Broward Injury Lawyer Blog
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.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact Richard Ansara at 954 761-3641 or toll-free at 877-277-3780 for a free initial consultation to discuss your case.
More Blog Entries:
Darkness Posing Risks for More Broward Pedestrian Accidents, Broward Injury Lawyer Blog, February 26, 2013
Protecting our Children from Dangers of the Road, Broward Injury Lawyer Blog, December 30, 2012
