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NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Association) reports that close to 5,000 pedestrians die in motor-vehicle-related accidents each year.  

According Injury Facts 2015:

• In 2013, 6,100 pedestrians were killed by motor vehicles.
• That same year, about 160,000 pedestrian injuries required medical attention.
• 23 percent of deaths and injuries result from pedestrians darting into the street, with the majority of those younger than age 15.
• The number of pedestrian deaths has decreased significantly since the 1970s; during that decade, deaths were between 8,400 and 10,300.
• During the decade from 2002 to 2013, death rates did not change much; they hovered around 6,000, with a low of 5,300 in 2009.

On September 7, 2017, the Florida Highway Patrol reported that a person died on McGregor Boulevard in Lee County. The pedestrian was walking across the boulevard when he was hit by a car driven by a 59-year-old man from Cape Coral. The driver said he did not see the pedestrian.

“Not seeing a pedestrian when driving should not happen. Drivers have the responsibility to drive undistracted and safely,” said Naples Pedestrian Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

“It was dark.”

Marc Green PhD said in Human Factors that many pedestrians are killed at night. This is because pedestrians usually appear in peripheral vision.

“A driver can only avoid an accident if he sees the pedestrian relatively far ahead. The driver must detect the pedestrian, recognize the impending collision, and then react by pressing the brakes. Suppose a driver is traveling at 60 mph (88 feet per second) and suddenly sees a pedestrian.  ‘Normal’ perception-reaction time for a lane incursion by a pedestrian (Green, 2000) is about 1.5 seconds. During this time, the car will have moved forward 132 feet (1.5 x 88). Cars do not stop instantaneously, however, so the vehicle continues forward after brake depression until friction halts all motion. This would require another 150 feet and take about 3.4 seconds. As a result, the driver must see the pedestrian 280 feet and 4.9 seconds in advance. At city driving speeds of 35 mph, the stopping distance is still 138 feet and the stopping time is 3.6 seconds. These calculations also assume good conditions and ignore brake lag, the time from touching the pedal to full depression and lock up, which is likely .25-.50 sec. The requirements increase when the road is wet, the vehicle is heavier (a fully loaded tractor trailer can take 400 feet or more), the terrain slopes downhill or the driver’s reaction time is slowed by age, alcohol, fatigue or distraction.”

“I was distracted.”

NPR (National Public Radio) reported in March 2017, that one of the excuses, “I was distracted,” can be seen during the Chicago rush hour.

“Both drivers inching through traffic and scores of pedestrians crossing the busy intersections have one thing in common. Their eyes are down, staring at their phones.

“Being injured in a pedestrian accident with a vehicle can be very serious. Please contact our experienced team of attorneys to discuss your rights. There are no fees or costs until there is a monetary recovery for you,” said Fort Myers Pedestrian Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Fort Myers Pedestrian Accident Attoney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one  (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  VisitSpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.