Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Orlando Advocate for Your Rights

In Orlando, Florida, many locals and visitors travel the area on foot. Whether you’re maneuvering the busy streets near the attractions on International Drive, walking to bars and restaurants on Orange Avenue downtown, or leisurely strolling to shops along Park Avenue, Central Florida is often explored and navigated as a pedestrian.

While a walk in Orlando can be beautiful, it can also be dangerous. A busy city with steady traffic (and plenty of distracted drivers and unfamiliar tourists on the road) means more risk of a pedestrian accident involving a vehicle. It’s important to know what to be prepared for while out enjoying the sights on our city streets.

What Are Some Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?

If you’ve been hit by a vehicle and injured while you were walking along Central Florida roadways, there are certain circumstances that are often involved. Of course, the list below isn’t exhaustive. Your case might not fit into one of these areas, but generally, these issues often involve:

• Driving while under the influence of alcohol
• Distracted driving
• Aggressive driving
• Failure to efficiently check blind spots
• Bad weather
• Obstructed view in parking lots or from parking spaces
• Not paying attention at a crosswalk
• Speeding

It’s important after an accident to be as thorough as possible in figuring out which of these common causes may have factored into the accident. The more information you have about the details of the accident, the easier it will be to establish whose fault it is and whether your injuries could be compensated as a result.

What Types of Injuries Might Result from a Pedestrian Accident?

Any accident involving a vehicle can lead to serious injuries; however, pedestrians face more risks than car, truck, and motorcycle drivers because of the lack of protection from physical damage.
Even a slow-moving vehicle can cause severe and life-changing injuries for a pedestrian who may be in the wrong place at the wrong time. In situations such as these, we often hear about the following types of injuries:

• Damage to internal organs
• Spinal injuries
• Wrongful death
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Bone fractures
• Permanent disabilities
• Other life-threatening injuries

If you’re in a pedestrian accident, it’s crucial that you get medical attention as soon as possible. Some of the injuries listed here are painful and clearly apparent, while others may take time for the symptoms to set in.

Either way, visiting a medical professional to evaluate your condition after an accident is the only way to know for certain what injuries you may have sustained.

How is Fault Determined in Pedestrian Accidents in Orlando?

Figuring out who is at fault in a pedestrian accident is important in establishing if a pedestrian is eligible for compensation for the injuries they sustained during the accident. However, the process of establishing fault isn’t as easy as pointing to one party and assigning 100% fault.

For example, if a pedestrian was struck by a car coming up onto the sidewalk, and the pedestrian behaved according to all rules of a public roadway, then the fault would likely be 100% on the driver. However, what if the pedestrian was struck in the crosswalk while the ‘Walk’ sign was turned off? This complicates matters, because it’s possible that both parties were behaving unlawfully. In these cases, each of the parties may be assigned a percentage of fault.

The reason that percentage of fault is so important is because it determines how much money is paid and to whom. If a driver is only 50% at fault for an accident, then they cannot be required to pay for more than 50% of the expenses.

Do You Really Need a Lawyer for Your Pedestrian Accident Case?

While you’re not required by law in Florida to have an attorney in a pedestrian accident case, the truth is that it’s difficult for an accident victim to recover as much compensation as they can get without the help of an attorney.

For example, the average person in a pedestrian accident doesn’t have experience dealing with insurance companies and the many complicated processes and intricate tactics they use to pay as little as possible to injury victims. Many people who don’t understand the law well enough have found themselves with little to no compensation because of rules and processes that insurers use to keep from paying those who deserve and need financial help.

Attorneys, on the other hand, spend their entire careers dealing with these kinds of tactics, and they know exactly how to handle them. Attorneys can use the power of the law to request documents, make demands, and keep the process transparent so clients know exactly what is being done with their case.

If it comes to it, an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer is also prepared to take a case to court. While the average person always has the option to handle their own case in court, this is a situation where it’s smart to have an educated and knowledgeable Orlando personal injury lawyer on their side.

Let Us Help You With Your Case

After an accident, you don’t have to struggle with dealing with insurance companies, talking to doctors, and getting better all on your own. You have a life to live, and every second spent on the phone or arguing about a bill keeps you from the important things you need to do for your family, job, and life.

At RTRLAW, our attorneys are here to help. Let our experienced and professional personal injury attorneys fight for your rights and to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. We handle the complicated questions, paperwork, and legal intricacies that will help get you the compensation you deserve, and you can spend your time and energy on recovering from your accident and getting on with your life.

RTRLAW has been helping accident victims like you since 1989. You’ll pay ZERO upfront, or at all, unless we win your case and recover money for you. Plus, you can visit us at our Orlando office or we can come to you. You can take care of all paperwork electronically, so you never have to leave the comfort of your home if you prefer.

If you or a loved one has been in a pedestrian accident, give us a call in Orlando today at (407) 343-5152 or call or text us toll free at 1-833-HIRE-RTR (1-833-447-3787) for a free, no-obligation case review. Contact us today for more information.