Pedestrians are in danger whenever they are walking near the streets in Florida and throughout the nation. Motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians can cause catastrophic injuries and death. The problem seems to be getting worse. With distracted drivers, recklessness, negligence, drivers who are under the influence and other behaviors that place people in jeopardy, it is imperative for pedestrians to be cautious. Still, regardless of how careful they are, an auto accident involving a pedestrian can happen at any time.

Recent research indicates that Florida is one of the worst states for pedestrian safety. Smart Growth America has released a list of the most dangerous states for pedestrians, and Florida was the worst. The non-profit looked at statistics from 2008 to 2017. It used a national database for road deaths overseen by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In that decade of time, Florida was found to have the most pedestrian fatalities, with 5,433.

Males were the most common victims. Two-thirds of the people who died in a pedestrian accident in 2017 were men and were 25 to 34-years-old. In 2017, there were 16 fatalities in construction zones. The numbers are still being accrued to come to a full conclusion on construction zone crashes. Overall, the number of people who were killed as pedestrians rose by 35% across the U.S. The study suggests that street design and roads that encourage drivers to drive at excessive speeds are part of the problem.

Although Florida has taken a harder line against texting and driving and is enforcing laws against drivers who do not adhere to crosswalks, driver behaviors that place pedestrians in danger remains problematic. When there is an auto accident involving a pedestrian, the lack of protection for those pedestrians might lead to severe injuries and long-term damage. There can also be fatalities. Drivers are legally obligated to share the road with pedestrians and do so safely. With pedestrian-car accidents, recovering compensation in a lawsuit may be an option for victims to pursue.

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