Pedestrian Accident in Fort Lauderdale Forces Traffic Reroutes

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). more If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a pedestrian accident in Broward County or in any of the surrounding areas, contact Fort Lauderdale Accident Attorney Richard Ansara at 954 761-3641 or (954) 761-4011 for a free initial consultation. Call us at any time. Additional Resources:

Northbound U.S. 1 in Fort Lauderdale closed after accident near NE 26th St., by Paradise Afshar, The Miami Herald More Blog Entries: Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents in Broward County Likely with Distracted Drivers, Broward Injury Lawyer Blog, April 4, 2012 Fort Lauderdale Pedestrian Accident Kills Elderly Walker, Injures Another, Broward Injury Lawyer Blog, March 22, 2012