Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
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Florida Pedestrian Accidents
Every day in cities across Florida pedestrians risk their lives while crossing the street. According to the Tampa Bay Times, Pinellas County is the most dangerous for walking and cycling. In fact, deaths of pedestrians and cyclists totaled 85 in 2021 compared to 49 in 2020. On average, a combined 51 pedestrians and bicyclists are killed each year in Pinellas County alone.
The harsh reality is drivers cause over 8,000 pedestrian injuries and deaths each year in Florida, half of which are caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Who would think the simple act of crossing the road could be a life-changing event?
Too many drivers are distracted and innocent people are being run down. If you are reading this, chances are you or a family member has been hit by a car and seriously injured or tragically killed in yet another pedestrian accident. If so, contact us to speak to an experienced pedestrian accident attorney.
Injuries Suffered by a Florida Pedestrian Hit by a Car
We have handled many cases in which pedestrian-car collisions have caused catastrophic injuries such as a concussion or traumatic brain injury, which are a common result due to the exposed nature of the head.
Common Injuries Sustained in a Pedestrian Accident
Broken bones and fractures of the hip, pelvis, legs, arms, shoulders, ankles, knees, back, or neck occur just as frequently as a brain injury. These can require surgery to repair the bones and months of rehabilitation before the pedestrian is even close to their normal self.
In the worst cases, the pedestrian may suffer from permanent brain damage, spinal cord damage, coma, or death. The law becomes more complicated when you lose a loved one and speaking to an attorney about your rights is even more crucial.
Whatever your injuries may be, recovery is the most important thing on your mind. But how do you focus on recovering when you need answers and are unsure of what your options are?
Get the Legal Help You Need
The legal team at Jim Dodson Law has decades of experience handling complex pedestrian accident cases. Just tell us what happened. Call to schedule a free consultation at 888-207-0905 or click below to complete our short form and we’ll call you back
Do You Have Questions About Pedestrian Accidents?
- What insurance is going to pay my medical bills?
- I’m unable to work. Will the insurance pay my lost wages?
- The driver who hit me has no insurance; what do I do?
- The police officer said I’m partly at fault, am I out of luck?
- I don’t know if I need to speak to a lawyer. Can I even afford a specialized pedestrian accident attorney?
- The insurance company called and asked me to sign a few forms, should I?
- My loved one was killed by a car. What can I do for our family?
If you’re asking yourself any of these questions, we’re here and ready to help.
Claiming Damages After a Pedestrian Accident in Florida
If the pedestrian accident was the result of a motorist’s negligence, the pedestrian may be compensated for medical expenses as well as pain and suffering and lost wages. When you claim damages after a pedestrian accident in Florida, your medical expenses may be paid by either party’s personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. If the injured pedestrian has PIP insurance, their own PIP coverage may pay a portion of the medical expenses. If the pedestrian does not have PIP insurance, the responsible driver’s coverage may pay for the medical expenses.
If you are injured in a pedestrian accident and have car insurance, you must use your own PIP to cover your medical bills and lost wages. This policy will cover 80% of your medical costs and 60% of your lost income after you meet your deductible.
In some cases, a pedestrian involved in an accident may be covered by the insurance policy of a relative who lives in the home. For example, a minor child may be covered by his or her parents’ PIP policy. If you or your relatives do not have PIP insurance, the driver who caused the pedestrian accident would have to cover your injuries with his or her own policy.
But if the responsible driver is uninsured, and the pedestrian has uninsured motorist coverage, then the pedestrian’s own uninsured motorist coverage may pay their medical expenses. This is just one example of why it is important to carry uninsured motorist coverage.
Uninsured motorist coverage may cover your injuries after a pedestrian accident in Florida if the at-fault party does not have the necessary insurance coverage. If after a pedestrian accident in Florida you have $50,000 in medical expenses, but the driver who caused the accident does not have any car insurance, then your own uninsured motorist coverage may cover some, or all, of your medical expenses.
