Were you recently hit by a car while walking in Safety Harbor, Florida? Contact the Board Certified trial attorneys at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for immediate assistance. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress you’ve suffered. Our experienced Safety Harbor pedestrian accident lawyers can help you fight for maximum financial recovery.
Since 1996, Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers has been trusted by pedestrians whose lives have changed after catastrophic auto accidents in Safety Harbor and throughout the greater Tampa Bay area. We’re nationally recognized Florida trial attorneys with 50+ years of experience and a proven track record of success. Our law firm has helped clients win over 120 million in settlements and jury awards.
Don’t let the negligent driver, an insurance company, or another liable party off the hook. Demand accountability by putting our top-rated Safety Harbor personal injury law firm in your corner. Contact us today at (727) 787-2500 We offer a free consultation, so reach out for help today.
How Our Safety Harbor Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help if You’ve Been Hit by a Car
Pedestrian accidents can be catastrophic. After all, you don’t have a large steel frame, a seatbelt, a helmet, or other safety gear to protect you in a crash. As a result, there’s a high degree of likelihood that you’ll suffer debilitating injuries that can affect you for the rest of your life.
Fortunately, Florida law provides an opportunity for you to seek damages in an insurance claim or pedestrian accident lawsuit.
Our Safety Harbor personal injury lawyers can help you make the most of your fight for compensation.
When you choose our law firm, you make it clear that you won’t be walking away with less than your pedestrian accident case is worth.
We’ll invest whatever time, resources, and manpower are needed as we:
- Carefully investigate the circumstances of your pedestrian accident
- Determine the underlying cause(s) of the accident and identify who’s at fault
- Gather accident reports, photographs, video footage, witness testimony, property damage, medical records, and other evidence
- Consult experts as we analyze, build, and value your pedestrian accident claim
- Aggressively seek a top-dollar settlement during negotiations with the defendant on your behalf
- Explain the potential pros and cons of accepting any settlement offers the insurance company makes
- Represent your best interests at trial as our accomplished litigators fight for a life-changing verdict, if necessary
At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand that a pedestrian accident can be costly. Medical bills can add up as you drain your savings to make up for a sudden loss of income. We want to help without adding to your financial stress. That’s why our pedestrian accident attorneys in Safety Harbor work on contingency.
You only pay if we settle or win your pedestrian accident case.
Call our law office serving Safety Harbor to get started. We’re here to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
How Common Are Pedestrian Accidents in Safety Harbor, Florida?
Every year, hundreds of pedestrians are involved in car accidents in Safety Harbor and surrounding towns in Pinellas County, Florida.
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), 474 pedestrian crashes were reported in the area in 2022.
That’s more than one pedestrian-involved traffic accident a day in and around Safety Harbor.
These pedestrian accidents caused 396 injuries and at least 37 fatalities.
What Do I Have To Prove To Win a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit?
Most pedestrian accident lawsuits are based on negligence.
A pedestrian gets hit by a car and then argues that the accident happened because the driver was careless.
When you file a pedestrian accident lawsuit in Safety Harbor, you’ll have to prove:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care (e.g., to follow local traffic laws)
- The defendant breached this duty of care (e.g., made an illegal right-turn-on red)
- The defendant’s actions were the actual and proximate cause of your injury (e.g., you wouldn’t have been struck by the car if the driver hadn’t made the illegal turn); and
- You’ve suffered damages (e.g., medical bills, disability, emotional distress).
Florida law requires you to prove your negligence claim by a preponderance of the evidence. You’ll need facts, legal arguments, and evidence to convince a jury that your claim is more likely true than not.
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers has spent decades building compelling negligence actions that position our clients to walk away with life-changing financial awards. Put your trust in our experience and results. Call us to schedule a free consultation now.
What Are the Leading Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Safety Harbor, FL?
Some of the top causes of pedestrian accidents in Safety Harbor include:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Fatigued driving
- Illegal turns
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Rolling stops
- Failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians at an intersection or crosswalk
- Braking errors
- Limited visibility due to dangerous weather conditions
- Road construction
- Inadequate pedestrian infrastructure, including sidewalks and marked crosswalks
- Speeding
It’s important to carefully investigate your pedestrian accident to determine why it happened. Once the cause is clear, our attorneys can pursue compensation from all liable parties, which could include drivers of passenger vehicles, truck drivers, bus drivers, bicyclists, other pedestrians, property owners, or even a government agency.
What Types of Compensation Can I Get in a Safety Harbor Pedestrian Injury Claim?
Florida’s no-fault insurance rules still apply if you’re injured as a pedestrian in Safety Harbor. As long as you have car insurance or are covered by someone else’s policy, your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits will be the primary source of compensation after you’re hit by a car.
PIP benefits cover up to 80 percent of your medical bills and 60 percent of your lost wages, up to your policy limits.
If your injuries are severe, then you can also pursue additional compensation from a liable third party (or their insurance company).
When you file a third-party insurance claim or lawsuit, you can potentially recover economic damages and non-economic damages for:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Disability
- Lost wages and earnings
- Diminished earning capacity
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing assistance
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Reduced quality of life
- Emotional distress
If there’s clear and convincing evidence that the defendant’s conduct was grossly negligent or intentional, then punitive damages might also be available.
Our personal injury attorneys in Safety Harbor will work to recover an award that accurately represents what your pedestrian accident case is worth.
I’m Getting Blamed for My Florida Pedestrian Accident – Can It Affect My Settlement?
Yes. Florida has a modified system of comparative negligence. There is a strict 51 percent bar to recovery.
Under state law:
- You cannot recover compensation from a third party if you share 51 percent or more responsibility for a pedestrian accident.
- You can recover a reduced monetary award if you share 50 percent or less blame for a pedestrian accident.
If you share some – but not most – of the responsibility for your pedestrian accident, you’re entitled to a reduced recovery. The reduction is proportionate. If you’re 10 percent at fault, your settlement or jury award will be reduced by 10 percent.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries in Safety Harbor, Florida
Pedestrians who are struck by vehicles in Safety Harbor can suffer:
- Broken bones
- Cuts and lacerations
- Crushing injury
- Chest injury
- Eye injury
- Concussion
- Brain injury
- Spinal fracture
- Back injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Paralysis
- Internal organ damage
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue damage
- Amputation
- Burns
- Catastrophic injury
- Wrongful death
If you’re struck by a vehicle in Safety Harbor, seek prompt medical care at a local hospital. Once your condition has stabilized, reach out to our pedestrian accident attorneys to discuss the details of your case at length and discover how we can help you recover a much-needed financial award.
What’s the Statute of Limitations for Florida Pedestrian Accident Lawsuits?
After a pedestrian accident in Safety Harbor, Florida, you’ll generally have two years to file a personal injury claim for damages.
The statute of limitations begins to run on the date of your accident, the date your injury is discovered, or the date of a loved one’s wrongful death, whichever is later.
Don’t let too much time pass by without taking legal action. Once the statute of limitations expires, so does your opportunity to get the money you deserve.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Safety Harbor Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Call the award-winning legal team at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers if you’ve recently been injured in a pedestrian accident in Safety Harbor, Florida.
You may be entitled to compensation, and our experienced Safety Harbor pedestrian accident lawyers can help you take on the insurance company for a maximum financial payout.
Contact our law office serving Safety Harbor to learn more about working with our top-rated team. Your initial case evaluation is free.
