A pedestrian is a person on foot, whether that person is walking, jogging, running, or skipping. When we’re talking about a pedestrian accident, we’re talking about a person on foot getting hit by a car, motorcycle, motor home, golf cart, or any other kind of motor vehicle. In other words, if you’re on foot and get hit by a vehicle, that’s a pedestrian accident.

Pedestrian accidents are remarkably common. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nationwide pedestrian accident statistics, 76,000 people were injured in pedestrian accidents in 2019. In the same year, 6,205 people died as a result of pedestrian accidents. For perspective, 49,000 people were injured in bicycle accidents. This means a pedestrian died in a pedestrian accident every 85 minutes during 2019.

If you’ve been hit by a vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses, and we believe you should contact an Orlando pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible after your pedestrian accident. The Orlando pedestrian accident lawyers at Spetsas Buist PLLC know what it takes to pursue a pedestrian accident claim, and they will fight to protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

orlando-pedestrian-accident-attorney | Florida Pedestrian Accident LawyerAs you could probably guess, distracted and unfocused drivers cause a significant percentage of pedestrian accidents. Technology is everywhere now, including inside vehicles. When a driver looks away from the road to select a song or a podcast or to enter a new address in the GPS system, the driver is much more likely to hit a pedestrian. In reality, there are many ways a pedestrian might be injured by a negligent driver, and we have listed some of the more common causes of pedestrian accidents below.

  • Driving while intoxicated;
  • Driving while distracted;
  • Ignoring traffic lights, traffic signs, and traffic signals;
  • Failing to give a pedestrian the right-of-way;
  • Striking a pedestrian on a sidewalk; or
  • Striking a pedestrian on a crosswalk.

Florida Pedestrian Accident Statistics

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles compiles traffic accident data and pedestrian accident data for Florida every year. Below are some of the pedestrian accident statistics from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle Report from recent years.

Total Pedestrian Crashes in Florida

In this context, the FLHSMV defines a crash as the operation of a motor vehicle in the state which results in property damage, complaint of bodily injury, bodily injury or death to any person.

  • 2018 / 9,356 Pedestrian Crashes
  • 2019 / 9,736 Pedestrian Crashes
  • 2020 / 8,117 Pedestrian Crashes
  • 2021 / 9,569 Pedestrian Crashes
  • 2022 / 10,204 Pedestrian Crashes

Total Injuries From Pedestrian Crashes in Florida

In this context, the FLHSMV defines an injury as the total number of people who sustained bodily hurt or damage or complained of bodily hurt or damage as a result of a traffic crash.

  • 2018 / 7,935 Injuries from Pedestrian Crashes
  • 2019 / 7,893 Injuries from Pedestrian Crashes
  • 2020 / 6,304 Injuries from Pedestrian Crashes
  • 2021 / 7,331 Injuries from Pedestrian Crashes
  • 2022 / 7,907 Injuries from Pedestrian Crashes

Total Fatalities From Pedestrian Crashes in Florida

In this context, the FLHSMV defines a fatality as a death that results from a traffic crash. Only fatalities that occurred within 30 days of the crash are considered traffic-related.

  • 2018 / 720 Fatalities from Pedestrian Crashes
  • 2019 / 734 Fatalities from Pedestrian Crashes
  • 2020 / 715 Fatalities from Pedestrian Crashes
  • 2021 / 835 Fatalities from Pedestrian Crashes
  • 2022 / 790 Fatalities from Pedestrian Crashes

Pedestrian Accident Data for Orange County, Florida

The data above covers the whole State of Florida. Now, let's look at the FLHSMV’s recent pedestrian crash data that specifically pertains to Orange County, Florida. For reference, Orange County includes places like Orlando, Apopka, Maitland, Ocoee, Windermere, Winter Garden, and Winter Park. There are certainly more towns and cities in Orange County, but these are some of the most popular and well-known.

