Senior Pedestrian Safety

The Miami Herald recently asserted that a senior pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and fatally injured near the Miami-Dade County Auditorium. Traffic was shut down in both directions for an investigation following the weekday collision. The age and name of the victim who died have not yet been released to the public and it is also unclear whether anyone else was injured or killed.

Potential Dangers of the Sidewalk for Seniors

Stories like the one outlined above are especially disturbing because many of Florida’s sizable senior citizen population no longer drive and are therefore dependent on walking and hoping they’ll be safe while doing so. Unfortunately, statistics indicate that these stories are more common than anyone with elderly loved ones would really like to think about. While senior citizens who are age 65 and over make up just 13 percent of the American population, they account for 23 percent of all pedestrian fatalities. Sadly, that means that seniors who are walking from one destination to another are almost twice as likely to be killed by a car as members of other age groups.

Safety Tips for Seniors on the Move

Florida drivers have a great responsibility to help avoid collisions with pedestrians and others on the road. In addition, pedestrians, and senior pedestrians in particular should also be cognizant of ways to improve their safety while walking. Steps that senior pedestrians can implement to help improve their safety include:

• Keep up with your regular doctor appointments which includes continuing to have your eyes and hearing checked routinely
• Find a pair of sturdy and comfortable nonslip shoes to walk in
• Try to walk during the daytime and if that’s not possible, increase your visibility at night by wearing reflective clothing and carrying a flashlight
• Plan your route out before leaving home and try to ensure you are taking a path that has sidewalks and appears pedestrian friendly
• Find walking buddies who in addition to providing company, can also serve as an extra set of eyes and ears to help identify potential dangers
• Walk on sidewalks whenever possible, use crosswalks and move only when directed to by the traffic signals

Seek Legal Help After a Pedestrian Accident

As important as it is for senior citizens to go outside for fresh air and exercise, every walk unfortunately doesn’t end up with a pedestrian reaching their destination. You deserve to have competent legal help when you have been injured because of someone else’s negligent behavior while you were simply trying to walk. As the Orlando personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm, we understand how frustrating and painful it can be when you find yourself injured despite your best efforts to stay safe as a pedestrian and you can depend on us to support you and maximize your chances of recovering from the accountable person. There may be time limits on when you can pursue compensation so don’t hesitate to reach out for a free consultation to find out your options as soon as you can.

The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the West Palm Beach, Ocala, Tampa, Bradenton, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, Fort Myers and Daytona Beach areas.

Resource:

msn.com/en-us/news/us/miami-police-investigating-fatal-crash-involving-pedestrian-on-flagler-street/ar-BB19IPtx

https://www.pendaslaw.com/the-importance-of-keeping-impaired-drivers-off-the-road/