South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
South Florida has a reputation for being somewhat risky. It’s got a plethora of alligators, firearms and hurricanes. But as it turns out, one of the riskiest things you can do here is take a stroll. 
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), there are an average of more than 9,300 pedestrian accidents in this state every year. As a result of those, more than 5,800 pedestrians are injured (more than 1,360 of those injuries are serious), and nearly 800 die. Risky driver behaviors, such as speeding, drunk driving, and distracted driving, contribute to these incidents and have been on the rise.
From 2010 to 2021, the pedestrian death rate in Florida rose nearly 80%, while other types of traffic fatalities increased by 25%. Florida has the third-highest rate of pedestrian deaths nationally in 2021. (In some recent years, it’s ranked No. 1.) That same year, state lawmakers passed a measure requiring the state driver education test to include a minimum of 25 questions on pedestrian and bicyclist safety.