Each day, most of us travel to multiple destinations by foot, bike, or car, without incident. Usually traversing familiar routes, some of us might be able to reach our destinations with our eyes closed if we had to.

The problem is that today while motorists may have their eyes open, they are watching everything but the road. So many regular vehicles today are like traveling homes with just as many distractions, featuring all the latest electronics—with the most dangerous one being the smartphone.

Multi-tasking is a highly lauded talent in our busy society today, but not one to be tested behind the wheel. In a split second (while a distracted driver is looking down), something catastrophic can occur, changing the lives of everyone involved forever.

While car crashes are all too common, with distracted drivers accounting for thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries, pedestrian accidents tend to be much worse due to the individual’s lack of protection against a 4,000-pound vehicle.

Data from the CDC shows that just over every 1.5 hours in the US, an accident involving a car and a pedestrian occurs; not only that, pedestrians are 1.5 more times likely to be involved in a fatal accident on the road than someone riding in the passenger seat of a car.

Along with these numbers, it is important to realize how vulnerable older pedestrians are while traveling on foot and especially when using crosswalks. To avoid terrible accidents, motorists must be aware of how perilous crosswalks can be for all pedestrians, but more so for those who are advanced in age and may have disabilities which cause them to take longer crossing.

They may have vision or hearing issues that also cause them to move more slowly as they discern what is happening in traffic. While this could be the same for any other pedestrian, these concerns are more common for older individuals, and motorists and everyone sharing the road must practice added safety (and sometimes more patience in waiting) to avoid accidents or fatalities.

For pedestrian injuries and deaths overall, however, the CDC data points out that the highest number of deaths happen in city areas at night—and not at intersections. All too often, alcohol plays a part in pedestrian deaths, along with motorists traveling at excessive speeds.

Have you or a loved one been injured in a pedestrian accident due to the negligence of others who are uninsured? Call our office for a free consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys. We handle all types of Florida personal injury cases, and our law firm has established an impressive record of verdicts and settlements. If you have been seriously injured, call us now at 941-748-2916 or contact us online. We are here to help!