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Orlando cited as worst city for pedestrian accidents — Miami-Fort Lauderdale third-worst

From Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce, to Miami and Fort Lauderdale, pedestrian accidents are a year-round danger in South Florida. In fact, NBC2 reports that Orlando is the worst city in the nation for pedestrian accidents.

The Florida Highway Patrol also reports hit-and-run accidents are occurring with increasing frequency. Troopers recorded a total of 691 hit-and-run reports for the month of December alone. Our Port St. Lucie car accident attorneys are frequently asked whether a victim should bother to consult an attorney in cases where hit-and-run causes injury or property damage. We believe strongly that legal representation is your best option for protecting your rights in such cases, as well as those cases in which an uninsured motorists accident causes serious or fatal injury.

In cases where the driver is identified, it may be possible to file a claim against his or her personal assets, or against the insurance policies in place on other vehicles in the household. You may also be entitled to collect damages from your own insurance carrier.

Pedestrian accidents in South Florida may also involve a hit-and-run driver, either because a driver was intoxicated, lacked a driver’s license or insurance, or had other reasons for not stopping at the scene of the crash.

The recent ranking of Orlando as worst in the nation for pedestrian accidents by Transportation for America is not surprising. Millions of tourists and year-round nice weather are both leading contributors to the pedestrian accident problems in Orlando and elsewhere in South Florida.

In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports Florida pedestrian accidents claimed 490 lives in 2008 — more than anywhere in the nation except California.

About 1 in 10 of the nation’s pedestrian accidents occur in Florida.

Florida cities took the top four spots. Orlando was followed by Tampa, Miami-Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville.

Freeman & Mallard is a West Palm Beach personal injury and wrongful death law firm dedicated to helping motorists who have been injured in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and the Port St. Lucie/Fort Pierce areas. Call today for a free consultation. 1-800-529-2368.

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