A woman walking to her car at Orlando’s Festival Bay Mall on International Drive was struck and seriously injured by a vehicle, adding to the Orlando area’s reputation as the most dangerous place in the country for pedestrians. The investigation is still ongoing, but police say that the accident occurred on September 29 around 4:40 in the afternoon. The woman’s age and address have not yet been released by Orlando Police, but they say she was struck and run over in the mall’s parking lot and was trapped beneath the car that struck her for some time until rescuers were able to free her. She was taken to an Orlando-area hospital with undisclosed injuries and is listed in serious condition. Police say charges are pending against the driver who struck her.
Between 2000 and 2009, more than 5,000 people were struck and killed in pedestrian accidents in our state. A well-publicized report issued by transportation group Transportation for America earlier this summer listed Florida as the worst state in the country for pedestrian accidents as well as bicycle accidents. Around 11.1 percent of all people killed in pedestrian accidents and 17.4 percent of people killed in bicycle accidents are killed in Florida each year. Making matters worse, Transportation for America found that the Orlando-Kissimmee metropolitan area is the most dangerous place in the country for pedestrians.
There are a number of reasons why our area has earned this unfortunate distinction, including the following:
- Lack of sidewalks
- A transportation infrastructure designed and built specifically for automobiles
- Heavy traffic on area streets and highways
- High speeds
- Poor public awareness about the scope of our area’s pedestrian accident problems
All of these factors contribute to making our area dangerous for people who walk and bike to get around, but the single-largest factor is drivers who engage in negligent behavior such as the following:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
- Speeding
- Running red lights
- Driving aggressively to intimidate pedestrians and bicyclists
- Talking or texting on cell phones while driving
Have you or a close family member been injured in a pedestrian accident caused by a negligent driver? If so, you may be entitled to receive damages to help pay medical bills, replace lost wages and compensate you for pain and suffering and other damages. If you would like to speak with an Orlando personal injury lawyer who believes in giving each client and case the individual attention they deserve, call James O. Cunningham today at 386-243-4994 to schedule a consultation. He has law offices throughout Central Florida and has a proven record of success helping injured pedestrians. Call him today!
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a vehicle accident, call at (386) 243-4994.
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