Last Update: 12/16/21
Serious injury and death from traffic accidents involving people walking, jogging, running, or otherwise traveling on foot (pedestrians) is a serious problem both in Florida and the country overall. According to a report from IIHS, 17% of the deaths caused by motor vehicle accidents each year involve pedestrians.
Quick Tip: The Average Pedestrian Accident Settlement Is $70,000.00 (Details)
Why are so many pedestrians hurt or killed in traffic accidents? Here, from a Florida personal injury lawyer’s perspective, are thirteen reasons why pedestrians are involved in car crashes.
Top 13 Reasons Pedestrians Are Hit in Traffic Accidents
1. The Dart or Dash in The Middle of the Block
Here, someone decides to cross the road without bothering to go to the next intersection where things are safer. Instead, they dart or dash across a street midway. Here, it’s often teenagers or kids who are the pedestrian who has walked or run into a Florida road only to be hit by a vehicle who either didn’t see them or couldn’t stop in time to avoid the crash.
2. The Driver Dart
Here, instead of the pedestrian being the one who darts, it’s the driver of the vehicle who decides to dart around a parked car instead of patiently waiting for traffic to begin moving again. All too often, that car was sitting there because of kids playing too near the road, or even because a pedestrian was in its path. That stopped car was avoiding the very accident that the darting driver causes.
3. The Multiple Lane Threat of Danger
Here, someone on foot ventures into traffic while the cars are stopped and is hit by a vehicle that has failed to stop and is moving on the roadway in another lane. Maybe the driver couldn’t see the pedestrian because her sightline was blocked somehow: or maybe that driver was speeding, driving while distracted, driving drunk, etc.
4. The Car Exit in the Middle of the Block
Here, pedestrians are hit because they are piling out of a parked car or a car stopped in traffic in the middle of the block. Maybe they’re running late for school or the movies; maybe they’re thinking it’s easier than having to drive down to the intersection and then walk back.
5. Driver Fails to Yield (No Signal)
When there isn’t a traffic signal or sign, in Florida the motor vehicle is supposed to yield right of way to the pedestrian in order to avoid an accident. This is true even if the pedestrian is jaywalking or otherwise violating Florida traffic laws.
Read: Hit By a Car: Pedestrian Accidents in Florida
6. Bus Hits Pedestrian
Sadly, both commercial buses and school buses do hit people traveling on foot. Bus-related accidents usually involve a pedestrian crossing in front of the bus stopped at a bus stop; going to or from a bus stop; or rushing to catch the bus.
7. Driver Turning at an Intersection
Here, a pedestrian is trying to cross at an intersection, and a driver turns left or right and hits the person who is crossing the street. Speeding is often involved here as a contributing factor to the crash.
8. Driver Going Through an Intersection
Here, regardless of the traffic signals, and whether or not it is a signaled intersection, pedestrians are often hit as they attempt to cross a street and fail to see or wait for a car that is driving through the intersection
9. Pedestrian Walking Along Road
Drivers cannot always see pedestrians alongside the road, or those who are running or walking along its edge. Particularly at dusk and at night, pedestrian walking or running along the roadside are in danger of being hit by a car.
10. Working in Roadway
When someone is in the roadway because of car trouble, road hazards, working construction, or other reasons, their task at hand may necessitate their presence in the road but without safety measures like warning signs, orange cones, flares, flags, etc., they are vulnerable to being hit by a passing vehicle.
11. Driver Hits Pedestrian Near But Not in Roadway
It’s dangerous to be near a roadway, too. Pedestrians can be hit by cars as they are on foot on the sidewalk, in a driveway, at a bus stop, in an alley, etc.
12. Driver Backing Vehicle
When a driver is backing up their vehicle, particularly SUVs, trucks, delivery vans, and other vehicles with big “blind spaces” there is a real danger that the driver will hit a pedestrian as they are moving in reverse and backing out of an alley, driveway, parking lot, etc.
13. Pedestrian Crossing Expressway
Every year, there are news stories where someone thinks they can safely cross a highway, interstate, or other high-speed limit roadway without getting hit. All too often, pedestrians attempting this crossing are struck and killed as they tried to cross the high-speed traffic area.
What Should You Do Now?
A good piece of advice if you have been harmed by a pedestrian accident, is to at least speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer before you file a claim to learn about some of the issues that can arise with these claims, including the type of evidence needed to prove a claim and the type and amount of damages you can recover. Most personal injury lawyers, like Alan Sackrin, will offer a free initial consultation (over the phone or in-person) to answer your questions.
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Do you have questions or comments? Then please feel free to send Alan an email or call him now at (954) 458-8655.
