Across the country, safety researchers, regulators, and injury advocates are paying closer attention to a troubling roadway trend: larger pickups, SUVs, vans, and crossovers may be making pedestrian crashes more dangerous.
A recent New York Times investigation drew renewed attention to the relationship between vehicle design and pedestrian deaths, especially the growth of taller hoods, larger front ends, and expanded blind zones. Accessible reporting on that investigation states that increased hood height has contributed to thousands of avoidable pedestrian deaths in the United States between 2016 and 2024.
For families in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, and throughout Florida, this is more than a national policy discussion. Pedestrians are among the most vulnerable people on the road. When someone walking is hit by a vehicle, there is no seat belt, airbag, or protective frame to absorb the impact. The consequences can include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, permanent disability, or wrongful death.
At Romano Law Group, we have seen how quickly a normal walk, a trip through a parking lot, or a crosswalk crossing can become life-changing. As a family-owned personal injury law firm based in West Palm Beach, we help injured people and families understand their rights after serious crashes involving cars, trucks, SUVs, commercial vehicles, and other dangerous roadway conditions.
Why Vehicle Size and Shape Matter in Pedestrian Crashes
A pedestrian crash is not only about speed or driver behavior. The design of the vehicle can also affect whether a pedestrian survives.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recognized this issue in a proposed pedestrian head-protection standard for new passenger vehicles. NHTSA stated that the proposed rule would apply to passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less, including trucks, SUVs, crossovers, and vans. NHTSA also reported that in 2022, pedestrian fatalities involving the front of a vehicle were most common for multipurpose passenger vehicles, followed by passenger cars.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has also studied this issue. IIHS research has found that vehicles with tall, more vertical front ends pose a greater danger to pedestrians. One key concern is that a higher front end can strike a pedestrian higher on the body, increasing the risk of severe trauma to the head, neck, chest, and torso.
The reason is straightforward. A smaller, lower vehicle may strike a pedestrian lower on the body, sometimes causing the person to roll onto the hood. A taller, blunter vehicle can strike higher on the body and knock a person forward or down, which may increase the chance of catastrophic injury.
For injured pedestrians and grieving families, these details matter. They may help explain how the crash happened, why the injuries were so severe, and what evidence should be reviewed.
Blind Zones and Turning Crashes Are Another Major Concern
Large vehicles can also create visibility problems. High hoods, wide pillars, large mirrors, and oversized front ends may make it harder for drivers to see pedestrians, especially children, older adults, wheelchair users, cyclists, and people crossing close to the vehicle.
This matters in everyday Florida driving. Many pedestrian crashes occur in places where people should be expected: crosswalks, intersections, school zones, parking lots, driveways, and shopping centers.
- A driver turning left or right may be focused on oncoming traffic and fail to notice a person already in the crosswalk.
- A driver pulling forward from a stop may not see someone directly in front of a tall hood.
- A driver backing or maneuvering in a parking lot may miss a child or older adult nearby.
Pedestrian safety requires drivers to slow down, scan carefully, yield when required, avoid distractions, and understand the limitations of their own vehicle. A larger vehicle is not an excuse for failing to see what should have been seen.
Pedestrian Deaths Remain a Serious National Problem
Although pedestrian safety has become a more visible public issue, the numbers remain deeply concerning. NHTSA reported that pedestrian deaths increased 57% from 2013 to 2022, rising from 4,779 to 7,522. Federal regulators have said proposed pedestrian-protection rules could save lives each year by reducing the risk of serious or fatal head injuries.
For Florida communities, the risk is especially visible because of our mix of high-traffic corridors, tourism, aging pedestrians, busy parking lots, school zones, and roads that were often designed primarily for vehicle speed rather than pedestrian safety. West Palm Beach and surrounding areas continue to grow, and with growth comes more interaction between drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, delivery vehicles, rideshare vehicles, commercial trucks, and large SUVs.
When drivers are distracted, speeding, impaired, aggressive, or simply not paying attention, pedestrians are often the ones who suffer the most serious consequences.
Who May Be Liable After a Pedestrian Crash?
Every pedestrian crash requires a careful investigation. Liability depends on the facts, and no one should assume fault before evidence is reviewed. However, potentially responsible parties may include:
- A negligent driver who was speeding, distracted, impaired, fatigued, failed to yield, ignored traffic signals, made an unsafe turn, or failed to keep a proper lookout.
- A commercial vehicle operator or employer, if the vehicle was being used for work and the driver was acting within the scope of employment.
- A property owner or business, in some parking lot or premises-related incidents, if unsafe design, poor lighting, missing signage, or dangerous traffic flow contributed to the crash.
- A vehicle manufacturer or parts manufacturer, in limited cases where a defective vehicle system or unsafe design may have contributed to the injury.
