BOCA RATON PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT
BOCA RATON PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT LAWYER
Florida’s beautiful weather makes travelling by foot a convenient and fun mode of transportation. However, Florida is by far one of the most dangerous states for pedestrians. According to the advocacy group Smart Growth America, Florida ranks as the most dangerous state for pedestrians.
There are many reasons for this ignoble title. Few neighborhoods are designed with pedestrians in mind and frequently are missing sidewalks and crosswalks at intersections. As a result, pedestrians are exposed to the dangers of passing motor vehicles.
After an accident, you should receive swift medical attention and meet with a lawyer for an initial consultation. You might be able to sue the motorist who struck you.
Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Unfortunately, many motorists do not respect the rules of the road, especially those related to pedestrians. Rather than yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, many drivers try to squeeze past, which results in devastating accidents.
Many motorists collide with pedestrians because of:
- Excessive speed
- Intoxication or impairment by drugs
- Fatigue
- Distracted driving
- Cell phone use
- Lack of visual awareness
- Inability to see the pedestrian
- Carelessness
When a driver fails to exercise due care, they can be responsible for pedestrian accident injuries. The key will be to find adequate evidence of what happened so that you can reconstruct how the accident unfolded. If you were in the crosswalk when you were hit, then there is strong evidence that the driver is to blame for the crash.
Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Pedestrians often suffer more serious injuries in an accident than a passenger in a vehicle. Because a pedestrian is so unprotected, they can suffer devastating injuries, sometimes even death.
In our experience, we have seen pedestrians struggle to recover from:
- Broken bones, including compound fractures
- Nerve damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head injuries
- Back injuries
- Joint injuries
Injured pedestrians require tens of thousands of dollars in medical care—if not more. It is important to quickly receive medical care and follow all the recommended rehabilitation so that you can recover as soon as possible.
Comparative Fault and Pedestrian Accidents
Florida law recognizes that pedestrians can sometimes be partially responsible for their injuries. Some pedestrians are not walking on the sidewalk when one is available, or they jaywalk. This does not mean that a pedestrian cannot receive compensation if a vehicle hits them. So long as the motorist was also negligent, then a jury will compare the negligence of both parties.
Under Florida’s comparative fault law, the amount of compensation that a pedestrian can receive is reduced by their percentage of fault. For example, you might have crossed an intersection when you did not have permission to do so, but you were struck by a motorist who was speeding. In this situation, you might be 50% responsible for the crash. If your injuries are worth $40,000, then the maximum you can receive is $20,000.
Contact a Boca Raton Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Motorists must observe the rules of the road, and bringing a lawsuit is an important mechanism for making our roads safer for all people. For more information, contact Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith, PLLC, today. You can schedule a free consultation.