Top 5 Reasons Behind Pedestrian Accidents in Florida
A lot of the auto accidents and crashes that happen in Florida are not just in between cars and other vehicles on the highway. In fact, there are a ton of auto accidents involving pedestrians who are just at the wrong place at the wrong time. There are different causes of pedestrian accidents and as a vigilant citizen, being aware of these reasons can help you know what to do if you ever encounter one in the future.
Here are the top 5 causes of pedestrian-related accidents that you should take note of:
Unnoticeable Pedestrian Lanes - In big roads and busy cities like Sarasota, there are designated parts of the road that is meant for pedestrians to walk and cross on. These areas are often marked by lines painted on the pavement, or by traffic signs and lights. But there are instances where these pedestrian lanes have become unnoticeable, whether because of faded paint or their obscure position.
Drivers who fail to spot pedestrian signs will not be able to slow down or check if there are people who are about to cross the road. As a result, they can accidentally hit crossing pedestrians or lose control of their car in an attempt to veer away from the person.
Not Yielding The Right Of Way To Pedestrians - Failure to see pedestrian crossing signs is one thing, but deliberately ignoring them is another. Roads are used and shared by all, and so motorists and pedestrians alike are each given a chance to use them at a certain period.
Unfortunately, there are drivers who would not slow down or stop at all when passing pedestrian lanes, or would try to beat the red light before people on the street are given the go signal to cross it. These acts are often the reason behind many road hit-and-run accidents.
Pedestrians Have Poor Visibility - There really are times when it is hard to spot pedestrians on the road. For instance, heavy rains and nighttime can make it hard for drivers to notice people on the side of the road and are about to cross. By the time they spot pedestrians, it might be too late and an accident happens.
Poor visibility can also be caused by insufficient street lights. Nevertheless, it is important to pay attention to your surroundings, before and after the accident to properly assess what may have caused it and help the investigations.
Suddenly Running And Crossing The Road - Drivers are not the only ones who are rushing to get to their destinations. Sometimes, there are people who would suddenly run on the road and try to cross the street. There are also cases where children would run to the other side of the road unsupervised. These cases happen more often than you would think and so it is important to be more careful.
Distracted Driving - Driving while calling, texting, and eating are some of the common examples of distracted driving. When drivers’ minds and hands are occupied by something else, their reaction times are delayed and they might not notice warning signs or people. Distracted driving is one of the top causes of vehicular accidents, and among those involving pedestrians too.
There is a lot of things that you need to consider when investigating a pedestrian-related traffic accident to determine who is at fault and who should be compensated. Reaching out to a personal injury lawyer is a must in these cases to handle the complicated processes.
