Around 7:40 p.m. on October 31, Halloween night, police received a report of a crash near Griffin Road and Davie Road. Carlos Alvarado Amaya, 45, was crossing the street with his two young children when he and one child were struck by a vehicle. His five-year-old daughter was struck by the vehicle and died at the scene. The other child, roughly 2 years old, was taken to a nearby hospital. She suffered a laceration to her head and was reunited with her mother. The father and two children were returning home from trick-or-treating.
The driver, a 30-year-old woman, in a silver Cadillac remained on the scene. Police do not yet know if drugs, alcohol, or speed were factors in the accident, though initial appearances indicate they were not. Police do know that Amaya and his children were in a designated crosswalk, but the streetlights were not on and it was a busy street.
If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a vehicle-pedestrian crash, do not hesitate to contact our Miami pedestrian accident lawyers from Gerson & Schwartz P.A. We are here to help you determine who is liable for the crash, and when appropriate, pursue compensation for your injuries or loss. Call us at (877) 475-2905 to schedule a free consultation.
Pedestrian Fatalities in Florida and the U.S. Are High
Unfortunately, situations like what happened this Halloween in Broward County are not uncommon. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, pedestrian fatalities in 2017 hit a 25-year high. Nearly 6,000 individuals were killed.
There also had been increases in fatalities for the two years before. Between 2007 and 2016, pedestrian fatalities increased 27 percent. Between 2016 and 2017, 23 states and Washington, D.C. experienced rises in their pedestrian deaths. Twenty other states remained steady or had fewer pedestrian fatalities compared to the year before.
Florida is particularly known for its pedestrian dangers. Along with California, Texas, New York, and Arizona, these five states accounted for 43 percent of pedestrian deaths during the first half of 2017.
Additionally, Florida has nine of the top 15 most dangerous areas for pedestrians in the U.S., according to a Smart Growth America study. The study, which was released in early 2017, found the 15 most dangerous metro areas for pedestrians were:
- Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
- Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL
- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
- Jacksonville, FL
- Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL
- Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Jackson, MS
- Memphis, TN
- North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Bakersfield, CA
- Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
Did You Lost a Loved One in a Pedestrian Accident?
If your loved one was struck and killed by a car in Miami-Dade or Broward Counties, do not hesitate to call us at Gerson & Schwartz P.A. We are highly experienced wrongful death attorneys. We will thoroughly investigate the crash and gather evidence regarding what happened. We will determine fault and liability. We also will explain Florida’s wrongful death law and your options for pursuing compensation. The personal representative of your loved one’s estate may be able to file a lawsuit on your family’s behalf and fight for you all to receive fair compensation.
To learn more, call Gerson & Schwartz P.A. at (877) 475-2905 to schedule a free consultation.