Anyone who’s studied Florida pedestrian accident statistics would tell you that this state doesn’t have a reputation for being safe for pedestrians. In fact, in Jacksonville along, there were almost 380 pedestrian deaths in a ten-year period. In total, it’s actually the fourth most dangerous city in the country for pedestrians.

A new report has even more startling statistics

A recent report from the Governors Highway Safety Association shows that the number of pedestrian deaths across the country has risen to more than 6,000 per year – which is higher than it’s been in twenty years. In fact, that number shows an 11% increase in just a single year.

What’s causing all these pedestrian accidents?

On the surface, it may seem confusing that there are so many pedestrian deaths. After all, vehicles get safer year after year, and traffic engineers have found ways to design intersections and thoroughfares to be safer than ever before. Experts say that there’s one big difference between now and ten years ago though: The number of distractions on the road.

Yes, we’re talking about smartphone usage

Both drivers of cars and the pedestrians walking down the street are more absorbed than ever in their phones. While experts who study traffic say that they’re not surprised by the increase, they are surprised by how significant that increase is. Though walking and / or cycling while using a smartphone aren’t things that have been broadly studied, we expect to see more of these types of studies in the near future.

Florida is in for a huge number of pedestrian deaths this year

In the first six months of last year, there were 301 pedestrian deaths in Florida. That’s almost 9% more than the six months of the year before, and when you add up the four states with the highest number of pedestrian deaths (Florida, Texas, New York, and California) they make up about four out of every ten pedestrian deaths.

What to do if you suffer a loss of a loved one in a pedestrian accident

Have you lost a loved one as the result of a pedestrian accident? Are you wondering if you have any legal options? The truth is that you may be eligible for compensation. To learn more, reach out to Gilbert & Smallman for your free case evaluation. We’ll take a close look at your situation and give you a legal opinion about your options.