According to police, a 56-year-old man suffered critical injuries when he was hit by a vehicle at the intersection of Missouri Avenue and Cleveland Street in Clearwater, Florida.
The accident occurred the evening of Wednesday, September 21 at approximately 6 p.m. A woman driving a 2011 Kia was heading south on Missouri Avenue when the pedestrian reportedly stepped out onto the street in an attempt to cross. According to the Clearwater Police Department, the pedestrian was not in a crosswalk at the time.
The man was treated for his injuries at the scene by medics from Clearwater Fire and Rescue, then transported via ambulance to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, where he was listed as being in critical condition. Traffic investigators were then called to the scene to gather evidence about what had transpired.
Pedestrians must use crosswalks
Pedestrians are reminded to always cross the street at crosswalks whenever possible. Drivers are required by law to yield to pedestrians while they are in crosswalks, which makes them the safest location to cross.
However, just because a pedestrian was not in a crosswalk does not necessarily mean a driver escapes liability in the event of an accident. Motorists are still expected to slow down and avoid hitting pedestrians if they have a reasonable amount of time to do so. Because of this, the driver in this recent case could be found liable, even though the pedestrian may have been crossing illegally.
Injury claims related to pedestrian accidents can be complicated. If you have been injured due to the irresponsible actions of another party, call on a dedicated Bradenton personal injury lawyer with Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.