If you have questions regarding uninsured motorist coverage concerning an accident or want to know if you are eligible to file a personal injury claim after a pedestrian accident in Florida, you can consult with an experienced Tampa pedestrian accident lawyer.
What Our Clients Say About the Personal Service Our Law Firm Provides
When you’re looking for a lawyer to represent you, one of the best ways to learn about the attorney you are considering hiring is to listen to what their former clients have to say.
"It’s been a wonderful experience to be associated with this law firm. And, if someone were in need like I was. I would recommend that they contact Jim Dodson’s firm."
Compensation After a Hit and Run Pedestrian Accident in Florida
A victim’s financial recovery after a hit and run pedestrian accident in Florida is complicated by the fact that, quite often, the victim is unable to hold the responsible party liable for their damages in a Florida injury claim.
The Crimes Compensation Trust Fund is one option for victims of a hit and run accident in Florida. This was established to provide injured victims of criminal acts, such as hit and run accidents, with monetary compensation for their medical expenses and any loss of support.
To seek compensation from the Crimes Compensation Trust Fund, a victim should apply with the Florida Bureau of Victim Compensation. It is important that you apply for this compensation as soon as possible after your hit and run accident in Florida, as the application and receipt of funds is time sensitive in nature.
Apart from recovering money from the Crimes Compensation Trust Fund, a victim of a hit and run pedestrian accident in Florida may turn to their own auto insurance policy for compensation.
After a hit and run pedestrian accident, a pedestrian accident attorney can look at the facts of your case and also conduct a thorough evaluation of your various insurance policies to determine your options for compensation through your own insurer.
In a standard pedestrian accident, your medical expenses may be paid by either party’s personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. Since you are likely not able to pursue these damages from the driver, your attorney may pursue these damages from your insurer. This coverage usually maxes out at $10,000, which is typically not nearly enough to address the serious injuries acquired in a pedestrian accident.
Another option to explore is uninsured motorist coverage. If you carry this type of insurance on your vehicle, your attorney can pursue additional compensation for your injuries based on the limits of your uninsured motorist coverage.
How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You with Your Florida Pedestrian Accident Claim
If you have been injured as a pedestrian, or if a loved one died in a pedestrian crash in Florida, you may be wondering about the types of cases we have handled in the past. The following represent just some of the circumstances of cases we have successfully handled for our clients:
- Our client was crossing a lighted intersection in the crosswalk in St Petersburg. It was daylight and he was crossing with the “walk” sign. Regardless, an approaching driver failed to stop before entering the crosswalk and plowed into him. Our client required surgery for his damaged leg. The case was settled without a lawsuit being filed.
- We represented the Estate of an elderly gentleman who died attempting to cross Missouri Avenue in Largo. Although he was crossing at a lighted intersection and in a crosswalk with the walk signal, the investigation showed the light changed to green for oncoming traffic before he had made it safely across. An approaching driver maintained she did not see him in time and struck him with her car. He was killed. The defense argued the gentleman was partly at fault since he was still in the road when the approaching traffic had a green light. The case was settled for the driver’s policy limits without filing a lawsuit.
- Our client was the Estate of a woman who died attempting to cross a busy arterial street at night in Tampa. Although there was a median break close by, she was crossing where there was no pedestrian crosswalk. The approaching traffic had the right of way and the speed limit was 45 mph. The circumstances were very similar to a mid-block crossing. The approaching driver said he never saw her and she was killed instantly. The case was settled without a lawsuit on behalf of her adult children.
- Our client was a retiree walking to her car in a parking lot when a vehicle suddenly accelerated while backing out of a parking space. She was knocked to the ground and fractured her hip. She was hospitalized for hip surgery followed by a period in a rehabilitation facility. Fortunately, the driver had adequate liability insurance, and our client’s case was settled for an amount that fully compensated her for her injuries and her medical expenses.
