When Drivers Injure Pedestrians: Rights, Liability, And Compensation

by David L. Personal Injury Attorney for Miami, FL

When a pedestrian in South Florida is injured by a careless automobile, truck, or bus driver – or even by a bicycle rider or a motorcyclist – Florida law entitles that pedestrian to compensation. If you are injured as a pedestrian anywhere in south Florida, speak about the accident, your injuries, and your rights as quickly as possible with a Miami pedestrian accident lawyer.

Of course, pedestrians typically do not wear safety protection because they do not expect accidents. As a result, when a distracted, intoxicated, or reckless driver strikes someone who’s walking, the outcome may be catastrophic. Accident victims may suffer severe injuries including spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, knee and hip injuries, internal injuries, and injuries that require amputation. Some pedestrian accidents can leave a victim permanently disabled.

Can You Reduce the Risk of a Pedestrian Accident?

If you walk near traffic anywhere in south Florida, you must stay alert, and you must focus on safety. How can you increase your chances of making it safely to your destination when you’re a pedestrian? Always walk on the sidewalk, and if there is no sidewalk, try to walk facing traffic – but as far from the street as possible. Be prepared for anything. Cross only at intersections and crosswalks. If you’re walking after dark, bring a flashlight and wear brightly colored clothing.

If you’re injured by a driver’s negligence while you’re walking in south Florida, seek medical treatment at once, and then speak about your legal options and rights – which may include a personal injury lawsuit – as soon as you can with a Miami pedestrian accident attorney. Injured negligence victims are entitled by law to compensation for their pending and projected future medical costs, lost wages and projected future lost wages, personal pain and suffering, and additional damages resulting from the accident.

How Will an Attorney Fight on Your Behalf?

If you’re the injured victim of a pedestrian accident, the right personal injury lawyer will hold the negligent driver accountable. Your attorney will review the details of your injury claim, provide the candid, personalized legal advice you need, and negotiate on your behalf for the compensation and justice that a pedestrian accident victim will need. If no settlement can be reached out-of-court, your attorney will take your personal injury case to trial and explain to the jurors why they should order the payment of your compensation.

The statute of limitations in Florida gives you four years to take legal action after a pedestrian accident, but it’s better to meet with a lawyer immediately after you’ve been treated by a healthcare provider. Evidence deteriorates over time, and the memories of witnesses can fade, so it’s imperative to speak with a Miami pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible after you have been injured.

Don’t worry about the cost. If you and your attorney agree to move forward with legal action, you pay no attorney’s fee unless and until your attorney recovers compensation on your behalf. Almost everyone, at some time or another, is a pedestrian. If you are injured while you are a pedestrian, make the call, and let a Miami pedestrian accident lawyer help.