Rise In Florida Pedestrian Deaths Concerns Officials

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on October 26, 2015

A sharp rise in the number of Lake County pedestrian deaths has officials very concerned about safety. To date in 2015, there have been 12 pedestrian deaths in the county. Comparatively, there were eight pedestrian deaths in all of 2014. The last year the number of victims was this high was 2011, when there were eleven deaths for the entire year.

The data tells officials that something needs to be done to protect pedestrians. There have been over 6,600 pedestrian accidents in the state of Florida so far this year, with over 400 fatalities. While some of the deaths involve persons who were off of the road, most of the accidents occurred when pedestrians were trying to cross thoroughfares, and many of them occurred at night.

Officials believe that educating the public is vital to saving lives. Pedestrians are encouraged to use crosswalks where possible and to wear reflective clothing if they know they will be walking at night. This is especially important in areas with low or no artificial lighting. If there are sidewalks or areas along the road that are safe for walking, but out of the line of traffic, pedestrians should make every effort to utilize them. By putting distance between yourself and traffic, you increase the time you have to react to a vehicle in your path. And seconds can be the difference between life and death.

Officials also remind motorists that pedestrians always have the right of way. It is important to remain vigilant behind the wheel, as often pedestrians in the road can be hard to see, especially at night. If you are travelling a stretch where there are often pedestrians, motorists are encouraged to slow down and keep an eye out for persons travelling on foot. Avoiding distractions such as eating while driving or talking on a cell phone are also discouraged while driving.

If you have been injured in a vehicle/pedestrian accident, please contact us today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587).

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.