South Florida Sees Uptick in Non-Motorist Accident Fatalities

December 01, 2012

A rash of recent pedestrian and bicyclist accidents in South Florida has resulted in more deaths added to the state's already high non-motorist fatality rate. In the past few months alone, at least four people have been struck by vehicles and killed in the Manatee county metropolitan area, something that has bicycle/pedestrian advocacy spokesmen like Mike Lasche, executive director of Bicycle/Pedestrian Advocates and Florida Walks & Bikes, frustrated.

Florida has one of the highest bicycle and pedestrian accident fatality rates in the nation, due in no small part to the "Sunshine State's" temperate climate, expanding population, the increased cost for gasoline and a growing awareness of the effects of transportation exhaust on the environment. Of course, with more pedestrians and bicyclists sharing the roadways -- most often without the benefit of ample sidewalks, crosswalks and bike-only lanes -- there are going to be more accidents, particularly as daylight savings time has brought about shorter days but a warm Autumn season hasn't significantly decreased the number of non-motorists.

Making life easier for non-motorists

Organizations like Bicycle/Pedestrian Advocates and Florida Walks & Bikes note that infrastructure changes are the best way to ensure the safety of non-motorists. For example, a recent Canadian research study shows that having dedicated bike-only road lanes decreases the chances of an accident by 50 percent, particularly in areas that allow curb-side parking, since vehicle occupants often open doors into passing bicyclists or strike them when pulling out of parking spaces.

Other, non-invasive changes can make the roads of Manatee, Bradenton, Key Biscayne, Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood safer, too, though. Lasche notes that Florida already has the funding and materials to implement a wide-scale education campaign aimed at improving the interaction between drivers and bicyclists/pedestrians, but the program is largely unused. Some basic reminders about the rules of the road can also be helpful, including:
- Bicyclists should always go with the flow of traffic
- Pedestrians should only cross at designated crosswalks, and only when they have checked for oncoming traffic
- Bicyclists should always wear a helmet
- If no sidewalk is present, pedestrians should walk facing the flow of traffic, wearing bright or reflective colors (especially at night)
- Bicyclists need front and rear headlights after dark
- Drivers should maintain a 3-foot buffer zone around bicyclists, particularly in congested areas

What happens when non-motorist accidents occur?

Overwhelmingly, the most serious injuries to bicyclists or pedestrians struck by moving vehicles involve head trauma. Wearing a bicycle helmet and wrist/knee guards can help lessen the severity of an injury, but it - in and of itself - is not sufficient to prevent all harm. Broken bones, lacerations, scrapes and "road rash" are also common in non-motorist accidents.

Regardless of the type of injury you have, if you have been hurt while walking or biking along a Florida roadway, you need to be able to focus your time and energy on your physical recovery. Speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney in your area can give you more information about possible legal avenues that could hold the at-fault driver responsible for your suffering.

Article provided by Neufeld, Kleinberg & Pinkert, PA
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