Pedestrian Accidents

Whether you are walking through your local community or one of the larger cities in the area, walking is a great way to get around South Florida. However, pedestrians face many dangers, most of which come from negligent motorists who are not paying attention to where they are going. If you were injured in a Florida pedestrian accident, you likely suffered injuries that may be preventing you from going to work, spending time with your family, and participating in the activities you used to enjoy. At the South Florida personal injury law firm of Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, our dedicated team of lawyers represents clients hurt in all types of motor vehicle accidents, including pedestrian accidents.

Many communities in South Florida are pedestrian-friendly, meaning pedestrian traffic is higher than in many other areas. At the same time, Florida drivers are notorious for being some of the worst in the country. The result is that Florida has the highest rate of pedestrian accidents in the United States. In fact, between 2010 and 2019, there were nearly 5,900 fatal pedestrian accidents.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that there are more than 8,000 pedestrian accidents each year. While this is a small fraction of the 340,000 car accidents that occur each year, pedestrians are among the most likely accident victims to suffer severe injury or death. For example, while pedestrian accidents make up only 2.3% of all Florida traffic accidents, pedestrians represent a shocking 23% of all traffic-related fatalities. This means your chances of dying in a Florida pedestrian accident are about 25 times greater than if you were involved not as a pedestrian in a car accident.

In the wake of a South Florida pedestrian accident, your life may feel like it was turned upside down. You are suddenly faced with a very difficult reality: You cannot work, but you still have to cover your monthly bills in addition to the mounting medical bills related to the accident.

If you were injured in a pedestrian accident, you can bring a personal injury lawsuit against the parties responsible for your injuries. In most cases, this entails filing a claim with a negligent driver’s insurance company. However, depending on the nature of the accident, pedestrian accident claims can also be brought against property owners, businesses, and even government entities in some cases.

To successfully bring a pedestrian accident claim, you must show that the at-fault party violated a duty of care they owed to you and that the other party’s breach of that duty resulted in your injuries. While this sounds straightforward, there are a number of hurdles that frequently come up. For example, insurance companies frequently deny claims or offer very low settlement offers in pedestrian accident lawsuits because they argue that the pedestrian shared responsibility for the accident.

Under Florida law, if an accident victim is partially at fault for an accident, their damages award is reduced by their percentage of fault. For example, if you suffered $200,000 in damages but were found to be 30% responsible for the accident, your recovery would be reduced from $200,000 to $140,000. A skilled South Florida pedestrian accident lawyer can help you maximize the amount you recover by explaining why the accident was not your fault.

If you or a loved one was recently the victim of a pedestrian accident, reach out to the South Florida personal injury lawyers at the law firm of Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada. At our pedestrian accident law firm, we take a unique approach to every case we handle, taking as much time as necessary to answer all your questions and explain the process in clear, understandable terms. That way, you know what to expect throughout the process and can make the best decision for yourself and your family. We have more than 45 years of experience dealing with insurance companies and know how to maximize your recovery while also making the process as easy on you as possible. To learn more about how we can help you recover for your injuries and to schedule a free consultation, call us at 305-448-8585. Our lawyers represent accident victims throughout South Florida, including but not limited to Miami, Naples, Homestead, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.