Victim In A Pedestrian Traffic Accident? Know Your Rights
Pedestrians are a common sight, but despite this, they are often the victims of traffic accidents.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that pedestrians are dying in larger numbers, with 4,735 people losing their lives in pedestrian accidents in 2013 in the United States.
While the notion that vehicles must always yield to pedestrians walking along Florida roads is probably one of the most common pieces of conventional driving wisdom, this is far from a universal truth. It is vital that walkers and drivers understand who must yield, and when, so that both can share the road safely.
“At the law firm of Frank P. Bianco, P.A., I understand the pressures you face as a victim of a pedestrian accident. If another’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for personal injury losses.”
The 2015 Florida Statutes establish that drivers have a legal obligation to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks when the pedestrians are on the same side of the road as the drivers, or are near enough to be at risk when walking from the other side of the road. This rule covers marked and unmarked crosswalks.
Pedestrians do not always have the right of way, though. Florida law says they are required to yield to drivers under the following circumstances:
- Crossing outside of unmarked or marked crosswalks
- Opting not to use an available overhead crossing put in place for pedestrians, and traveling across the road surface instead
- Walking directly across the road instead of utilizing a tunnel provided for pedestrian use
- When there would not be time or distance for approaching vehicles to yield
Failure to yield when required can lead to potentially devastating auto-pedestrian accidents. Whether you are walking or driving, taking the time to understand who has the right of way could help make the roads safer for everyone.