Pedestrian tragically struck in Clearwater: Less than a week after a fatal pedestrian accident on Saturday, March 13th in Tampa, a pedestrian was tragically struck and killed on Friday, March 19th in Clearwater, multiple news outlets have reported. News reports revealed the fatal accident was reported at about 10 PM on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, just west of Lake Avenue. The victim, a 45-year-old Illinois man, was hit by a 2015 Ford F-250 truck, and tragically died of his injuries at the scene. According to the IOnTB report, Clearwater Police said the victim was wearing dark clothing and was not in a marked crosswalk when he was struck.
Our thoughts go out to the family of the victim. Losing a loved one suddenly and unexpectedly is heartbreaking and devastating.
The cause of the March 19th Clearwater pedestrian accident remains under investigation – and it is impossible to know exactly what happened. It is not clear based on the very limited information provided how fast the vehicle was traveling and if this fatal collision was caused by the vehicle driver or could have been prevented.
Pedestrian Tragically Struck in Clearwater
Many Florida Cities are Not Pedestrian Friendly
Earlier this month, we blogged about a recent report by Smart Growth America that named the top 10 “pedestrian-hostile” metropolitan areas in the country. Of the list, the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metropolitan statistical area ranked #8, with 968 pedestrian fatalities from 2010 to 2019. Many of these accidents are preventable tragedies. From January to June in Florida, 368 people died in pedestrian accidents. Pedestrian accidents, injuries, and fatalities, continue to occur and very concerning rates in Florida.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
The NHTSA defines a pedestrian as any person on foot- who is walking, jogging, running, hiking, sitting or lying down who is struck by a vehicle. Statistically, about 11-12% of traffic fatalities involve pedestrians. The majority of pedestrian accidents (about 68%) occur at night time. The Governors Highway Safety Association reported that in 2019, pedestrian fatalities nationwide had reached their highest number in more than 30 years – 6,590 deaths. Five states – Florida, California, Arizona, Texas, and Georgia, accounted for 47% percent of all pedestrian deaths.
Top Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Many pedestrian accidents can be attributed to unsafe driver actions, including operating a vehicle too fast (speeding), driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol, falling asleep at the wheel, or being distracted by a cell phone or other distraction. When drivers are responsible for an accident, victims and/or their families may have recourse to hold the at-fault party accountable in a personal injury or wrongful death claim. Damages may be substantial, depending on the cause of the accident, who is liable, and the amount of compensation available.
The Coleman Law Group Offers a Free Consultation
After a fatal accident, victims’ families are well-advised to speak with a knowledgeable and experienced Clearwater personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. The Coleman Law Group offers a free consultation to review a potential case and answer our questions. Call us today at (877) 822-9292 to speak with a lawyer. If we represent you in your personal injury or wrongful death claim, under our contingency fee agreement, we will not charge any legal fees unless we recover money on your behalf.