Pedestrian accidents don’t always happen when crossing a street or walking along a busy road. Last week in the Tampa Bay area, a pedestrian was struck outside of a CVS in Sarasota County. The Long Boat Key victim was standing near the glass doors on the front of the store at 505 Bay Isles Parkway when a car crashed through the space, and struck the individual with enough force to send them to the nearby trauma department at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Thankfully, there were no additional victims injured, but even one pedestrian being harmed is too many.
This accident had us thinking about protecting yourself as a pedestrian, and what that looks like on a daily basis. Even if you don’t have to walk through downtown Tampa for work, or do your shopping in busy districts like River Walk, you probably do walk through parking lots, your own neighborhood, and to your child’s bus stop. We believe it’s important to practice awareness of one’s surroundings no matter where you are. Watch for:
- Speeding. If you see motorist driving too quickly in a parking lot, near a school zone, or in your neighborhood, get away from the street and put as much distance as you can between yourself and the vehicle.
- Distracted Drivers. That woman on her cell phone, carrying all of her bags and drinking her iced coffee at the same time? She’s getting ready to climb behind the wheel, and while the shopping bags might get put away, the distractions of the phone, the drink and her surroundings might mean she isn’t fully aware of the road. One second of distraction from a driver like this could mean disaster for nearby pedestrians. If you see this kind of behavior, use extra caution and keep eyes on the vehicle so you can give it plenty of room if needed.
- Problematic Intersections/Crosswalks. Some areas are more prone to accidents than others. If you know of problematic crosswalks or intersections, such as those at the bottom of a hill where speeding is common, or around a sharp turn with limited visibility, be careful when on foot. Stay alert and get away from the road as quickly as possible if you have to cross.
- Unusual Noises. Your ears can be a huge asset when practicing situational awareness. Listen for noises like loud engine revving (indicating a car speeding up), yelling by onlookers, squealing tires, etc. This could indicate a collision is about to happen, and you don’t want to be on the other end of it.
Brooks Law Group is here for pedestrian victims and their families following an accident. We stand up and fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Our free, no-obligation consultations make it easy to find out what your case would look like when handled by our team, and will help you make an informed decision when choosing your representation. We are proud to serve the Tampa Bay community with top quality legal services. Call us! After your accident, you know you can always Look to Brooks.
