedestrian accidents in the country. These areas were the Orlando and Kissimmee area, the Tampa, St. Pete and Clearwater area, the Jacksonville area as well as the Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach area. From 2000 to 2009, there were nearly 5,200 people who were killed in pedestrian accidents across the state of Florida, giving us the number one ranking for the most dangerous state in the country. During that time, our area saw the most fatalities, nearly 2,000.

Drivers are asked to be cautious out there and keep a conscious eye out for pedestrians along our roadways. Alert driving habits can help to curb fatal pedestrian accidents.
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A recent pedestrian accident in Fort Lauderdale in the northbound lanes of U.S. 1 near Northeast 26th Street forced lanes to be closed and traffic to be rerouted. According to The Miami Herald, motorists were advised to use Bayview Drive to avoid the area. Traffic was backed up as officials investigated the accident. A pedestrian was involved in the accident, no other details have been released, but from the look of the traffic jam it may have been a serious one!

Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers understand that pedestrian and bicycle accidents continue to plague our roadways statewide. Although the City of Fort Lauderdale continues to push safety efforts to help tackle this problem, there will be no change until motorists step up and make the move toward safer roadways. That’s why we’re asking drivers to read the following in trying to keep everyone safe on our roadways, including pedestrian, bicyclists and other motorists.

These kinds of accidents are such a problem that experts estimate that a pedestrian is injured in an auto-related accident every eight minutes. Most of these accidents are the result of drivers not paying enough attention and driving while distracted behind the wheel. Traffic safety experts believe that many of these accidents could have been prevented if more pedestrians used crosswalks, too. Both motorists and pedestrians are urged to abide by the instruction of traffic control devices and look out for one another on our roadways. Taking just a few simple safety precautions can help to keep everyone safe on our roadways. It’s a team effort!

According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, nearly 20 percent of traffic fatalities in the state of Florida in 2008 were pedestrians. Broward County ranks in second place in the state for having the most pedestrian fatalities year after year. Across the state, there were more than 8,470 pedestrian accidents during that year. In these accidents, there were more than 500 pedestrians killed and another 8,000 injured.

Safety Tips for Motorists, from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office:

-Slow it down. Slowing down your speed allows you with more time to react to roadway dangers.

-Always abide by all traffic laws, traffic signals and speed limits.

-Keep an eye out for pedestrians, especially children, when traveling in areas with no sidewalks.

-When backing out of a parking spot or out of a driveway, be on the lookout for pedestrians. It’s easy to overlook these walking travelers in these scenarios.

-Be extra careful when driving through residential neighborhoods and school zones. Children are less likely to understand the dangers associated with traffic.

-Avoid drinking and driving. Alcohol was reported in nearly 50 percent of all traffic accidents that resulted in a pedestrian death.

Across the nation there is a crash-related pedestrian fatality every 2 hours. As a matter of fact, pedestrians are nearly twice as likely as passenger vehicle occupants to be killed in a car crash on each trip, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Residents typically fear pedestrian accidents in Fort Lauderdale when walking along a roadway, near motor vehicle traffic. The truth of the matter is that you can get hit by a car in a lot of places, as demonstrated by the recent pedestrian accident that killed a woman as she was in a poolside cabana.

According to The Miami Herald, the seven-month pregnant woman was sitting in a poolside cabana when a car slammed into it. That’s right the car flew right off the road and right into the cabana. It all happened at the Riverside Hotel on Los Olas. The woman and her unborn child, who were visiting from Massachusetts, were killed in the accident. The husband was injured in the accident as well.

Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers understand that these accidents are commonly overlooked by residents, visitors and property owners. The truth of the matter is that establishments, whether cafes, hotels or storefronts at strip mall shopping centers, have a responsibility to help prevent these kinds of accidents. In many cases, the business or property owner may be found negligent in not doing enough to prevent such accidents from occurring by keeping proper separation between guests and the motoring public.

According to investigations into the accident, it was concluded that the driver was traveling “at a much greater speed” than the 25 mph speed limit that’s posted on SE 4th Street, where the accident happened. The driver admitted to investigators that she did not remember the accident.

It’s not really the speed that’s concerning residents of the area. It’s the lack of a stop sign at the nearby intersection. According to residents living nearby in the area, a stop sign used to be located just a half-a-block from the scene of the accident. Residents also say that the road markings are faded and vehicles may not know where to stop anymore. The whole area’s a mess and everyone’s in danger!

Valerie Pool, a long-time resident of the area, says that speed is a problem in that spot and a stop sign would be the perfect remedy for the problem.

“It’s a perfect place for a stop sign,” Pool said.

Pool says there used to be a stop sign there, and if it was still there, this accident and many others may not happen. Officials with Broward County says that’s not going to happen because a stop sign has not been ordered.

Even after a number of traffic studies, Ed Davis, the Interim Director of the Traffic Engineering Division, concluded that signs were initially removed because they were not warranted in that area. Officials didn’t see a use for them.

Transportation officials and property owners are required to make sure that areas are safe for visitors and traffic. When these measures are not met and accidents result, someone needs to he held responsible!
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