Most pedestrians assume that walking on the shoulder of the road is safe. Despite the sense of safety, it is still important for pedestrians to be vigilant about what is going on around them because drivers who are distracted or fail to maintain proper control of a vehicle can easily injure or kill pedestrians if an accident occurs. Four pedestrians who were walking on a shoulder of a road in Florida recently were struck by a vehicle that went onto the shoulder of the road.
The 2002 Ford truck was driven by a 54-year-old man. The man ran into four pedestrians with the front of his vehicle, backed up his truck and continued to drive down the road until he ran into a concrete pole. Two of the pedestrians, a 60-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman, died from their injuries. Two other pedestrians, a 73-year-old man and a 62-year-old man, were injured in the car accident. The driver of the truck was also injured.
Police are uncertain about why the man drove onto the shoulder of the road, and the investigation is ongoing.
Car accidents that involve pedestrians often result in serious injuries or death. Sometimes driver impairment or distraction plays a role in the accident. If you or a loved one have been injured in such an accident, you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries. These claims could include pain and suffering, lost wages, medical expenses and other damages. Personal injury attorneys understand the legal rights that people have who are injured due to another person’s negligence and may be able to assist you in pursuing compensation.
Source: NBC Miami, “2 Pedestrians Dead, 2 Others Injured in Crash: Florida Highway Patrol” No author given, Jan. 09, 2014