A Look at Recent Miami Pedestrian Accidents
It is a stain on Miami’s reputation that pedestrian accidents are as common as warm weather reports in the nightly news here.
As the fourth deadliest city for pedestrians in the country (and a close neighbor to each of the top three), we see walkers, joggers, and cyclists die at a rate that would shock and abhor people in most other states.
Below, we look at two recent news stories involving Miami pedestrian accidents as a reminder that this problem is far from behind us.
Teenager in Critical Condition After Miami Hit-and-Run
A 15-year-old is still fighting to recover from a hit-and-run that nearly claimed his life.
According to NBC 6 Miami, Javier Valdes was crossing Northwest 22nd Ave in the 7900 block when a car moving southbound hit the teen and then drove away.
Valdes was rushed to the hospital, where he was admitted in critical care. His injuries were serious, but the young boy remained stable while under the hospital’s care.
Accompanied by his brother, Valdes was trying to catch a connecting bus from Miami Beach to SLAM Academy when he crossed 22nd. He is a sophomore on the basketball team at nearby Marlins Park.
Police say that the car had a green light at the time of the accident, and witnesses aren’t sure why the driver didn’t stop to help. Witnesses told NBC 6, “There’s no way the driver didn’t know he hit someone.”
Miami-Dade Police are actively searching for a silver, four-door Mercedes C-class with front-end damage and a chipped or broken Mercedes hood emblem. Authorities expect that the car is a newer model.
Sadly, Miami hit-and-run cases are all too common in state and county courtrooms.
Female Pedestrian Killed in Lauderdale Lakes School Zone
Earlier last month, a 59-year-old woman lost her life while crossing the 4000 block of State Road 7 in Lauderdale Lakes one early Tuesday morning.
As the Sun Sentinel reports, it was just before dawn when Margate resident Goonwatty Ramnarine crossed the road near Park Lakes Elementary School.
68-year-old Granville Robinson was driving down State Road 7 at the time and collided with Ms. Ramnarine, reportedly killing her on impact. Police say that Robinson immediately reported the accident and remained present at the scene.
The area where the accident occurred is designated as a school zone, with reduced speed limits on school days and safety signs posted in the vicinity. Crosswalks are available, but investigators say that Ms. Ramnarine wasn’t using one.
Still, members of the school community insist that the victim’s path is a common one for students and parents alike — and everyone knows it. That fact apparently inspired widespread debate at the scene about which parties should truly be held responsible.
Police do not suspect that speed or impairment played a role, but an official investigation is still ongoing.
Representing Victims of Miami Pedestrian Accidents
As Miami pedestrian accident attorneys, we have repeatedly called on Florida to help bring our high rate of pedestrian deaths to an end. This effort takes all of us — drivers, pedestrians, road crews, school officials, lawmakers, and beyond. We must work together to make our communities safe.
We send our best wishes for a full recovery to Mr. Valdes, and we extend our deepest condolences to the Ramnarine family. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by both these stories, and we will continue in our efforts to advocate for a safer Miami.
Mark Kaire has been practicing law in Miami for nearly 15 years. He is dedicated to helping the injured people of Miami receive compensation. Mr. Kaire has been blogging on Miami’s legal issues for 4 years.