Suppose you or a loved one sustained an injury while walking or standing in a parking lot, on a sidewalk, or in a crosswalk. In that case, you might be eligible to pursue a payout by holding the negligent driver liable.
Our Orlando personal injury lawyers offer free case evaluations for Orlando pedestrian accident victims. We can help you file a pedestrian accident claim and assist with other essential tasks. The sooner we hear from you, the sooner we can devise a plan to get you fair compensation.
What Is a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?
According to Smart Growth America, Florida is one of the top cities for pedestrian accidents nationwide, and many victims suffer devastating and fatal injuries.
An Orlando pedestrian accident lawyer has experience with the laws and procedures associated with helping injured pedestrians. We can:
- Identify the party or parties responsible for the crash.
- Quantify how much your injuries are worth.
- Navigate all laws that pertain to your case.
Our Central Florida Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Will Help You Throughout Your Case
Our Orlando car accident lawyers have the qualifications and compassion to assist you throughout your case. We not only take on tough legal tasks like negotiating with insurance companies and filing official paperwork, but we also keep your needs in mind by:
- Giving you your attorney’s phone number.
- Responding to all of your questions promptly.
- Not charging attorney’s fees unless you win a settlement.
- Helping you make appointments for medical treatment.
- Explaining all your options in plain language.
- Advising you of the pros and cons of each legal option.
Our pedestrian accident attorneys are here to help clients with their legal needs.
Let Us Take On Your Orlando Pedestrian Accident
Our attorneys can explain your rights and legal options after reviewing the facts of your Orlando injury accident. Our team goes the extra mile for our clients, ensuring you get the support you need to reduce your stress and allow you to focus on healing.
We can take care of the rest, including providing the responsive legal care necessary to build a strong case on your behalf.
We can gather evidence to prove the following:
- Negligence and fault
- Liability
- Expenses and losses
- The severity of your injuries
Locations Where Your Pedestrian Injuries May Have Occurred
An Orlando pedestrian accident lawyer can take on cases related to pedestrian accidents on public or private property. You could recover compensation if your injury occurred on or in:
- Commercial parking lots
- Amusement parks or hotel access roads, or parking lots
- Neighborhood roads
- State or county highways
- Crosswalks
- Intersections
We can review your case for free today. We’re ready to get you the settlement your injuries qualify you for.
Damages Available in a Pedestrian Accident Case
When pursuing damages in an Orlando pedestrian accident, we use all our resources to ensure you get the full compensation. A personal injury attorney could recover compensation for:
- Past and future medical bills related to your injuries
- Ongoing care costs when necessary
- Past and future lost wages and benefits
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering damages
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life or lost independence
- Permanent or disabling injuries
There are deadlines on how long we have to take legal action; according to Florida Statutes § 95.11, you have four years to file a pedestrian accident claim. We can help you understand how long we have to act when we review your case but collecting evidence and building our argument will take time. We encourage you to contact our lawyers as soon as possible following your injuries after you recieve medical attention.
Wrongful Death Damages We Can Help You Recover
We can also pursue wrongful death damages on behalf of immediate family members if a loved one passed away from their injuries in a pedestrian-versus-motor vehicle accident in Orlando, Kissimmee, Sanford, or other nearby areas. In wrongful death cases, we can pursue damages such as:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of financial support
- Grief and bereavement
For a wrongful death claim, you only have two years from your loved one’s death to submit a claim.
How Do You Pursue Compensation After a Pedestrian Accident?
Florida is a no-fault state, meaning you must turn to your insurance policy coverage before seeking additional compensation. You likely have personal injury protection (PIP) insurance if you own a car. You can use this policy to cover your medical costs up to $10,000.
If you don’t have PIP or your accident resulted in severe injuries, you may need to file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurer. Insurers make money by selling their insurance plans to clients, not by compensating pedestrian accident victims. Insurance people may work to reduce the value of your claim. To avoid jeopardizing your insurance claim, you can:
- Avoid providing a recorded statement: Insurers can use recorded statements to suggest that you were somehow responsible for your accident. Remember, insurers typically treat statements you make on record as fact.
- Don’t provide insurers with too much information: Be careful about how much information you divulge to the person at the insurance company. The less you say, the better. A lawyer can handle these communications on your behalf.
- Be careful about what you post online: Insurers may use your social media profiles to extract evidence. After a pedestrian accident, refrain from providing details about your recovery process, including posting pictures of the accident scene.
We can support you through this process if you need to file a personal injury lawsuit. Our pedestrian accident lawyers can prepare you for court and act as your legal representative.
Pedestrian Accidents Cause Severe Injuries
According to The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), Orange County saw 631 pedestrian accidents in 2021, 70 of which resulted in pedestrian deaths. When the victim survives, such accidents can cause debilitating injuries such as:
- Scrapes, bruises, and cuts
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Organ damage
These injuries may cause short-term pain and heal over time, or you may have to deal with them for the rest of your life. They can also lead to psychological trauma, mental illness, loss of reputation, and other emotional consequences.
We can help you determine how much compensation your injuries and losses are worth. Then we can work with the liable party’s insurance company to seek that amount for you.
Who Is Liable For Pedestrian Accidents in Orlando?
It may seem obvious that you should seek compensation from the driver who hit you. In many cases, this is the correct course of action, especially if the driver engaged in dangerous behaviors.
However, there are cases where the driver shares responsibility with another party or cannot be held liable. This may hold true if:
- The road was in poor condition, so a government agency or maintenance contractor may be responsible.
- Some car parts malfunctioned, so the car manufacturer may be responsible.
- A second vehicle got in the way of the one that hit you, forcing them off course; therefore, the second driver may be responsible.
Part of filing a successful lawsuit is figuring out who the liable parties are so you hold everyone accountable. If there is more than one liable party, you may file more than one claim or lawsuit. Our team can help you do this if it is appropriate for your situation.
Negligent Actions Responsible for Pedestrian Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 6,516 pedestrians lost their lives in automotive accidents in 2020, and another 55,000 were injured. Negligent driving behavior is responsible for many of these accidents, which can include:
- Distracted driving, like texting or otherwise using your phone
- Drinking and driving
- Speeding
- Abrupt lane changes
- Ignoring signage and other traffic rules
- Not using headlights
Reducing Your Risk for Pedestrian Injury
Luckily, there are a few steps pedestrians can take to reduce their risk of being involved in an accident. They include:
- Always pay attention to and obey posted signage, crosswalks, and other roadway indicators
- Don’t go for a walk while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Use crosswalks whenever possible
- If you can’t find a crosswalk, seek a well-lit unobscured intersection to cross at
- If there’s no sidewalk, ensure that you’re giving adequate room for cars to pass
These measures can help you avoid being the victim of a pedestrian accident. However, sometimes, there’s nothing you can do to avoid a negligent driver. Even the most alert pedestrians are at risk.
An Orlando Pedestrian Accident Attorney From Our Team Is Here For You
A lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help you file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit to hold the motorist who hit you liable for your injuries. We will review your case for free and handle your case based on contingency. You pay us nothing unless we get a payout for you.
Call our office now or fill out the contact form to discuss your case with an Orlando, FL, pedestrian accident lawyer. Our initial consultations are free; you will learn your legal rights and get information about the strength of your case against the at-fault party.
We Can Help.
