South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog
Palm Beach Fire Rescue was called out to the scene of a deadly West Palm pedestrian accident recently. The accident happened at the corner of Belvedere and Palmetto roads just before 5:00 a.m. The victim was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach and was later pronounced dead.
The sheriff’s office Traffic Homicide Unit was sent to the scene to figure out exactly how the accident happened. Preliminary reports state that the pedestrian was struck by more than one vehicle, according to News Channel 5.
“So far we’re looking at three (cars),” said Sgt. John Churchill, head of the Traffic Homicide Unit. “We’re trying to match what people are describing to us to the actual number of cars.”
Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys understand that this early morning pedestrian accident could have been caused by a number of factors. The driver could have been drowsy, distracted, intoxicated or speeding, just to name a few.
The pedestrian may have also been partially at fault by failing to acknowledge oncoming vehicles, not wearing brightly colored clothing or walking in the path of traffic. Regardless of who is determined to be at fault, it is important for everyone traveling on our roadways be extra cautious of one another in an attempt to avoid these fatal interactions.
USA Today contributes a number of factors to the high rate of pedestrian accidents that we see in Florida every year. First they recognize the increasing population. Florida has roughly 7 times more residents than it did back in 1950. Our state represents roughly 6 percent of the United States’ population.
“Florida has developed faster than any other state in the nation,” says Louis Malenfant, president of the Center for Education and Research in Safety. “The roadways have been built to accommodate a lot of traffic, and get trucks and cars moving from point A to point B in a very efficient way.”
They also credit our booming tourist industry. In 2009, more than 80 million people visited our state. Motorists who are unfamiliar with our roadways and our weather conditions are only increasing risks for a car accident. Depending on the season of the year, more motorists will significantly increase these risks.
“Sometimes, when people factor in fatalities on a per-capita basis, they may not be calculating the impact of tourists,” Malenfant says.
Lastly, USA Today cites the beautiful Florida climate. We all know how beautiful our Florida weather can be and because it’s balmy year-round, residents and tourists tend to spend more time outdoors. Outdoor travel increases exposure to such accidents.
In 2008 alone, more than 11 percent of pedestrians and more than 17 percent of bicyclists were killed in the Florida. Nearly 500 people died that year because of accidents involving a pedestrian.
During these summer months, when everyone hits the open road, or sidewalk, to enjoy Florida’s beautiful weather, please remember to be courteous to all travelers and help to keep everyone safe on our roadways.
Freeman & Mallard is a personal injury and wrongful death law firm dedicated to helping pedestrians who have been injured in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and the Port St. Lucie/Fort Pierce areas. Call today for a free consultation. 1-800-529-2368.
Additional Resources:
Fla. deadliest state for walkers, cyclists, by Larry Copeland, USA TODAY
More Blog Entries:
New Report Ranks Florida First in Fatal Pedestrian Accidents
June 7, 2011
More traffic brings increased risk of pedestrian accidents in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale
January 25, 2011
Early dark increases risk of pedestrian accidents in South Florida, including Port St. Lucie and Fort Lauderdale
November 7, 2011