FLHSMV Pedestrian Crash Data for Orange County, Florida (2022)

  • 664 Total Pedestrian Crashes
  • 55 Fatalities from Pedestrian Crashes
  • 586 Injuries from Pedestrian Crashes

Pedestrian Accident Data from Orlando Metro

Now, we’ll get more specific and look at pedestrian crash data for Orlando, Florida only. Metroplan Orlando compiles data regarding pedestrian crashes in Orlando, Florida, and we will provide some recent data below.

Metroplan Orlando Pedestrian Crash Data for Orlando, Florida (2022)

  • 271 Total Pedestrian Crashes
  • 13 Fatalities from Pedestrian Crashes
  • 249 Injuries from Pedestrian Crashes

As you review the pedestrian crash data above for Florida, Orange County, and Orlando, you might notice that a significant number of the total pedestrian crashes involve injuries, and this makes sense. The numbers pan out this way because pedestrians aren't protected by metal, airbags, and doors. When a pedestrian gets hit by a car, their body takes the impact, and that's why these types of accidents are so dangerous, and it's also why traffic laws gives deference to pedestrians in many situations.

Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Unlike a driver or a passenger in a motor vehicle, a pedestrian has no protection in a traffic accident. Additionally, when a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, the pedestrian is often thrown against the unforgiving pavement. As a result, it’s not uncommon for a pedestrian accident to cause serious injury or death. Here are some of the more common types of injuries that result from pedestrian accidents in Florida.

Head & Brain Injuries

Your average pedestrians don’t walk around with a helmet on. Additionally, when a vehicle hits a pedestrian, there are typically two impacts: (1) the impact with the vehicle and (2) the impact with the concrete below. Therefore, a serious head injury is a common result of a pedestrian accident. These types of injuries can cause traumatic brain injury, concussions, skull fractures, and brain bleeding. Furthermore, head and brain injuries can cause the victim to suffer long-term cognitive and mental impairment.

Neck, Back & Spine Injuries

For the same reasons pedestrians are at high risk for brain injuries, they’re also at high risk for a variety of spinal cord injuries. Spinal injuries can result in paralysis or death, as well as lasting effects, like numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness. Overall, a neck, back, or spine injury can result in lifelong complications for the victim.

Soft Tissue Injuries

When a vehicle hits a pedestrian, the force of the impact from both the vehicle and pavement often causes contusions, lacerations, sprains, dislocations, lacerations, and road rash. These injuries not only cause serious pain but can also leave lasting and disfiguring scars and marks on the victim’s body.

Bone Injuries

After being hit by a vehicle, a pedestrian will often suffer a broken ankle, leg, rib, arm, or wrist. More serious types of bone injuries involve compound fractures or bones splitting and pushing through the skin. Therefore, bone injuries can be extremely horrific and often require multiple surgeries and lots of time to heal.

If you’ve suffered injuries as a result of a pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to compensation, and we recommend you contact an Orlando pedestrian accident attorney as soon as you can.

What Should I Do After a Pedestrian Accident?

As we talked about above, pedestrian accidents are scary because you’re exposed when a car crashes into you, as well as when you hit the concrete. With all the horror and adrenaline involved in a pedestrian accident, it can be difficult to think or make decisions. Therefore, it is a good idea to know how to respond before you’re ever involved in a pedestrian accident. Hence, we have prepared a checklist of things you should do after you have been struck by a vehicle.

Get to Safety

Move out of the way of danger as soon as you can safely do so, especially if it’s too dark for drivers to be able to see you. 

Call 911 or Local Authorities

You should call 911 after a pedestrian accident if you are seriously hurt and able to make the call. If you can’t physically make the call, ask someone nearby to make it for you. However, even if the accident is not severe, you should call the local police to get a police report because it will help you establish the facts of the accident later.

