Car accidents aren’t the only types of incidents that occur on the streets of Broward County. As Broward County pushes more residents to live a healthy, active lifestyle, reduce road congestion, and increase alternative forms of commuting, more and more individuals are walking and biking to work, school, and local stores. Broward County and other South Florida counties have recently begun focusing on improving roadway, sidewalk, and parking lot conditions by implementing more bike lanes, securing pedestrian paths, increasing pedestrian crosswalk times, and installing more signage. However, despite these reforms and changes, pedestrian and bicyclist accidents are on the rise in Florida.
If you were the victim of a pedestrian or bicycle accident, you may feel overwhelmed with mounting medical bills and worried about how you will find work to provide for your family. If a driver was operating a vehicle negligently, he or she may be liable for all of your expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. While a lawsuit cannot prevent pedestrian and bicyclist accidents from happening, it can help to make you whole again by providing justice and compensation. At Kaiser Romanello, we understand how traumatic an unexpected pedestrian and bicyclist accident can be and how severe and permanent injuries may alter your life for the worse. We have almost 20 years of combined experience representing personal injury clients in South Florida courts and will work tirelessly and diligently on your case in order to help you find peace of mind. We represent victims of biking and pedestrian accidents in Broward County, Palm Beach County, Miami Dade County, and other South Florida counties. To schedule a free case evaluation of your potential claims, contact Kaiser Romanello today.
BICYCLE ACCIDENTS
On average each year in the U.S., 743 people are killed in bicycle accidents and 48,000 are injured. However, these figures are much lower than reality as only approximately 10% of all bicycle accidents are reported by the police. According to the National Safety Council, this leads to a total cost of over $4 billion annually spent on bicycle accidents. Bicycling accounts for only 1% of transportation yet over 2% of all fatalities. In recent years, the number of fatalities have increased despite Florida transportation reforms.
Further, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides that the average bicyclist killed in an accident in the U.S. is 44 years old. 83% were male. 68% of accidents occurred in urban communities. 20% of cyclists had unlawful BAC levels, and 29% of drivers had unlawful BAC levels (.08 or higher). Florida, with an average of 133 bicycle-related fatalities a year, is in second place for highest number of bicycle deaths.
A majority of bicycle accidents are caused by collisions with cars (29%). In addition, 17% of cyclists are injured by falling, 13% are injured due to defects in the roadway or sidewalk, 13% are injured by negligent and careless drivers, 7% are injured by colliding with an object such as street sign or pedestrian, and 4% are injured by dogs.
If your injury is the fault of a negligent and careless driver, you have a cognizable personal injury claim. If your loved one’s passes away, you have legal recourse under the Florida Wrongful Death Act. Many drivers are unaware of Florida laws concerning cyclists. For instance, Florida recently passed a law requiring drivers to give cyclists at least 3 feet of space when passing. However, many drivers do not know about this law, and law enforcement has been slow to enforce it through ticketing.
PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS
Each year, a whopping 4,735 pedestrians in the U.S. are killed in vehicle-related accidents. Every day, an average of 12 pedestrians are killed. In addition, a stunning total of 66,000 pedestrian injuries happen annually, resulting in a pedestrian injury occurring once every 8 minutes. These fatalities account for 14% of all car-related accidents. Sadly, only a small percentage of overall pedestrian injuries and fatalities are reported to statistical bureaus such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Thus, these figures are likely low. A large portion of victims are children below the age of 14. These children account for $5.2 billion in spending per year on pedestrian accidents.
While many pedestrian accidents are caused by cars, the main culprit of pedestrian injury is an uneven or cracked sidewalk, causing 24% of all injuries. Victims of these types of injuries have legal recourse against the individual or entity responsible for maintaining the sidewalk, which is often a municipality like the City of Parkland. 17% of pedestrian accidents are caused by accidental trips and falls. 12% are caused by collisions with cars. 6% involve wildlife. 5% involve rocks. 5% are caused by holes.
A vast majority (75%) of these accidents occur in urban communities like Miami. 15% of the drivers who caused accidents were under the influence of alcohol. Florida, with 501 pedestrian deaths annually, is ranked second in the nation.
ACCIDENTS WE LITIGATE
- Crosswalk collisions
- Sidewalk slip and falls
- Parking lot mishaps
- Parking garage accidents
- Lack of pedestrian safety measures, signage, and speed bumps
- Insufficient clearance for joggers, cyclists, and pedestrians
CALL KAISER ROMANELLO FOR A FREE PERSONAL INJURY EVALUATION
If you were injured in a bicycle or pedestrian accident, you need to seek the advice and guidance of a skilled personal injury attorney immediately. Contact the experienced litigators at Kaiser Romanello now to schedule a free consultation.
