Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Doral, FL
Pedestrians sustain injuries in Florida on a daily basis. Accidents can happen when people are jogging, are on the sidewalk, while they are crossing the street, or if they are walking on the street. Most of the time, such crashes are caused by distracted driving, while the majority of pedestrian deaths involve alcohol use either by the pedestrian or the vehicle driver. Sometimes, pedestrians can also be at fault, especially when carelessly crossing dangerous streets or intersections.
When vehicles collide with pedestrians, death or serious injuries are likely to occur. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 5,987 pedestrians died in 2016 in traffic accidents in the U.S., while 129,000 pedestrians were treated in 2015 for non-fatal accident-related injuries.
Another report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveals that in 2017, pedestrian deaths accounted for 16% of all traffic fatalities. In these cases, 32% of the injured pedestrians were intoxicated, while 17% of fatal pedestrian accidents involved a drunk driver.
If you or your family member sustained a pedestrian accident while running or walking, contact our lawyers today at 305-928-2909 to guide you through the compensation and insurance coverage processes in Florida.
What Actions Should You Take After a Pedestrian Accident?
- Seek medical attention and keep all of your medical reports and bills
- Ensure the driver doesn’t flee the accident scene
- Write down the license plate of the car that hit you
- Try to obtain eyewitness testimony
- Contact the police and ask for their report
- Document the accident scene by taking photos or jotting down notes
- Discuss the accident details only with your doctor, the police, and our lawyers
Types of Accidents Involving Pedestrians
All motorcycle, car, or truck crashes involving pedestrians are dangerous. However, the most commonly seen crashes include:
- Passing Accidents – These occur when a negligent motorist can’t see pedestrians because of another vehicle that comes to a stop to enable pedestrians to cross the road. The negligent motorist may hit pedestrians while trying to overtake the stopped vehicle.
- Dart-Out Accidents – These occur when a pedestrian darts out on to the road suddenly, leaving drivers with insufficient time to stop. In such cases, the pedestrian may not be at fault, especially if the other motorist’s view was blocked by a stopped car when the pedestrian was in the crosswalk, making it look like he or she darted out on the road.
- Intersection Accidents – These occur when pedestrians quickly try to cross an intersection but end up underestimating the time or distance that they need to cover, leaving drivers with insufficient time to react.
- Back-Up Accidents – These occur when a motorist strikes a pedestrian without looking behind the vehicle first – this is common in parking lots when drivers are backing up.
- Car Merge and Turn Accidents – These occur when a motorist’s focus is on merging into traffic or making a turn. Motorists usually alternate between checking both sides. They can only start to merge or make turns when they don’t see pedestrians.
What Are the Causes of Pedestrian Crashes?
Some common causes include:
- Inability to see the pedestrian due to poor street lighting
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Speeding
- Improper turns
What Injuries Do Pedestrian Accident Victims Suffer?
Pedestrians that are hit by moving cars may end up sustaining severe personal injuries. Some of these injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Neck injuries
- Foot fractures
- Back injuries
What Damages Are Pedestrian Accident Victims Entitled to?
If your Doral pedestrian accident lawyer can prove that the defendant caused a crash that left you with serious injuries, you may receive compensation for:
- Medical treatment
- Loss of financial support
- Lost wages
- Suffering and pain
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Funeral costs in case of a wrongful death
- Temporary or permanent disability
Florida Pedestrian Laws
Florida statutes stipulate the way motorists and pedestrians should treat one another in order to keep pedestrians safe. The law requires:
- Motorists to exercise a duty of care to avoid hitting/colliding with pedestrians or other drivers, and to give warning whenever necessary and to exercise caution upon seeing a confused or incapacitated person or child on the road.
- Pedestrians to walk on the left side of the road in relation to the direction they’re traveling if there are no sidewalks.
- No one to stand on the highway or near a street.
- Vehicles to stop before the crosswalk if there’s a crosswalk sign or traffic light at the crosswalk to allow pedestrians to cross if they’re in the crosswalk.
Hire a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer for Maximum Compensation
Pedestrian and traffic laws in Doral are complex and time-sensitive. If you were injured while walking on a public roadway or sidewalk, contact our attorneys at 305-928-2909 for consultation with a legal expert and a free case evaluation.