According to a report recently released by Smart Growth America, Florida pedestrians have the highest risk of being killed compared to pedestrians in any other state. In fact, nine of the 20 deadliest cities for pedestrians in the United States are in Florida, with Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford ranking first and Miami-Fort-Lauderdale-West Palm Beach ranking fourteenth.
The authors of the study blame Florida’s rank on poor street design: “we’re not walking more and we’re only driving slightly more than we work back in 2008. What is happening is that our streets, which we designed for the movement of vehicles, haven’t changed. In fact, we are continuing to design streets that are dangerous for all people.” In other words, streets have been designed in a way that prioritizes traffic flow and driver speed over pedestrian safety.
Both the federal government and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) need to prioritize updating infrastructure and road rules that truly prioritize pedestrian safety. At the same time, individual drivers need to remain vigilant for pedestrians, drive the speed limit, and obey all road rules. Whether a pedestrian crash is caused by unsafe roads or a particularly reckless driver, responsible parties should always be held liable for the pain and suffering that they cause.
If you or someone you know has been injured or killed as a pedestrian, please contact one of the experienced attorneys at Baron, Herskowitz, and Cohen to understand your legal rights. Contact Jon or David for a free and confidential legal consultation, call (305) 670-0101 or email contact@bhfloridalaw.com.
