Pedestrian Accidents in Florida on the Rise!

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! more If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a pedestrian accident, contact Richard Ansara today at 954 761-3641 or (954) 761-4011 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your case. More Blog Entries: Broward Advocates Fighting for Blind Pedestrian Safety, Broward Injury Lawyer Blog, November 25, 2012 New Pedestrian Bridge in Palm Beach to Reduce Accident Risks, Broward Injury Lawyer Blog, October 12, 2012