Get Medical Help Quickly

If you feel like you sustained injuries in your pedestrian accident, seek medical help as soon as possible, even if you’re only experiencing slight or minor pain. If you don’t get your injuries treated soon after the accident, they may get worse. Additionally, if you seek medical help, you can put your injuries on the record, which may help you establish your damages later in your future pedestrian accident lawsuit or claim.

Get the Driver's Contact & Insurance Info

If possible and safe to do so, get the contact and insurance information of the driver that hit you. Also, if there are any passengers in the car, get their contact information too if you can safely do so.

Get Contact Info of Witnesses

Witnesses often disappear after a pedestrian accident. As a result, if you don’t have their contact information, you may not be able to reach them after you file your claim. So, if there are any witnesses around when a car runs into you, and if the witnesses seem willing to help, ask if they will give you their contact information.

Take Pictures & Videos of the Scene

If possible, gather evidence of your pedestrian accident as soon as possible. Try to take pictures of the vehicles involved, as well as the accident scene.  Also, you should try to take a quick video of the scene of the accident. If you take good pictures and videos, this kind of info could help your Orlando pedestrian accident attorneys prove important facts of your case.

Don't Talk to the Insurance Folks

Don’t make any statements to the insurance folks or sign anything they want you to sign until you speak with your Orlando pedestrian accident attorney. You should not speak to them any more than you have to, but you should certainly avoid saying anything that may undermine your claim. Typically, the goal of the insurance adjusters and the lawyers for the insurance company is to resolve any issues as cheaply as possible. Thus, we recommend you speak with a personal injury attorney before talking to the insurance folks.

Don't Say More Than Necessary

If the police get involved, cooperate with them. However, don’t say anything that could be construed as an admission of fault. Also, don’t apologize for anything or state your opinion about what happened. Finally, do not talk too much to anyone at the scene. Instead, try to keep quiet as much as possible.

Don't Talk About the Accident on Social Media

Resist the urge to talk about your accident on social media. The insurance lawyers can use what you say on social media against you, and it happens all the time. Therefore, only talk about your pedestrian accident with your attorney, and definitely do not post about it on your social media accounts.

Contact an Orlando Pedestrian Accident Attorney ASAP

We recommend you contact an Orlando personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your pedestrian accident. That way, you can be sure you have someone to fight for you and protect your rights. At Spetsas Buist, our personal injury attorneys offer free consultations to victims of pedestrian accidents.

Pedestrian & Driver Safety Tips

We are all pedestrians at one time or another. Thus, we should all strive to make sure we do everything we can to ensure the safety of ourselves, our loved ones, and our neighbors in our communities. We have listed some of the NHTSA’s safety tips for pedestrians and drivers below to help everyone safely enjoy walking around.

Pedestrian Safety Tips

  1. Be predictable; follow the rules of the road; and obey signs and signals.
  2. Walk on sidewalks whenever possible.
  3. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
  4. Keep alert at all times and don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes (and ears) off the road.
  5. Whenever possible, cross streets at crosswalks or intersections, where drivers expect pedestrians. Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right.
  6. If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate an area with good lighting where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely, and be sure to continue watching for traffic as you cross.
  7. Never assume a driver sees you. Instead, make eye contact with drivers as they approach to make sure they see you.
  8. Be visible at all times. Wear bright clothing during the day, and use reflective materials and a flashlight at night.
  9. Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways or backing up in parking lots.
  10. Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking; they impair your abilities and your judgment.

Driver Safety Tips

  1. Keep an eye out for pedestrians everywhere and all the time. Safety is a shared responsibility.
  2. Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or bad weather.
  3. Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.
  4. Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop a safe distance back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians. That way, the other drivers can stop too.
  5. Do not pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk because there may be pedestrians crossing that you can’t see.
  6. Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  7. Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street.
  8. Follow slower speed limits in school zones and in neighborhoods where children are present.
  9. Be extra cautious when backing up because pedestrians can move into your path.
Nicholas Spetsas
Helping Florida residents battle the insurance companies following all types of personal injury claims.