Reckless drivers need to be held accountable through Florida's civil justice system.
A stretch of US Route 19 in Pasco County that parallels Florida's Gulf Coast in the greater Tampa Bay area was recently named the deadliest road in America by Vox, primarily due to a large number of pedestrian accidents on the busy street.
Sadly, according to a Tampa Bay Times article, such news came as no surprise to public officials in the area responsible for road safety. The same public officials noted that millions of dollars in state funding was already set aside to improve pedestrian safety on US Route 19 in Pasco County before the Vox article.
Any improvements to eliminate pedestrian accidents and make roads safer for them are welcome. At Armando Personal Injury Law, our legal team knows far too well just how devastating pedestrian accidents can be. That's why we take pride in holding reckless drivers accountable and fighting for the compensation our clients deserve. If you or a loved one were hit by a car, contact us today to see how an experienced Tampa pedestrian accident lawyer can help you.
'Deadliest road in America'
The Vox article named US Route 19 in Pasco County (which includes Hudson, Port Richey, New Port Richey, and Holiday, Florida) the deadliest road in the country. According to a road safety study conducted by University of Wisconsin Milwaukee professors for Vox, this particular road was especially dangerous for pedestrians.
The study identified 60 "hot spots" across the country where more pedestrian fatalities occurred than anywhere else nationwide. Based on pedestrian fatality data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration between 2001 and 2016, seven of the 60 hot spots nationwide were located on US Route 19 in Pasco County, more than any other single road nationwide. Researchers described such results as "eye-popping."
Pedestrian accident fatalities in greater Tampa BAY
Route 19 in Pasco County, Florida, isn't the only place in the greater Tampa area where pedestrian accidents have been a problem in recent years. Hillsborough County (which includes Tampa) set a record last year for pedestrian fatalities, with 65 deaths in 2021, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles.
Statewide, pedestrian accidents remain a serious problem as well. Last year, Florida also set a record for pedestrian deaths, with 831 fatalities. To put such numbers in perspective, the previous high for Florida pedestrian fatalities was 714 deaths in 2019.
How to make roads safer for pedestrians
Road safety officials in Florida continue to take steps designed to make the state's streets safer for pedestrians. On Route 19 in Pasco County, such steps include:
- Better street lighting so drivers can see pedestrians better on Route 19
- Improved sidewalks so pedestrians can safely walk alongside the road
- Better crosswalks so people have clearly designated places to cross the street
- Improved traffic signals, which give pedestrians a few extra vital seconds to safely cross the street
Why should I hire a Tampa pedestrian accident attorney?
Despite the best efforts of public safety officials, pedestrian accidents occur far too often in the greater Tampa area. Speeding and distracted driving often play a major role in such accidents. Unfortunately, at-fault drivers often deny driving too fast or doing anything else illegal. Instead, they try to blame pedestrians for causing such accidents.
At Armando Personal Injury Law, we can fight for your rights every step of the way. We know how the civil justice system works in Florida. We know what evidence to look for and which strategies can be the most effective.
Don't take chances with your future. Take action. Get a law firm that gets results. Contact us and schedule a free case evaluation with a Tampa pedestrian accident lawyer you can count on when it matters most. Our office is located on East 5th Avenue in Tampa, and we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you only have to pay us if we secure a financial settlement or verdict for you.