Most people think that if they decide to walk rather than drive to their destination, it means they can avoid the possibility and injuries of a car accident. While that makes sense, the reality is that accidents can, and often do, happen to pedestrians. Furthermore, pedestrian accidents present their own difficulties and challenges. When a car strikes a pedestrian, they have virtually no protection and as a result, usually face severe injuries and financial debt.
If this has happened to you or a loved one, it is essential to have an experienced Dade City personal injury lawyer on your side.
At Robert Sparks Attorneys, our Dade City personal injury lawyers have spent their careers building a reputation for strong representation of accident victims, helping them secure the compensation they need to cover medical bills and allowing them to focus on recovery and getting back to normal.
Free Consultations for Dade City Pedestrian Accident Victims
Being injured in a pedestrian accident is not ideal, but our team can get you back on track. Contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer in Dade City about your case.
How Common Are Pedestrian Accidents in Dade City?
According to data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were 171 pedestrian accidents in Pasco County in 2020. Of these accidents, 135 caused injuries and 23 were fatal.
Over the past three years, pedestrian accidents have fluctuated. According to the cited FLHSMV data, the three year average of pedestrian crashes in the county was 181.
What Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?
Pedestrian accidents occur for many of the same reasons that other car accidents occur. However, pedestrian accidents are unique in that they predominantly occur in urban areas. These areas, like Dade City, have a much higher number of pedestrian accidents than rural areas of the county because of higher population levels and layouts of streets. Most of the time, pedestrian accidents are caused by the following negligent actions by drivers:
- Distracted driving or texting behind the wheel
- Motor vehicles and bikes not yielding for pedestrians at crosswalks
- Turning at intersections without looking both ways
- Driving too fast or recklessly
- Failure to follow posted speed limits
- Drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs
- Problems in the design of crosswalk locations, including failure to consider traffic flows
No matter the cause of the accident, when a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, injuries are very likely to occur.
Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents
The very nature of pedestrian accidents means serious injuries to the victim. Since most pedestrian accident victims are either younger children or older adults, injuries are usually more severe. Moreover, these accidents predominantly occur at night, making it more difficult to get effective medical care. When there is a pedestrian accident, you can expect to encounter the following injuries:
- Broken bones or fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal injuries
- Lacerations or bruises
- Paralysis
- Loss of limbs
As with any accident, injuries mean medical care and expensive rehabilitation. To make matters worse, the more severe the victim’s injuries are, the more likely they will need ongoing medical care. This, obviously, will be expensive and require compensation.
Seeking Compensation for Damages after a Dade City Pedestrian Accident
Every pedestrian accident case is unique, and has its own set of facts and circumstances that will determine how much compensation the victim will receive. Moreover, every lawsuit is a gamble, with no guarantee of a positive outcome. Fortunately, an experienced Dade City personal injury lawyer can help position your case for maximum results. In a pedestrian accident, you can potentially recover the following:
- Medical expenses and costs, including ambulance and emergency services, hospitalization, diagnostic tests, surgery, follow-up care, and medication.
- Estimated future medical expenses for permanent injuries that require ongoing treatment
- Costs related to medical devices, such as wheelchairs, canes, or artificial limbs.
- Lost income from missing work.
- Lost earning capacity from permanent injuries that makes it impossible for a victim to return to work.
- Physical pain and suffering.
- Emotional distress.
- Loss of consortium with a spouse.
- Diminished quality of life and loss of enjoyment
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Punitive damages in cases where the at-fault party intentionally harmed you or was grossly negligent.
It’s important to realize these damages don’t apply to every case. Contacting one of our experienced personal injury lawyers will allow you to learn more about your specific situation and what damages you could recover.
Pedestrian Responsibilities in Dade City
Florida operates under a “pure comparative negligence” statute, meaning that victims can seek compensation regardless of how much they were at fault during the accident. However, the amount of damages available for recovery will be reduced based on the percentage of fault.
Statute of Limitations
Any personal injury lawsuit in Florida must be filed within the statute of limitations. A statute of limitations is a deadline in which you can file a lawsuit. In Florida, the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim is two years from the date of the accident.
Contact a Dade City Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
Suffering a pedestrian accident is a disturbing experience that likely caused serious long-term injuries. Robert Sparks Attorneys is well aware of how damaging such an incident can be for you and your family. That’s why our Dade City car accident lawyers will work tirelessly to get to the bottom of what happened to determine who was at fault and hold them accountable.
Our firm has a proven track record of success in litigating pedestrian accident claims. We make sure all of the evidence is gathered, medical records are analyzed, and your case is filed on time. This system has allowed us to recover millions in settlements for our clients. If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident in Dade City, don’t hesitate to contact us today for a free consultation.
