Fort Lauderdale Pedestrian Accident Risks Impact the Elderly

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. more If you or a loved one has been injured in a traffic accident, contact Richard Ansara at 954 761-3641 or toll-free at 877-277-3780 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your case. More Blog Entries: Cell Phone-Using Drivers Endangering South Florida Cyclists and Pedestrians, Borward Injury Lawyer Blog, April 9, 2013 Palm Beach Loses Funding for Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs, Borward Injury Lawyer Blog, April 4, 2013