Reducing pedestrian accidents in Florida
June 11, 2015On behalf of Terence Gross of Gross & Schuster, P.A. posted in Pedestrian Accidents on Monday, May 18, 2015.
Pedestrians in Florida know that crossing a major road always involves a certain degree of danger. Almost 5,000 pedestrians lost their lives around the country in 2012, and almost half of these accidents involved a driver or a pedestrian that had been drinking. It is hoped that efforts to combat drunk driving may result in fewer pedestrians being killed or injured.
Florida is a popular destination for retirees, which makes efforts to reduce pedestrian injuries and fatalities in the state a priority. Those aged 65 or older made up 20 percent of the pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. in 2012. While many older individuals who suffer a pedestrian injury are struck by a motor vehicle, some fall after tripping over a curb or loose paving stone. Developing traffic plans that take into account the needs of pedestrians and making timely repairs to roads and sidewalks could go a long way towards reducing the number of these types of accidents.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control reveal that pedestrian accidents are more frequent and more deadly in areas of urban sprawl. These areas are often designed to facilitate fast and easy travel by car or truck, and those on foot or bicycles may be placed in jeopardy because of these planning priorities.
Being cautious while crossing the road is one of the first things that children are taught, but no amount of care can fully compensate for the dangers posed by distracted, intoxicated or speeding drivers. Pedestrians struck by a motor vehicle may seek civil sanctions, and a personal injury attorney could initiate a legal action on their behalf. The debilitating injuries suffered by pedestrian accident victims sometimes prevents them from working for significant periods, and a lawsuit may seek compensation for their lost income as well as their medical costs.
