According to a report from Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition, pedestrians in the state of Florida have a substantially higher risk of being involved in a deadly accident than in any other state. In fact, the report revealed that 9 out of the 20 deadliest cities in America for pedestrians are located in Florida. Orlando was listed as the least safe while the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolis was ranked No. 14.
Data from the study shows that the number of annual pedestrian deaths in the United States increased by 35.7% between 2008 and 2017. During that 10-year period, 49,340 pedestrians died. This means that 13 pedestrians are killed each day, or one person every hour and 46 minutes.
The report states, “It’s the equivalent of a jumbo jet full of people dying every single month. Unlike traffic fatalities for motor vehicle occupants, which decreased 6.1% between 2008 and 2017, pedestrian deaths have been steadily increasing since 2009.”
During the 10-year span covered in the study, there were 5,433 pedestrian deaths in Florida. That’s an annual average of 2.73 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people. The national average is 1.55 annual deaths per 100,000 people.
Below is the number of pedestrian deaths the state of Florida recorded in the past 10 years:
- Orlando: 656 deaths
- Daytona Beach: 265 deaths
- Melbourne-Titusville: 245 deaths
- Sarasota-Bradenton: 234 deaths
The pedestrian death rate is disproportionately high for the elderly, minorities, and people walking in poor communities, according to data from the study. Intersections and crosswalks are where older adults are commonly hit. A report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that SUVs and pickup trucks are three times more likely to kill a pedestrian in a crash than a sedan.
Have you or someone you know been seriously injured in a pedestrian accident in the state of Florida? If so, you might be entitled to financial compensation. Call (727) 784-8191 today to schedule your free case evaluationwith one of our Clearwater personal injury lawyers.