- A government entity or contractor, in certain roadway-design or maintenance cases, though these claims can involve special notice requirements and deadlines.
When we investigate a pedestrian accident, our goal is to identify what happened, preserve evidence, and determine who may be legally responsible. That may include documenting the crash scene, reviewing police reports, locating surveillance video, speaking with witnesses, evaluating medical records, examining vehicle damage, and working with experts when needed.
This type of investigation is especially important in pedestrian cases because the injured person may not remember the crash, may have been transported immediately for emergency care, or may be unable to gather evidence at the scene.
Evidence That Can Matter in a Pedestrian Accident Case
After a serious pedestrian crash, important evidence can disappear quickly. Skid marks fade. Vehicles are repaired. Surveillance footage is overwritten. Witnesses become harder to locate. A prompt legal investigation may help preserve:
- Police crash reports
- 911 records and body camera footage
- Traffic camera or surveillance video
- Vehicle damage photographs
- Event data recorder information
- Cell phone records, when legally obtainable
- Driver employment or delivery records
- Maintenance records for commercial vehicles
- Scene measurements and visibility analysis
- Medical records and expert evaluations
- Witness statements
- Roadway design, lighting, and signage evidence
When a truck or commercial vehicle is involved, the case can become more complex. Our trucking accident attorneys understand that evidence such as driver logs, maintenance records, black box data, and company safety practices may all become important in determining what happened and who may be responsible.
What Injured Pedestrians and Families Should Do After a Crash
After a pedestrian crash, medical care comes first. Even injuries that seem manageable can worsen over time. Head injuries, internal bleeding, spine injuries, and soft-tissue damage may not be fully obvious at the scene.
We encourage injured pedestrians and families to:
- Get medical attention immediately and follow all treatment recommendations.
- Report the crash to law enforcement and request the crash report when available.
- Save photos, videos, clothing, shoes, damaged belongings, and any written communications.
- Avoid giving recorded statements to an insurance company before speaking with an attorney.
- Write down everything remembered about the crash, including location, weather, lighting, traffic signals, driver statements, and witnesses.
- Contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible so evidence can be preserved.
Our role is to deal with the insurance companies, investigate the crash, and pursue accountability so our clients can focus on healing.
Prevention: What Drivers Can Do Right Now
While regulators and automakers debate vehicle-design changes, drivers can take immediate steps to reduce risk.
- Slow down in neighborhoods, parking lots, school zones, and near crosswalks.
- Look left, right, and left again before turning.
- Check carefully around vehicle blind zones, including A-pillars and the area directly in front of the hood.
- Never text or handle a phone while driving.
- Treat every crosswalk as a place where someone may be present.
- Be extra cautious around children, older adults, people using mobility devices, and cyclists.
- Avoid assuming that advanced vehicle safety systems will always detect pedestrians.
- Use extra care at night, in rain, and in high-glare conditions.
Large-vehicle drivers should be especially aware that sitting higher does not always mean seeing better. A tall hood may hide a pedestrian directly in front of the vehicle, and a wider front end can make turns more dangerous when a driver fails to scan slowly and deliberately.
Prevention: What Pedestrians Can Do to Reduce Risk
- Pedestrians should not be blamed for unsafe vehicle design or negligent driving. Still, practical steps can reduce risk.
- Use marked crosswalks whenever available.
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing when possible.
- Avoid walking behind or directly in front of large vehicles that may be about to move.
- Use lights, reflective clothing, or bright colors at night.
- Be cautious around driveways, parking lots, and right-turn lanes.
- Do not assume a driver sees you because you can see the vehicle.
- Keep children close in parking lots and near intersections.
- These steps cannot prevent every crash, but they can improve visibility and reaction time.
When a Pedestrian Crash Becomes a Legal Claim
A pedestrian accident claim may seek compensation for medical expenses, future medical care, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, disability, scarring, loss of enjoyment of life, and other damages available under Florida law. In fatal pedestrian crashes, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim.
Every case is different. The value and legal strategy depend on the facts, insurance coverage, injuries, liability evidence, comparative fault issues, and the long-term impact on the injured person’s life.
At Romano Law Group, we are proud to be a family-owned personal injury law firm serving West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, clients throughout Florida, and clients nationwide. Our team has experience handling pedestrian accidents among the personal injury matters we handle, and our team can help injured people understand their options after a serious crash.
Injured in a Pedestrian Crash? Contact Our Family-Owned Personal Injury Law Firm Today.
A serious pedestrian crash can leave families facing emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, missed work, insurance pressure, and painful uncertainty. You do not have to handle that process alone.
If you or someone you love was hit by a car, truck, SUV, or commercial vehicle, contact Romano Law Group today for a free consultation.
Injured? Contact our family-owned personal injury law firm today. There is no fee until we win your case. Call 561-533-6700.
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