St. Petersburg Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
Helping Florida Pedestrian Accident Victims Assert Their Legal Rights
Pedestrian accidents injured about 65,000 people during 2014 according to data published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Pedestrians are extremely vulnerable to injury when they are involved in accidents, as they have none of the protections afforded by riding inside a vehicle. Whenever you walk from one place to another, you are at risk of involvement in a pedestrian accident. This is true whether you walk to and from work each day or the extent of your walking tends to be from your car to your front door. Fortunately, victims of pedestrian accidents are often entitled to compensation for their losses under Florida law.
What Causes Pedestrian Accidents in FL?
Accidents involving pedestrians and motor vehicles can happen for a number of reasons. What is important to victims is that when they are the result of driver negligence, people who are injured can file a claim. Some examples of driver negligence that can often lead to serious pedestrian accidents include the following:
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• Distracted driving • Failure to yield • Ignoring stop signs • Driving while impaired • Poor vehicle maintenance |
• Failing to observe traffic signals • Speeding • Texting while driving • Aggressive driving • Driver fatigue |
These are just a few examples of the ways that drivers can crash into pedestrians, and there are many others that could entitle you to compensation. When you retain a lawyer to represent you, he or she will evaluate your case and determine whether you may be able to file a claim. If your claim is contested, your attorney will conduct a thorough investigation of the way in which your accident occurred in order to find evidence of negligence on the part of the motorist that hit you. Examples of evidence that may be used to establish negligence on the part of a driver include surveillance footage, cell phone records, vehicle maintenance records, eyewitness statements, and expert testimony.
Do You Still Need a Lawyer if You Have Been Offered a Settlement?
Many pedestrian accident victims are offered a settlement by an insurance company shortly after their accident occurred. The way that a settlement operates is this: you agree to accept money in order to give up your right to bring a legal claim. Most cases are resolved this way, as fault in pedestrian accidents is generally clear.
If you have been offered a settlement by an insurance company, you may be tempted to simply take it and move on with your life. After all, why bother with retaining an attorney if you can just settle your case yourself? It is important to keep in mind that as a victim, you probably do not have an accurate idea of how much your case may be worth. For example, you may understand that your medical expenses and lost income should be paid for, but are you aware of the fact that Florida law allows you to recover for your pain and suffering as well? Even if you are, do you know how to determine how much your pain and suffering should be worth? Because of these issues, it is important for all victims to retain a lawyer. Doing so will ensure that you receive the full and fair value of your claim.
Contact a St. Petersburg Pedestrian Accident Attorney Today
A serious pedestrian accident can leave you with severe injuries that will affect you for the rest of your life. For this reason, it is critical for victims to protect their legal rights by retaining an experienced and aggressive attorney as soon as they can after an incident has occurred. To schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers, call Berkowitz & Myer today at 727-344-0123 or send us an email through our online contact form.
