West Palm Beach Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Assist Injured Victims With Their Accident Cases

Walking seems like one of the least dangerous travel and exercise methods, but this is often not the case. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), pedestrian deaths across the country increased by 4% between 2019 and 2020. With 6,516 pedestrian deaths recorded in the United States in 2020, it was the deadliest year for walkers since 1990. A further 55,000 Americans are estimated to have been injured in pedestrian accidents in 2020.

At RTRLAW, we understand you’re much more than a statistic. Your pedestrian accident may have created  many difficulties in your life, and the liable parties should be held responsible for the damage they’ve caused. Our compassionate personal injury lawyers are here to help you in your recovery journey. Contact RTRLAW today in Lake Worth at (561) 331-6920 or call us toll-free at 1-833-HIRE-RTR (833-447-3787) to schedule a  free, no-obligation case review and find out how we can assist you.

What Injuries Can Pedestrians Suffer in an Accident?

Absorbing the impact of a speeding vehicle or a fall on the ground can cause significant damage to your body. Even a low-speed bump from a car backing out of a parking space can break bones or cause you to strike your head on a hard surface. Getting run over after falling on the ground is also a very real and frightening possibility. Severe pedestrian accident injury risks exist whether the incident involves a car or not. Something as simple as tripping on a broken sidewalk can put you in the hospital. However, some of the most devastating pedestrian accident injuries tend to happen from being struck by a motorized vehicle.

Common bodily injuries due to pedestrian accidents are:

• Head trauma, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Broken or fractured bones
• Cuts and bruises
• Damage to internal organs
• Hip, knee, and pelvic injuries
• Crushed extremities
• Injuries to the face, jaw, and teeth
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis

Not every injury caused by a pedestrian accident is visible. Due to the shocking, sudden, and painful nature of these types of incidents, victims may have mental trauma that can linger long after the physical injuries have healed. Mental impacts can include PTSD, phobias, depression, anxiety, loss of enjoyment in life, and more. Getting fully compensated  for all of your injuries, including these hidden impacts and their treatment can be crucial to your full recovery and future well-being.

How Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen?

According to the NHTSA, a stunning 17% of all fatalities in traffic accidents are pedestrians. Many of these accidents occur in urban areas due to the higher concentration of pedestrians. There’s also a greater incidence of vehicle-related pedestrian accidents at night when drivers experience decreased visibility and are more likely to be impaired by fatigue or alcohol.

Other factors leading to vehicle-involved pedestrian accidents include:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving, including texting, eating, or doing other activities while operating a vehicle
• Failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks
• Turning without looking in both directions
• Equipment malfunctions, such as failing brakes
• Drunk or drugged driving
• Backing up without thoroughly checking for people or obstacles
• Reckless driving or swerving
• Haphazardly designed crosswalks

Plenty of pedestrian accidents don’t involve motor vehicles. Pedestrians may be struck and harmed on roadways, sidewalks, or walking trails by negligent bicyclists, skateboarders, moped riders, rollerbladers, and even runners.

Sometimes the culprit is the walking surface itself. Uneven, poorly maintained, or slippery surfaces can cause bone-shattering falls. In these cases, the liable party may be the local government or property owner responsible for the upkeep of the walkway.

When Can You File a Pedestrian Accident Claim?

If you’re facing a growing stack of bills related to your accident injuries, you may wonder when you can file a claim for your losses. In nearly all personal injury cases, it is in your best interest to contact a qualified Florida pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident to begin the process of building a case and filing a claim. Promptly enlisting the services of a trusted law firm such as RTRLAW ensures that you have the best chance of recovering the full compensation possible for your losses. Evidence can quickly disappear and proving your version of events becomes more challenging with each passing day.

Once you have consulted with and retained a lawyer, your case will be investigated and your attorney will start negotiating a settlement with the responsible party’s insurance company. If you have severe or catastrophic injuries, your legal team may build your case, but choose to hold off on filing until you have reached a stable point in your recovery, so you have a better idea of your total damages.

The length of time in which you can file a pedestrian accident claim is determined by Florida’s statute of limitations. These laws state that a personal injury claim must be filed within two years of the date of the accident (Four-years if the accident occurred prior to March 24, 2023), with very few exceptions. Missing this deadline results in the inability to take your claim to court and recover damages from the liable parties. Time if of the essence in injury cases. If you’ve had a pedestrian accident, contact an attorney for legal advice right away.

How Can Pedestrians Stay Safe While Walking?

While it is the duty of drivers to remain aware of pedestrians and other hazards while operating their vehicles, it is also essential for walkers to stay vigilant to maintain their safety. Walking near traffic requires exercising many of the same critical thinking skills as driving or riding a bicycle.

Steps pedestrians can take to be safe and responsible include:

• Walking on sidewalks or trails whenever possible;
• Facing traffic and staying as far away from vehicles as you can if you must walk on the road;Crossing roads only at intersections or crosswalks, if available; If not available, use well-lit areas that provide a clear view of traffic and wait for a sufficient break in traffic to cross.
• Looking in all directions for traffic before crossing and following all traffic signs or signals;
• Wearing bright clothing to make yourself visible or using reflective outerwear or lights when walking at night;
• Remaining vigilant while walking; Do not use headphones or electronics that impair your ability to see and hear traffic, and never walk while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which may dangerously slow your reaction time.
• Paying close attention to cars backing up, and never assuming the driver sees you.

What Damages Can You Recover With a Pedestrian Accident Claim?

Accident injuries can be costly and challenging to overcome. Filing a personal injury claim against the responsible parties can help put you back on solid financial footing. A pedestrian accident settlement is usually broken up into two categories:

• Economic damages: These are monetary losses that you likely have bills for, including costs for hospital stays, doctor visits, surgeries, therapy, rehabilitation, prescriptions, medical supplies, and more. They also cover lost income, such as lost wages during your recovery time and the loss of future earning capacity if your injuries are so severe that they will prevent you from working long-term.
• Non-economic damages: Accident injuries harm more than just your body. They can be emotionally and mentally devastating as well. While these personal losses that occur after an accident are trickier to quantify, they can majorly impact your life. Non-economic damages compensate for pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, mental anguish, and bodily changes like scarring or disfigurement.

Do You Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?

As with any personal injury claim, you can handle your pedestrian accident claim independently. However, it can be a significant challenge to juggle your recovery process and family obligations while negotiating with an insurance company that is aiming to pay you the lowest amount possible for your claim. You deserve to recover the compensation you are entitled to. A pedestrian accident lawyer from RTRLAW can skillfully handle your case and remove the stress and hassle from the claims process, allowing you to focus on the important things in your life.

RTRLAW’s experienced and qualified personal injury attorneys in West Palm Beach provide the expert legal advice you can trust, with a track record of satisfied clients going back decades.

RTRLAW takes pedestrian accident cases on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing unless we secure a settlement. Since 1988, RTRLAW has worked with tens of thousands of injured victims and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation and settlements for our clients.

Our attorneys fight hard to get you the full compensation possible for your injuries. Contact us today in Lake Worth or at one of our 7 conveniently located offices in Florida and Texas. Schedule an appointment today or if you can’t come to us, we can come to you where you live or work, or even at the hospital or accident scene. For your convenience, the paperwork can be handled via text and email.

Reach out to our helpful lawyers today for a no-free, obligation case review at (561) 331-6920 or toll free at 1-833-HIRE-RTR (833-447-3787).