Palm Bay Bicycle and Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Auto accidents involving bicyclists and pedestrians usually are the result of the driver of a motor vehicle unable to avoid them. The reasons vary, and often it is not easy to determine who is at fault. It is critical to consult a Brevard County bicycle/pedestrian accident attorney after any such incident. Fatalities involving pedestrians and bicyclists comprise more than 20% of all traffic-related deaths. More sobering numbers follow.

Florida accident data

There were 4,775 accidents involving bicycles.
Of those, 118 bicyclists were killed and 4,380 were injured.
Fewer than 6% of bicyclists were able to walk away from an interaction with a motor vehicle that year.
72% of the bicyclists killed in 2008 were not wearing a helmet.

Bicycling is a popular mode of transportation, especially near the beaches of Brevard County. Unfortunately, bicyclists must share the road with cars, which can result in accidents, per the above statistics.

Bicycle safety tips

Wear a helmet – and wear it properly.
Do not ride on the sidewalk. Statistically, more bicycle accidents occur when bicyclists ride on the sidewalk than on the road.
Slow down at intersections and driveways.
Do not use the left turn lane to turn left; always use crosswalks when possible.
Obey all traffic signals.

Pedestrian accidents most commonly occur in downtown areas of our cities and towns, and in school zones. Often, drivers fail to read the signs that require a reduction in speed during certain hours of weekdays in these areas.

Pedestrians

In the same year (2008), there were 8,471 auto accidents involving pedestrians.
502 pedestrians were killed; 7,878 (92%) were injured.
Only 1% of pedestrians in accidents in Florida were uninjured during that year.

Pedestrian Safety Tips

Walk on sidewalks. If a sidewalk is not available, walk against the traffic. This means that you walk on the side of the road where the cars are coming toward you.
Keep children and pets on the side of you farthest from the road.
Obey all traffic signals.

Alcohol could be a factor in accidents involving pedestrians. More than 10% of all pedestrians involved in accidents in 2008 (in Florida) were under the influence of alcohol and more than 1/3 of all pedestrians killed had been drinking. This underscores the importance of contacting an experienced Brevard pedestrian accident attorney like Tara Couture of Couture Law PA. She and her team will help you dissect and understand the intricacies of your case, and the laws related to it. In some cases, the burden might be on you to prove that an accident was not your fault. Do not go it alone – contact a professional.

Couture Law PA represents bicycle and pedestrian accident victims in Brevard County and its major cities, including Melbourne, Titusville, Palm Bay and the entire Space Coasts and surrounding cities and towns.