Florida Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
Auto vs Pedestrian Accidents
Florida has the dubious distinction of being top in the nation for hit-and-run fatal accidents.
Often it is the pedestrian who is the unintended target. In fact, a study by the nonprofit group, Transportation for America, reports that the top four most dangerous metropolitan areas for pedestrians are Orlando, Tampa, Miami, and Jacksonville.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that 502 pedestrians were killed in Florida in 2008, while 7,878 pedestrians were injured. That represents an increase of more than 4% from the previous year.
Nationally, the statistics are even more shocking.
Almost 12 people a day died after a pedestrian/motor vehicle crash in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA says there were 4,378 pedestrians killed in the U.S. in 2008, and there were 69,000 pedestrian injuries in the U.S. that year.
The only good news to report there is that the number of pedestrian fatalities fell close to 20% from a decade earlier. Too often these fatalities involve children between the ages of five and nine.
Pedestrians can include kids walking to and from school, skateboarders, and joggers, parents walking with their kids, as well as tourists, or just someone walking alongside the road. Pedestrians are struck in walkways, crossing the street, in a driveway, on a skateboard, walking to school, outside or inside of a crosswalk, or along the side of the road.
NHTSA reports that 70 % of pedestrians killed in 2008 were males and three out of four pedestrian fatalities occurred in urban areas. And all too often we report on drivers who cannot see around their giant SUVs and run over children in their driveways.
Being hit by a 2,000 to 3,000 lb vehicle can result in serious injuries if not death. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord and neck injuries, disabilities, broken bones, among other injuries, can all result when a pedestrian is hit by a car.
Drinking is a major problem in traffic accidents involving pedestrians. State statistics shows that 16.8% of all traffic fatalities were pedestrians and 36.25% of all of the pedestrian fatalities (502) had been drinking.
Generally one can assume that someone who hits and runs has something to hide such as being intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. They might be driving with a suspended license or no license at all. They could be in this country illegally or have an outstanding warrant for their arrest. Or they could just panic and run. Not all pedestrian accidents involve a hit-and-run, but many do.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a hit-and-run driver you would be well advised to contact an experienced Florida personal injury attorney with experience in pedestrian and auto accidents to help you receive what you deserve to get you back on your feet.