Advice To Help You Avoid Pedestrian Accidents
Michael Babboni
Personal Injury
It's no secret that pedestrian accidents happen in Florida. People always seem to be taking to the streets to exercise. As such, there are regularly joggers, runners, and bikers out and about.Of course, The Sunshine State is a popular tourist destination too. That means out-of-towners are normally everywhere, walking from here to there, as many of them like only to use their two feet to get around and explore. There's nothing wrong with any of this. We are trying to make a point that pedestrians are here, and they aren't going anywhere.
However, so are motorcycles, cars, pickups, SUVs, and commercial trucks. Operators use them to commute daily, work, and much more. As such, drivers/riders and pedestrians must coexist in the same space. Unfortunately, that doesn't always work out well, though.
For example, according to the FLHSMV, Florida accounted for 9,736 pedestrian crashes in 2019, and those events caused 6,369 injuries, 1,524 incapacitating injuries, and 734 fatalities. Often, driver negligence is responsible for these events. Think of things like speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, and distracted driving.
Thus, if you get struck as a pedestrian by a negligent motorist, you may be entitled to fair compensation. When that happens, contact The St. Pete Lawyer to discuss your options over a free case evaluation. He'll let you know what the appropriate course of action to take is, and if it's a lawsuit, he will fight tooth and nail for the restitution you deserve.
Today, we are focusing on how to cut down on these disastrous episodes, though. So, our firm is providing you with some tips that will, with any luck, help you avoid getting hit by a car. Therefore, if your curiosity has the best of you now, please, stick around and read on to learn more.
Stop! Don't Text And Walk
Drivers are told not to text and drive because it distracts them. But, pedestrians should probably follow that same advice. If a person is constantly looking down at their phone's screen and tapping away at its keyboard with their fingers, they won't have any idea what is happening around them.
In turn, the individual could walk out into traffic or behind a car backing up and get hit. Hence, it is a good idea to say no to texting and walking.
Cross Streets Appropriately
Whenever possible, pedestrians should use corners to cross streets. They can take advantage of crosswalks, traffic lights, and stop signs at these points to get from one side of the road to the other safely. Stepping out into the street from just anywhere could be problematic. For starters, although it isn't strictly enforced, jaywalking is against the law, and if a cop catches you doing it, you might receive a ticket.
However, this is also an issue because drivers expect people to cross roads at intersections, not just anywhere they please. So, if you attempt a crossing somewhere else, that will increase the risk of an accident.
Turn Your Music Down
Many people like to walk with their headphones in, listening to music. That's fine if that is what you do, and we aren't telling you to stop. However, before crossing any street, you should probably turn your music down, take the headphones off, or remove the earbuds from your ears. That will allow you to hear car motors or honking horns, signs that may suggest you're in danger.
Hopefully, you can use this advice to keep pedestrian crashes at bay. But, if not, and you require legal representation, just remember that you can call us. The firm of Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, and Walsh will have your back.