Florida has developed a reputation for being one of the most dangerous states in the country for pedestrians, and unfortunately, the statistics continue to indicate that reputation is well-earned.
The state’s troubles with pedestrian accidents are seen in cities all over the state. The case of Jacksonville is one that is particularly noteworthy, as statistics released earlier this year indicate about 28 percent of all people killed on the city’s roads last year were pedestrians.
Here are some takeaways from the information released by the Department of Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
- There were 163 total accident fatalities reported in Jacksonville in 2019.
- Of the 163 fatalities, 46 were pedestrians, a number that was up from 34 in 2018.
- As of early February, there had already been two pedestrians, one bicyclist and one motorcyclist killed in Duval County.
- 2019 saw 7,044 hit-and-run crashes in Duval County, 17 of which resulted in deaths. Approximately 84 percent of these hit-and-runs occurred at dawn, dusk or overnight.
Florida sees more pedestrian accidents than other states in part because of climate—people are out and about all year long in the state. There are also greater numbers of pedestrians in areas that see a lot of tourism, especially areas along beaches.
But even taking these factors into consideration, the widespread issues with pedestrian accidents are shocking and some significant cause for concern. Local leaders continue to advocate for changes in planning of roadways and other laws to help make the streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
For more information about the steps you should take if you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident caused by a negligent driver, contact an experienced Bradenton, FL accident lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh.