Tragic Accident in North Miami Leaves Teeanger Dead, Others Hurt
As reported by Local 10 News, a recent accident left one teenager dead and two others hurt. The three students who attend North Miami Senior High School were struck by a vehicle at an intersection near the school. The accident has left questions regarding the safety of student pedestrians in this area. This tragedy is another statistic that positions Florida as one of the worst states in terms of pedestrian versus automobile accidents with 2.46 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 in population. In fact, Florida is home to the top four most dangerous metro areas for pedestrians in the nation, including Orlando-KIssimmee, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Jacksonville, and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach.
Pedestrian Safety in Florida
The Florida Department of Transportation is charged with executing Florida’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Strategic Plan in an effort to stem the tide of pedestrian injuries. The program is aimed at focusing funding, training, and public awareness on issues related to pedestrian injuries. Unfortunately, Miami-Dade county tops the list of both pedestrian fatalities and injuries, and efforts put in place thus far did not prevent a tragic accident that cut the life of one Miami teenager short.
Florida Pedestrian Laws
Under Florida law, pedestrians must follow applicable traffic regulations when moving about streets and walkways. Pedestrians and vehicles must share access to the road and exercise reasonable care in maneuvering Florida roadways. Drivers must also exercise due care to ensure their vehicles do not collide with pedestrians. Drivers have an elevated duty of care when there is reason to know that children may be near the road. A person who fails to act with reasonable care is responsible to those injured by their negligence. This can be established in part by showing that the driver failed to comply with applicable traffic laws at the time of the accident. Pedestrians have a shared responsibility to also follow applicable pedestrian traffic regulations; however, even if a pedestrian is not appropriately using the road, a driver still has the responsibility to use all reasonable efforts to avoid a collision with a pedestrian.
Pedestrian – Automobile Accidents
When you are involved in a pedestrian versus automobile accident, you should take steps to protect your rights and establish your case. First, you should get the medical help you need immediately. You should document the circumstances of any accident as soon as possible, including those who may have witnessed the accident, and call the appropriate authorities who can perform their duties with respect to the accident.
Pedestrian Injury Lawyers
Florida streets can be dangerous for pedestrians and you should be informed of your rights in case of an injury. Proving a claim against a driver can be more complicated than you might think, and requires an analysis of each party’s conduct leading up to the accident. If you or a loved one has been injured by a vehicle while walking or crossing the streets in Orlando, Tampa Bay, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, or West Palm Beach, let the experienced pedestrian injury lawyers at The Pendas Law Firm help. Call or contact the office today for a free and confidential consultation of your case.
