According to a 2023 study of data offered by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Pinellas County is ranked as the most dangerous county in the entire State of Florida for pedestrians. Pedestrian accidents can result in serious injuries or fatalities in Palm Harbor, FL because pedestrians normally have no protection when struck by a vehicle.
If you have been a victim in a pedestrian accident in Palm Harbor, Florida, you will need a Palm Harbor pedestrian accident lawyer who understands what you’re going through. Contact Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers at (727) 787-2500 for a free consultation with a Palm Harbor pedestrian accident attorney.
How Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Pedestrian Accident in Palm Harbor
Our Palm Harbor personal injury lawyers have over 50 years of combined experience handling all types of vehicle accidents, including pedestrian accidents in Palm Harbor, FL.
We also have great success representing our clients in pedestrian accident cases.
The Palm Harbor personal injury lawyers at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers have been handling pedestrian accident cases since 1986.
We have been honored with numerous prestigious awards, including:
- Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent Rating;
- Tampa Bay’s Top Trial Lawyers;
- 10.0 Avvo Rating;
- Recognition in Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum; and
- Inclusion as Super Lawyers.
The founding attorney, Mark Roman, is recognized by the Florida Bar as board certified in civil trial practice–the highest honor an attorney can achieve in their field. Our Palm Harbor personal injury lawyers have recovered over $120 million in damages for clients, including many pedestrian accident victims.
After a pedestrian accident, you can expect our Palm Harbor personal injury attorneys to do the following:
- Conduct a thorough investigation
- Discuss your options
- Communicate with insurance companies
- Negotiate for a fair settlement
- Represent you in court
Contact our law office to learn more about how our Palm Harbor pedestrian accident cases can help with your case.
How Common Are Pedestrian Accidents in Pinellas County, Florida?
During the period between 2020 and 2023, there were, on average, 380,186 total vehicle crashes per year in the entire State of Florida.
Out of all of those Florida crashes, 3,291 crashes resulted in:
- 3,542 fatalities per year;
- 12,881 incapacitating injuries per year;
- 223,045 other injuries per year; and
- 221,147 crashes per year that resulted in property damage only
Of all the Florida crashes per year, 9,311 were pedestrian accidents, on average.
These resulted in:
- 786 fatalities per year;
- 1,386 incapacitating injuries per year;
- 3,535 other injuries per year;
In Pinellas County, during the same period, there were, on average, 15,487 total vehicle crashes per year.
These resulted in:
- 130 fatalities per year;
- 9,020 total injuries per year; and
- 9,131 accidents per year that resulted in property damage only.
Of all of the crashes in Pinellas County per year:
- 471 were pedestrian crashes;
- 42 resulted in pedestrian fatalities; and
- 381 resulted in pedestrian injuries
For all of these victims, compensation for their injuries and other damages may have been available if they had consulted with a Palm Harbor pedestrian accident attorney.
What Causes Most Pedestrian Accidents?
Most pedestrian accidents occur when a pedestrian is walking or standing on the side of the road or walking across an intersection, and a distracted driver either drifts out of their lane or fails to stop at the crosswalk or intersection.
So many drivers fail to realize how quickly they can be distracted by:
- Electronic devices;
- Taking “selfies”;
- Conversing with passengers;
- Reaching for items;
- Applying cosmetics;
- Eating or drinking;
- Changing the radio station; and
- The surrounding environment
In addition to distracted driving, pedestrian accidents can involve:
- Alcohol or drug (by a driver or pedestrian);
- Speeding or unsafe driving;
- Improper turns;
- Falling asleep at the wheel;
- Other traffic law violations (by a driver or pedestrian);
- Poorly marked crosswalks at intersections;
- Weather conditions;
- Vehicle defects;
- Poor lighting;
- Dangerous road design; and
- Pedestrians not wearing reflective clothing at night
One of the first things your personal injury lawyer will do is establish the cause of the accident and determine who was at fault. We will hold responsible any and all parties who were at fault or contributed to your injuries.
What Damages Are Available to Someone Injured in a Pedestrian Accident?
Depending on the nature of the accident, a pedestrian accident usually results in severe injuries to the pedestrian. However, in any accident, no matter how serious the crash may have been, an injured victim is entitled to recover financial damages from the party at fault. These may include both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are the financial losses and expenses you incur as a result of your accident for which you can demonstrate a specific and objective value.
These might include:
- Medical bills;
- Hospital costs;
- Doctors’ fees;
- Deductible payments;
- Pharmaceutical expenses;
- Therapy;
- Counseling;
- Physical rehabilitation;
- Lost income and future wages
Non-economic damages are attributed to more subjective values based on the impact of the injuries on the victim.
These might include:
- Pain and suffering;
- Loss of quality of life;
- Emotional distress;
- Physical impairment or disability;
- Loss of consortium
A pedestrian accident attorney can evaluate your case and determine what compensation may be available.
What Is My Pedestrian Accident Case Worth?
Placing a value on any pedestrian accident case is difficult without first consulting with your personal injury attorney.
Several factors are involved in determining what your case is worth, including the following:
- The severity of your injuries
- Property damage estimates
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Limits on available insurance policies
- Whether you were partially at fault
- The strength of the evidence
- How the injury impacts your quality of life
A skilled attorney can assess what your case is worth and seek any available compensation.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Pedestrian Accident Attorney?
Most pedestrian accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This allows you to secure the legal representation you need without having to pay upfront costs. Instead, you are only required to pay your attorney’s fees if they win compensation for you in a settlement or at trial.
If you lose your case, you are not responsible for paying attorney’s fees. If the attorney wins your case, they receive an agreed-upon percentage of your compensation.
Contact our law office to learn more about our contingency fee arrangements for pedestrian accident cases during a free consultation.
Who May Be Liable For My Injuries After a Palm Harbor Pedestrian Accident?
We will work relentlessly to determine each and every party who may be at fault for your accident, and we will hold them liable for all your damages. In a pedestrian accident, there could be more than one liable party.
Potentially liable parties in a pedestrian accident case include:
- Drivers
- Passengers in the vehicle;
- Other pedestrians;
- The government agency responsible for road design, maintenance, and repair (State, county, city); or
- Designers, producers, or manufacturers of faulty vehicle parts
A pedestrian accident can have more than one cause and more than one liable party. We will pursue any and all available claims against any and all responsible parties so that you recover the maximum compensation you deserve.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for My Pedestrian Accident?
Yes. Beginning March 24, 2023, Florida adopted a modified comparative negligence rule. This means you may recover an equivalent percentage of the value of your damages that the other party contributed to
So, for example, if your damages are valued at $10,000 but you contributed 30% of fault to the cause of the accident, you may recover 70% of your damages ($7,000). However, any party who is more than 50% at fault in causing the accident is prohibited from recovering damages.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Pedestrian Accident in Florida?
Establishing fault and valuing injuries requires a great deal of evidence, which can take time to collect and prepare. In Florida, you have only two years from the date of your accident to bring a claim for your injuries. So, it is important that you contact a personal injury attorney as soon after your accident as possible. We will establish all the evidence you need and make sure you file your claim for damages on time.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With a Palm Harbor Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrian accident injuries can be serious, debilitating, and long-term. If you experienced a pedestrian accident in Palm Harbor, FL, and sustained any injuries at all, your economic and non-economic damages may be significant. A Palm Harbor pedestrian accident attorney can help.
Take time now to contact Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for a free case evaluation. Our number is 727-293-4169, and you can contact us anytime, day or night. We will always be ready to assist you in obtaining maximum compensation for your pedestrian accident injuries.
