Fort Lauderdale Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents

Of course, pedestrians are the more vulnerable of victims in pedestrian accidents, as they don’t have a giant metal cocoon to provide them some protection. In fact, Florida pedestrian accident statistics show that it’s one of five states that contribute to nearly half of pedestrian deaths in the entire country each year.

Just from January to June 2019 alone, 368 people in Florida died in a pedestrian crash.

Some common pedestrian accident injuries include:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Broken bones and bone fractures
• Soft tissue damage

It doesn’t necessarily matter where you’re walking when this happens, be it a sidewalk, crosswalk, or even when you’re jaywalking or have the right of way–there’s no place that offers more safety over others when it comes to pedestrian accidents. Cars can easily veer off the street and crash into pedestrians.

Seeking Compensation After A Pedestrian Accident

Usually, injured pedestrians will seek recourse from the driver who hit them. In some circumstances, however, a third party may be partial to blame. For example, a municipality may be responsible for your injuries if it had faulty traffic control devices, unsafe streets, or a lack of crosswalks in a busy area.

One of the most common questions injured pedestrians ask following an accident is who will pay their medical bills.

The at-fault driver’s insurance company should be responsible for any medical expenses. You may also be able to request compensation for lost wages and the cost of physical therapy or rehabilitation. A pedestrian accident attorney can guide you through your legal options, and advise you on how to proceed with your pedestrian injury claim.

Filing a Claim Against the Driver

If a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle, the driver is often at fault, even if the pedestrian was not crossing in a crosswalk. Florida law states that drivers should be alert to any hazards on the road, including pedestrians. In other words, a driver will usually be at fault for a pedestrian accident, unless hitting the pedestrian was unavoidable (for example, the pedestrian tried to beat traffic or didn’t look before crossing the road).

Here’s a caveat: jaywalking is illegal in most municipalities in Florida, including Fort Lauderdale. Even if the driver fails to avoid hitting a pedestrian, the pedestrian may still be partially at fault for jaywalking. Since Florida is a “comparative negligence state,” your personal injury claim would be reduced by your degree of fault.

This concept is easier to understand with an example: say you were involved in a pedestrian accident and incurred $100,000 in damages. An investigation, however, reveals you were 20% at fault for the accident. In this case, your maximum verdict would be $80,000.

What to Do After Getting Hit By A Car

If you’re a pedestrian who’s been hit by a car, you may ask yourself what to do. Those who have been injured in any type of pedestrian accident should follow these suggestions:

• Call the Police – It’s wise to call the police as soon as possible after being hit by a car. If you’re too injured, however, then have someone call them for you. If possible, have someone take photos of the accident scene, the car that hit you, and the names and numbers of any eyewitnesses. Reporting this information will not only be helpful to the police, but your insurance companies later as well when you’re filing your claim.
• Seek Immediate Medical Attention – Getting hit by a car often leads to lasting injuries. If you’re in serious pain, go to a nearby emergency facility like Holy Cross Hospital or Broward Health Imperial Point. This is not only what’s best for your health, but for your personal injury claim. Insurance adjusters and juries may assume that you didn’t suffer as much if you don’t seek timely treatment for your injuries. Lastly, getting medical treatment creates an official record of your injuries that’s admissible in court.
• Don’t Discuss Fault at the Accident Scene – It might be tempting to divulge details about what happened–and you may be too flustered to even notice you’re doing it–but keeping mum on who was at fault at the accident scene will actually save you a lot of trouble later. This is because most pedestrians are unaware of the laws surrounding these claims of fault, and assigning blame to the wrong person could create a host of legal troubles down the road. The only person who can truly help you navigate the aftermath of the accident according to the law is a pedestrian accident attorney.
• Contact Your Insurance Company – It’s recommended that you contact your car insurance provider immediately after an accident. Most policies extend to pedestrians, too, and will help you successfully make post-accident medical or disability claims.