Driver Strikes and Kills Pedestrian in Electric Wheelchair
Before sunrise on a Wednesday morning, an unfortunate traffic incident occurred involving a collision between a woman in a motorized wheelchair and a passenger vehicle. The crash took place at the busy intersection of South Semoran Boulevard and Lake Margaret Drive, in an area where the intersection extends across multiple lanes going opposite ways.
According to witnesses, the fifty-eight year old pedestrian had entered the south crosswalk at Lake Margaret Drive but attempted to cross before it was safe to do so. A white station wagon struck her. The driver of the vehicle had the right of way, as the driver had a green light. The driver remained at the scene as authorities arrived. The pedestrian died as a result of the accident.
Is Orlando Safe for Pedestrians?
In the recent accident involving the woman in the motorized electric wheelchair, precautions such as paying close attention to the traffic signal in the crosswalk could have prevented the accident; however, in a busy and spread out city like Orlando, pedestrians take a considerable risk when getting around on foot. In fact, the state of Florida is home to seven of the top 10 most deadly cities in America for pedestrians and car accidents, according to a study called Dangerous by Design.
The Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metropolitan area ranks third in the deadliest places for walkers in car-dependent communities, behind the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville area and above Jacksonville, Florida. This is due to a car-centric design that provides few ways for pedestrians to get around safely. Extra-wide streets and a lack of designated crosswalks increases a pedestrian’s risk of being struck by a powerful machine and sustaining life-threatening injuries or being killed on the spot. High speed limits and narrow medians are other factors that contribute to pedestrian accidents in Orlando.
How Can Pedestrians Walk Orlando Safely?
Pedestrians can take measures to stay safe when navigating the city freely. Some of the most important takeaways include:
- Paying attention to the traffic signals before crossing a street.
- Avoiding jaywalking because there is no designated crosswalk where you would like to cross.
- Staying off the phone when walking, especially when crossing a busy street.
Pedestrians who survive collisions with cars often sustain life-threatening injuries. If you or someone you care about has suffered a severe injury due to a car accident in Orlando, or your family has suffered a wrongful death due to a careless driver, contact the Umansky Law Firm to speak with our car accident lawyers. Call our office or email us for a free consultation.
