Pedestrian accidents are life-threatening accidents that happen much too frequently in the United States, claiming thousands of lives. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 5,977 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents across the United States in 2017, which a year later rose to 6,283 deaths. Pedestrians are always at an increased risk due to the rising population across America, and so safety should always be considered when stepping in front of a vehicle, or even just when you’re walking near any open road.
Florida, in particular, is a state with high pedestrian fatalities. The statistics show that between 2008 and 2018, there were a massive 5,433 pedestrian fatalities in Florida alone. This comes at no shock, as Florida is renowned for its constant tourists, who visit from all over the world, which explains why Orlando is the Floridian city with the highest number of pedestrian accidents. Not only this but, Florida is also known for its ‘spring break’ parties, and with all these new people who are unfamiliar to the location, it’s unsurprising that Florida clocks the highest amount of pedestrian fatalities across the United States.
Unfortunately, despite safety administration and traffic safety measures in place, pedestrian safety is always at risk. This is especially true in cities that have urban districts, where there are more people and more vehicles, and so a higher number of pedestrian accidents. Statistics also show that they occur on open roads, at night, and over the weekend more.
If you have been in a pedestrian accident that wasn’t your fault, then you should call The Law Place today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced lawyer. You may deserve compensation, and so shouldn’t wait to get help to ensure you get the justice that you deserve, so call us at (941) 444-4444 now.
Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Traffic safety should always be a priority to avoid any personal injury for both drivers and pedestrians. However, sometimes drivers are careless and neglect their duty of care to keep pedestrians safe. Here are some of the most common reasons for a pedestrian accident:
- Driving under the influence – Almost half of all crashes that resulted in fatal injury involved someone who was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In fact, one in three pedestrian accidents are caused by either the driver or pedestrian being over the limit for alcohol consumption.
- Speeding – Driving over the speed limit increases the dangers for pedestrians and the driver, as not only does it increase the likelihood of fatal injury, as driving over 30 mph increases the chance of death for the pedestrian by 40%, but it also lowers the chances of stopping in time if needed. Therefore, this one of the most common causes of a pedestrian accident.
- Distracted driving – When drivers are talking on a cell phone, texting, eating, and/or drinking, they aren’t adequately focusing on the road. This can increase the reaction time if an unexpected pedestrian jaywalks into the street, causing a major, and potentially fatal, injury to occur.
- Weather conditions – Drivers failing to reduce to a safe speed in dangerous weather conditions, such as fog, rain, or ice, could fail to stop or slow down for pedestrians on the road, and so increasing the number of fatal pedestrian accidents.
Are You Liable If You Hit a Jaywalking Pedestrian?
When a traffic accident involving pedestrians occurs, it’s a wide-spread belief that, because the pedestrian suffers more from it, the driver is to blame. However, this isn’t always the case, especially if the pedestrian is jaywalking at the time. When following the laws of the road, it is illegal for a pedestrian to walk across a national highway. This means that if they are hit, they are almost always going to be liable and held to blame, regardless of their injuries.
In terms of the law, due to the pedestrian’s negligence of the laws of the road, the driver and pedestrian will receive shared blame, other known as comparative negligence. This states that the pedestrian, no matter how severe the injuries are, may not receive any financial compensation from the other party/parties that are connected to the accident. However, depending on the final decision made by the court of law, the driver could be responsible for their medical bills after the accident until their pain has stopped as drivers always have a duty to drive reasonably and safely.
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Pedestrian accidents can completely turn your life upside down, and so if you have been involved in one, then you may want to seek financial compensation. Our highly skilled personal injury lawyers at The Law Place are fully-equipped and ready to fight for justice for you, so call us today at (941) 444-4444 for a free case evaluation. Don’t wait to get help; contact The Law Place now!
