In Georgia, there were 348 pedestrians that injured fatal injuries due to vehicle accidents in 2021. While in Florida there were 444 pedestrian deaths which is the second-highest count in the US following California. Pedestrian accidents are extremely common and can be prevented if you follow a few rules of the road (and sidewalk).
Pedestrian Safety Tips
The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website provides precautionary measures to help prevent tragic accidents and protect your family and loved ones. A few of these tips include; finding the nearest sidewalk – this tip may seem obvious to most, but can be difficult in some locations. It is important to walk facing traffic as well as a fair distance away from the oncoming vehicles. Be sure to keep your eyes and ears alert at all times, and avoid loud music in headphones or texting while walking near a high traffic area. Do your best to be visible at all times while walking near a busy road, and wear bright colors and reflective clothing items when possible.
Motorist Safety Tips
As you can see, there are measures pedestrians can take to keep themselves safe. There are also many things that someone behind the wheel can do to prevent accidents involving pedestrians. As a driver, be prepared to stop at any time. It is your job to be aware of your surroundings and yield to all pedestrians. It is important to keep a slow and cautious speed around crosswalks and slow your speed far enough away from a pedestrian to allow yourself the ability to stop at any time. If you are in a high pedestrian area, keep your eyes alert and your music and phone down. If you see a vehicle yielding near a crosswalk, you should yield as well because there may be a pedestrian crossing that is not visible to you. Do not pass a yielding car. Being cautious means driving slower, and being a few minutes late is okay if you are keeping yourself and others safe.
The majority of pedestrian accidents occur between the hours of 4 PM and 7:59 PM when the evening commute has commenced. If you can, avoid walking at this time, especially in high-traffic areas.
Contact an attorney today!
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, seek medical help immediately. Contact your attorneys at Scott & Wallace for help anytime and anywhere. We offer a complimentary review of your case and will do everything in our power to prove the driver’s negligence to adhere to the laws of the road.
Incidences such as pedestrian accidents can be traumatizing to both the driver and the pedestrian involved. Scott & Wallace is here to take away as much of your pain and suffering as possible and relieve the stress of the case by taking it into our own hands and fighting for you. We accomplish this through aggressive, but principled, representation of you or your loved ones.