Pedestrian Hit by Car, Killed After Falling in Roadway

Driving can be difficult in the early morning hours. You may not be able to see the roadway clearly. With visibility reduced, you may end up hitting something in the road, like a pedestrian.

Sadly, this was recently the case in Bradenton. An 85-year-old woman fell in the middle of the road, causing a driver to hit and kill her. The fatal accident occurred on the morning of February 21 at the intersection of Woodlawn Drive and Wildwood Springs Boulevard.

The pedestrian was a woman who suffered from dementia and had a history of falling. She left her home early in the morning and collapsed in the roadway at Woodlawn Drive and Wildwood Springs Boulevard.

A 60-year-old Bradenton woman was driving a Hyundai Sonata on Woodlawn Drive when she made a right turn onto Wildwood Springs Boulevard and hit the pedestrian. The pedestrian was killed in the crash. She died at the accident scene.

The driver claimed she had no opportunity to see the woman before hitting her. She was not injured in the crash. She is not expected to face criminal charges. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol Traffic Homicide Unit.

Increased Pedestrian Accident Risk for Dementia Patients

Dementia patients face a significantly higher risk of pedestrian accidents due to cognitive decline, impaired judgment, and reduced reaction times. Several key factors contribute to this increased risk:

• Impaired spatial awareness. Dementia impairs spatial relationships, making it difficult for patients to judge distances and speeds of oncoming vehicles. They may miscalculate the time needed to cross the street safely or fail to recognize the boundaries between the sidewalk and the road.
• Memory loss. Memory impairment is a hallmark of dementia, affecting a person’s ability to recall basic traffic rules, recognize common pedestrian crossings, or even remember how to navigate familiar routes safely. A person with dementia may forget to wait for a traffic light, cross at designated areas, or become disoriented in a once-familiar neighborhood.
• Reduced attention. Dementia patients often struggle with maintaining focus and may become easily distracted by noise, flashing lights, or movement. They might not notice an approaching vehicle, fail to hear a honking horn, or overlook a stop signal.
• Slower reflexes. Neurological decline in dementia patients leads to delayed reaction times, making it difficult for them to respond quickly to potential dangers. Even if they recognize an oncoming vehicle, their body may not react fast enough to move out of the way.
• Wandering behavior. Many dementia patients experience wandering. This behavior can lead them onto busy roads and highways without realizing the danger. In extreme cases, patients may leave home at odd hours and become lost.

Contact Us Today

Pedestrian accidents are devastating situations, especially when the person dies. Most people do not want to hurt others with their vehicle.

Pedestrian crashes can be complicated. Who has the right of way? Who pays up? Discuss your situation with a Bradenton pedestrian accident lawyer from Cahall Law Firm. Schedule a consultation today by calling (941) 281-2019 or filling out the online form.

Source:

bradenton.com/news/local/article300728839.html