Pedestrian accidents can be quite severe since a pedestrian doesn’t have a seatbelt or a vehicle to protect them. People need to work together to ensure that roads are safe for everyone because it is essential to remember that many people use the roads. It is vital that all residents in Florida feel safe to use the roadways when they know what they can do to help avoid a pedestrian accident.
For Pedestrians
It is quite crucial to stick to designated pedestrian crossing areas when you’re on foot. You will be able to cross safely because these areas have traffic control devices. Pedestrians need to avoid an accident by taking some extra steps with some of the following few tips.
- Stay far away when you need to stop your car on a street
- Look around stopped vehicles
- Don’t expect drivers to see you
- Stick to designated crossing areas
For Drivers
You can prevent a pedestrian accident when you’re a driver. It would help if you kept some things in mind, including:
- Don’t drive under the influence
- Take the weather into account
- Don’t assume when the car ahead of you stops
- Observe school crossing signs and school bus rules
- Look for eye contact
- Be patient with senior and people with challenges
- Slow down in pedestrian areas
If you’re a resident of Volusia and Flagler County, Florida, an experienced pedestrian accident at Zimmet & Zimmet will fight to get you fair compensation.
Florida Pedestrian Accidents
Since tourists abound in Florida, pedestrian accidents are common. There was an estimate of about 5,000 pedestrian deaths in 2015. And in 2017, there were about one death every 88 minutes, which amount to 5,977 deaths of pedestrians in the United States. Also, there were about 129,000 pedestrians treated for injuries related to traffic accidents.
As a pedestrian, you are at a higher risk of serious injury than those in the vehicle. Your body will take the full brunt of the impact, and you won’t have any outside protection as a pedestrian. As a Florida pedestrian, you need to avoid injuries at all costs because they can be life-changing.
Florida’s Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
There are some ways pedestrian accidents happen in Florida since vehicles can injure pedestrians in many ways, and some of them are:
- Pedestrian negligence
- Passing a school zone accidents or stopped school bus
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Poor maintenance or intersection design
- Excessive speeding
- Reckless driving
- Failure to stop or rolling stops at an intersection
As a pedestrian, you are not in a vehicle but uses the roadways or walkways. This situation includes:
- Segway riders
- Roller skaters
- Skateboarders
- Bicyclists
- Runners or joggers
- Walkers
Familiar Places Prone to Pedestrian Accidents
The majority of Florida is considered vacation areas, which makes it distinct. The most likely pedestrian accident scenes are the tourist areas because of the high influx of tourists in the area, particularly during the holidays and summer. These accidents also happen around the beach areas and tourist attractions. School zones and neighborhoods are the most common places for a pedestrian accident, outside of the tourist areas.
Protecting Yourself as a Pedestrian
You can protect yourself by considering some factors when you’re out and about as a pedestrian. Though you cannot prevent all accidents, you can use some of the following to avoid some of the most common occurrences:
- Never assume to have the right-of-way, even if you do. Most times, the pedestrian laws that allow people to cross streets in specific parts should cause accidents even when they do. Ensure that oncoming traffic is indeed going to stop even when you are about to use a designated pedestrian area at the right time.
- Carry light or wear light clothes at night. Ensure that you can be seen if you’re cycling or walking around at night. Any bright clothing or light of any type is recommended. You can also use reflectors on your clothes if possible.
- Never dart out between cars. Cross at a designated crosswalk if you need to cross the roadway. You will benefit from a road sign or stop light because you’re more visible to passing vehicles when you cross at an intersection.
Your Next Action after a Pedestrian Accident
You may face life-changing and severe injuries if you have been injured in a pedestrian accident. After the accident, you need to protect your rights by seeking skilled legal representation like Daytona Beach pedestrian accident attorneys at Zimmet & Zimmet. The law firm has reliable attorneys that will help you construct a compensation package and ensure you get all the necessary medical care. They will take things further by working with the insurance company on your behalf to create a compensation package that will cover your medical care now and in the future.
