Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Like many North Port traffic accidents, pedestrian accidents happen due to driver error. Many of the causes of pedestrian accidents happen because the driver was negligent in their ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.

Some of the common causes of pedestrian accidents include:

• Distracted driving. Drivers do not always notice every pedestrian attempting to cross the intersection. When drivers are distracted from checking their cell phones, they divide their attention at the wrong time. That second that they decide to check their phone can also be the exact second that a pedestrian chooses to cross the street.
• Aggressive driving. Pedestrians have the right of way. However, around particular intersections, aggressive drivers may intentionally ignore the traffic laws and proceed to drive instead of yielding the right of way to pedestrians. Motorists can seriously injure pedestrians by assuming that the people on foot will yield to them when they don’t need to.
• Vehicles making left turns. Pedestrians cannot rely on crosswalk signals to protect them from drivers who attempt to make left turns. Drivers may be so focused on executing their left turns that they avoid yielding the right of way to pedestrians. Drivers may also fail to notice pedestrians crossing the street from the left side of the intersection.
• Road construction. Road construction on certain roadways forces pedestrians to travel on dangerous road areas to cross intersections. Unfortunately, the traffic congestion that can gather from the inconveniences associated with road construction can lead to drivers focusing on navigating through traffic and not paying attention to pedestrians.
• Multi-lane roads. There are specific road designs constructed without the thought of the pedestrian in mind. Multi-lane roads are one of those road designs. Because drivers are more concerned with navigating safely through multi-lanes, they may be paying more attention to the movement of other drivers and not pedestrians.

Dangerous Areas for Pedestrians in North Port

According to a Dangerous by Design Report, the area around North Port, Sarasota, and Bradenton was the sixth-most dangerous metro area for pedestrians. The area contains several 199 pedestrian fatalities that happened over a decade. That is a ratio of 2.5 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 residents.

What is Pedestrian Vulnerability?

In metro areas, the safety of pedestrians is usually considered an afterthought during the design process. Designers don’t make Roadways with additional lighting in mind, and some roadways may not even have the correct crosswalk signals to help pedestrians safely cross intersections.

In addition to unsafe roadway designs, pedestrians are not always visible to other drivers. Pedestrians may be dressed in dark clothing, making it even more challenging to remain visible around drivers. Because of this, pedestrians must be cautious when traveling through specific intersections and crosswalks.

Walking Around The Beach in North Port

Another dangerous area where pedestrians are at risk of being struck by vehicles is the beaches. North Port beaches have various shops, restaurants, and other storefronts lined up, making the boardwalk busy during daytime and nighttime.

To make matters worse, drivers attempting to drive through beach crosswalks are not always expecting a pedestrian to cross. Beach crosswalks are more dangerous to navigate because pedestrians do not have crosswalk signals to use; they cross the street whenever is convenient, putting themselves at a greater risk.

Liability For Drivers in Pedestrian Accidents

In pedestrian accidents, drivers usually are at-fault parties. For liability to be determined, the plaintiff must prove the legal theory of negligence through the party’s actions. Because pedestrians have the right of way, drivers must always yield to pedestrians.

The negligent actions of drivers also contribute to pedestrian accidents, like failing to yield or failing to obey traffic signals. However, it is not always easy to determine liability in a pedestrian accident.