Florida Is by Far the Most Dangerous State for Pedestrians

Florida’s highway traffic is fast and chaotic enough to make even the most daring drivers think twice before attempting to travel in it, but if you think it is dangerous to drive on Florida’s roads, it is even more dangerous to walk on them.  A report based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed disturbing statistics about pedestrian fatalities in Florida. Of course, this is not very surprising to Floridians; we are used to reading about pedestrian-car accidents in the local news on a nearly daily basis.  Pedestrian traffic accidents do not even necessarily make the front page of the local section of the print version of the newspaper.  What is a Floridian to do?  To prevent pedestrian accidents, besides using caution when walking and avoiding traveling on foot near busy roads, you can vote for and petition for safer roads and stricter legal standards for traffic safety.  If you have already been injured in a car accident where you were a pedestrian, you should contact a car accident injury lawyer.

A Disturbing Report About Pedestrian Car Accidents in Florida

Smart Growth America, a nonprofit organization, published a report based on data from 2008 to 2017, showing the most dangerous cities in the United States for pedestrians.  They based the rankings on the number of accidents and the rate of pedestrian-car accidents per 100,000 people.  The bad news is that eight of the ten most dangerous cities are in Florida, including the six most dangerous cities.  These are the six most dangerous cities, according to the report:

1. The Orlando metropolitan area, including Kissimmee and Sanford
2. The Daytona Beach metropolitan area, including Ormond Beach
3. The Melbourne metropolitan area, including Titusville and Palm Bay
4. The Sarasota metropolitan area, including North Port and Bradenton
5. The Lakeland metropolitan area, including Winter Haven
6. Jacksonville, Florida

South Florida, defined as Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties, was ranked 14^th on the list.

Smart Growth America plans to use the data to persuade Congress to include money for making roads safer in the federal budget.  Since Florida is so far beyond any other state in terms of pedestrian dangers, state-level legislation might be needed before our state can lose its reputation as the most dangerous in America.

Help for Pedestrians Injured in Car Accidents

A pedestrian who gets injured in a car accident is clearly a blameless party, but that is little consolation if you are suffering the long-term health effects of getting hit by a car when you were walking.  A personal injury lawyer may be able to help you recover compensation for your financial losses related to your injuries, including medical expenses and lost income.

Reach Out to Us Today for Help

Filing a personal injury lawsuit can help you put your life back together after suffering serious injuries in a car accident.  A car accident injury lawyer can determine if you have grounds for a lawsuit.  Contact Palm Beach Gardens car accident lawyers at Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather Injury Lawyers for a consultation.