- Our client was visiting the area from out of state when she was struck by a car in a beach parking lot. The driver stopped while looking for a parking space, and then suddenly put her car into reverse and backed up into our client. Caught unaware, our client was thrown to the pavement and suffered injuries. After being treated in the emergency room, she returned home and underwent medical treatment in her home state. We were able to settle her case for an amount that compensated her for well above her medical bills.
- Our client was walking through a crosswalk on Fort Harrison Avenue in Clearwater when she was struck by a car making an improper left turn. As is common in pedestrian injuries, she suffered direct impact injuries to her leg as well as low back injuries from being thrown to the pavement. She needed surgery and extensive physical therapy. Her case was ultimately settled using both the liability insurance of the driver and our client’s underinsured motorist coverage.
- Our client was crossing a street after exiting her place of work in Sarasota when she was knocked down and thrown by a slow-moving car. The driver was making a turn on a narrow street and claimed he never saw her. Our client suffered extensive internal injuries requiring multiple surgeries. Her case was settled after protracted negotiations. She was able to pay all of her extensive medical bills and get a fresh start.
- Our client was a young boy who was playing in the driveway when a relative pulled into the driveway and drove over him. He suffered abdominal injuries and required surgery. Upon his recovery, his case was later settled so that his medical bills were fully paid and money was set aside for him when he turns 18.
- Our client was walking in a crosswalk in a tourist destination area when she was hit by someone on a rented scooter. She lived out of state and was transported back to her home, where she had surgery to repair her injured hip. After her rehabilitation was complete, her case was settled for all available insurance. All of her medical bills were paid and she received compensation for all she had been through.
- We represented the family of a young man who was struck and killed while attempting to cross Tampa Road in Palm Harbor. The crash happened at night and he was hit by a driver who said he never saw him. The young man was not crossing at a pedestrian intersection or in a heavily lighted portion of the roadway. His case ultimately was settled and his survivors were compensated for their tragic loss.
Children Are at a High Risk of Pedestrian Accidents
It’s extremely tragic when a child is injured in any type of accident. The devastation that parents go through is unimaginable and it most often comes without any warning. Pedestrian accidents are no different and they can occur in so many ways. Some of the most common ways are when children are getting off the school bus or walking through a school crossing or crosswalk. They are often injured in parking lots and when vehicles are backing up because they aren’t easily seen. And, as all kids love to do they can be injured while playing outside. We have seen cases where a child has been hit while playing in a driveway or running across the street to chase a ball or a pet.
Surviving Family Members May Have a Florida Wrongful Death Claim
When a pedestrian dies after being struck by a vehicle, there is always the potential for a wrongful death claim by the pedestrian’s survivors. While every case is unique, compensation awards in wrongful death cases can be extremely large depending on the facts and circumstances of the decedent and their survivors. Even in situations where it is argued the pedestrian had a greater responsibility for causing the crash than the motorist, their survivors can receive substantial compensation. This is not at all uncommon.
As an example, if it were determined a pedestrian was 90% responsible for causing a collision, the survivors (through the deceased’s estate) would still be entitled to 10% of the full value of the wrongful death claim. If the wrongful death claim were worth $1 million, in this example, the pedestrian’s survivors would be entitled to receive $100,000 in compensation.
Unfortunately, many families are reluctant to look into the circumstances of a crash in which the police have determined their loved one to have been “at fault.” It has been our experience that virtually all crashes of this type should be examined carefully by an experienced Florida pedestrian injury lawyer. There is often substantial evidence to show the driver had ample opportunity to have seen and to have avoided the pedestrian, even though they may have been walking without having the right-of-way. We have successfully recovered for many families in these situations.
Contact Us Today To Speak With Clearwater Pedestrian Accident Attorney Jim Dodson about Your Claim
Our personal injury law firm has over 25 years of experience successfully representing all types of serious injury cases and wrongful death claims, including those involving pedestrians. See what our clients have to say about us.
If you have immediate questions and want to speak to a Clearwater pedestrian accident lawyer, call our office at 888-207-0905 to schedule a time to discuss your accident case. There is never a fee for a consultation.