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If you live in Florida, you might have a fairly decent idea of how dangerous streets and walkways in our cities can be for pedestrians. Unfortunately, Florida by its very nature is a place that draws a huge number of visitors from all over the country and the world – many of whom know little about Florida beyond the sunshine and beaches they see in movies and TV shows.
So, exactly how bad are pedestrians faring here? According to statistics, Florida is one of the country’s most dangerous states for pedestrians. In fact, many Florida cities have higher pedestrian fatality rates than busy cities like Boston and Seattle. Government officials have been making a push to improve things for those who need to walk in and around Florida cities, but that does little to help those that have already suffered or will suffer in an accident.
That is where the Law Firm of Andrew Winston comes in. We understand exactly how devastating these kinds of accidents can be for pedestrians and have made it our mission to fight hard to get you the compensation that you need and deserve to pay for medical bills and get your life back on track.
The first thing that pedestrians should know is how they can avoid getting hit by a vehicle. It starts by knowing which cities and areas around our state come with the highest risks.
Crosswalks. Since crosswalks are designated as places where pedestrians should walk, you might be surprised to find it on this list. Unfortunately, Florida crosswalks have proven to be quite dangerous – especially those in areas highly trafficked by both pedestrians and motorists. You can lower your chances of getting hit by making sure that you wait for the light to change completely and cross with a crowd of other people, but drivers still need to take care and give you right of way.
The airports. Millions of tourists visit Florida airports every single year. That means there is an incredibly high amount of both foot and vehicle traffic that is often at odds. Because people are always in a rush to get to and leave airports, accidents frequently occur.
Sidewalks. Even when you are walking off of the street in Florida, that does not mean that you are safe. Reckless, distracted, and drunk drivers have been known to accidentally merge onto sidewalks and injure pedestrians, so you always need to watch out.
Parking lots. Pedestrians always need to take care in parking lots, because drivers may not be paying attention when they pull out or may not be able to see you walking due to other parked cars. Due to its many indoor parking garages, Florida also has another issue: drivers hitting pedestrians because they literally cannot see them due to poor lighting.
While pedestrians can and should take more care with their safety when walking around Florida, our state’s laws give pedestrians the right of way and require that drivers always be aware of them. Because of this, a high number of pedestrian accidents should legally be considered the responsibility of the driver.
What are some reasons that drivers might run into a person who is walking?
They do not notice crosswalks. Whether it is due to driver inattention, poorly marked crossing areas, or simply a failure to yield, there are all kinds of reasons why far too many drivers still end up hitting people even though they are crossing the street in a designated area.
They ignore traffic signs and signals. Everyone has attempted to speed through an intersection to “beat” a light before it turns red, but if a driver does this as a pedestrian is attempting to cross, serious injuries can and do occur.
They get distracted. Florida is full of distracting sights and vistas that can pull any driver’s focus away from the road, but even on local streets that are away from all the action pedestrians get hit. Why? Take your pick. Smartphones are a huge problem, especially with younger drivers, but even something as simple as a driver talking to a passenger can cause a distraction that leads to an accident.
They drink and drive. People come here to relax, let loose, and party. When individuals drink and get behind the wheel, it is a recipe for disaster. This is especially true for pedestrians who are not protected by being inside of another car.
They speed. Drivers going too fast on our roadways is an epidemic that can and does lead to all kinds of problems, but it is particularly deadly when pedestrians get hit by a fast-moving vehicle because the force of the impact (and, thus, the physical damage that they suffer) goes up astronomically with even a small increase in speed.
They do not stop for school buses. This is a problem that is worth singling out in our area because the people most likely to become victims of a pedestrian accident are kids and the elderly. If your child is hit by a vehicle because it refuses to stop for a school bus, you deserve compensation – and they need to be held liable.
Our attorneys at the Law Firm of Andrew Winston have successfully handled a wide variety of cases involving pedestrian accidents and have earned millions in compensation for our clients. This is not the type of case where any lawyer can simply step in and do a good job, so you want to make sure that the person you hire understands pedestrian accident law in our state backwards and forwards.
You also want someone that you trust to fight for your best interests. While no amount of money is ever going to bring back a loved one or erase the trauma that you have to go through when you suffer a serious injury, it is vital that you get what you need to move forward.
When you hire an Andrew Winston attorney to pursue your case, we will do our utmost to make sure the you receive the compensation that you need to not only cover medical expenses, but get back on track to return to as much of a normal life as possible. We excel at resolving cases without trial, but will never take a lowball offer to avoid going to court.
If you are interested in learning more, contact us for a free consultation by filling out our short online form or giving us a call:
866-306-9606 (Toll Free)
954-606-6606 (South Florida)