Federal Judge Sandra Feuerstein was killed, and a six-year-old child was injured on April 9th at 10:22 AM on North Ocean Blvd in Boca Raton, FL. It is alleged that a car driving north on Ocean Blvd, went around stopped traffic, up onto a sidewalk when the Judge was tragically hit and killed, The car continued north and hit a 6 year old boy who was crossing the street at the time. The car then continued to drive north into the city of Delray Beach before crashing and coming to a halt. Judge Feuerstein was taken to Delray Medical Center and pronounced dead; the driver was also taken to Delray Medical Center for evaluation and then released into Police custody. The six-year-old boy is in serious condition.
The arrested driver on suspicion of vehicular homicide, hit and run involving death and leaving the scene of an accident with injury. The driver appeared to be under the influence of drugs and is currently being held in custody.
Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents are common here in Florida, and the lawyers of Shiner Law Group wanted to provide you with simple steps so you can stay safe while enjoying the beautiful weather in Florida.
A 2017 CDC study identified almost 6,000 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents in the United States, and an additional 137,000 were injured and treated at a medical center. Based on the study, almost half of all the accidents which resulted in deaths, alcohol was involved, and pedestrians 65 years and older accounted for 20% of all accidents deaths.
Florida, along with Arizona, California, Georgia, and Texas account for 47% of all pedestrian deaths. In 2019 alone Florida had 368 pedestrian deaths a jump from 2018 by nine.
Trends indicate that most pedestrian fatalities occur on local roads, at night and away from intersections. Common causes of pedestrian fatalities are due to reckless driving behaviors such as speeding, distracted driving, failure to obey traffic laws, and alcohol and drug-induced impairment.
Besides ensuring you, the pedestrian, is paying attention and stays safe, drivers also have a responsibility to travel safely while on the roads, including those driving larger vehicles such as trucks and buses have a responsibility to watch out for others using the streets, such as bicyclists and pedestrians.
According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle traffic accident statistics reports for 2019, pedestrian accidents totaled 9,736 total crashes, of that, there were 734 fatalities, 1,524 incapacitated injuries and 6,369 other related injuries.
Pursuing Pedestrian Accident Claims in Boca Raton
Our experienced pedestrian injury lawyers help victims fight for justice and compensation for those involved in an accident by a negligent driver. If you or someone you know has been involved in a pedestrian accident involving a vehicle and sustained injuries as a result, speak to one of our pedestrian accident attorneys today by calling us at (561) 777-7700 to see if you can file an accident injury claim.
Typical Causes of Boca Raton Pedestrian Accidents
- Distracted driving
- Texting and driving
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Drivers under the influence
- Right-hand turns without looking
- Illegally parked vehicles
Understanding Pedestrian Accidents in Boca Raton
In a 2021 survey the Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach area of Florida ranked number 13 in the most dangerous areas for pedestrians, ranking behind the Orlando, Kissimmee area at #1, Palm Bay, Melbourne area #2, Sarasota and Bradenton area # 6, Tampa, Clearwater and St. Petersburg area at # 8 and the Jacksonville area at # 10. Florida ranked 6 of the top 15 most dangerous places for pedestrians in the United States.
A pedestrian is defined as persons on or near a roadway, including those in a wheelchair, on a skateboard, as well as roller skaters or those on rollerblades. Bicyclists are not classified as pedestrians.
As previously mentioned, pedestrians are obligated to use sidewalks, and if there are not any sidewalks in the area, they should walk on the side of the roadway but facing oncoming traffic, also pedestrians have the right of way in a marked crosswalk but must yield to traffic signals.
Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit in Boca Raton
Florida is a no-fault insurance state, meaning residents of the State of Florida who own vehicles are required to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Insurance in the amount of $10,000, this insurance covers a portion of medical expenses and lost wages regardless of whose fault the accident is. If injuries go beyond the serious injury threshold, pedestrians are able to file a claim that would include pain & suffering against the at fault driver or their insurance company. In cases where the at fault motorist does not have insurance, which is common in the State of Florida, the pedestrian is able to file a claim with their own insurance company if they have Uninsured/Underinsurance motorist coverage (UM). The Shiner Law Group recommends that all drivers have UM insurance to better protect themselves in case of accidents.
In cases where the pedestrian does not have a car, and thus does not have insurance, the at-fault motorist PIP would cover the pedestrians medical bills, however this only applies if the pedestrian is a resident of the State of Florida, if the pedestrian is a tourist they would not be eligible to receive PIP benefits but can sue for all their damages without regard to the no-fault threshold.
In certain cases, were both the driver and the pedestrian were proven to be at fault, then the driver can still be held liable, but the damages awarded will be reduced because both were considered to be at fault.
Common Boca Raton Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Injuries involving a pedestrian and vehicle are almost always consistent and are typically one-sided regarding injuries, meaning that in most cases, the pedestrian is usually the injured or most injured party.
Reported injuries due to these types of pedestrian-involved accidents include:
- Broken Bones
- Brain Injuries
- Head Injuries
- Spine Injuries
- Amputations
- Loss of Life
Some of your injuries may not be apparent at first, and other injuries may have long-term medical needs associated with pain and suffering and medical expenses long after the pedestrian accident. Because of these expenses, hiring an experienced lawyer is essential to protecting your rights and ensuring fair compensation is received. Filing a lawsuit against the negligent party may help to ease the financial burdens you face with medical expenses and lost wages and will go a long way in your recovery.
Pedestrian Accidents Leading to Wrongful Death in Boca Raton, Florida
In some instances, pedestrian accidents may result in fatalities, most of the cases in which we see a fatal ending involve larger vehicles, truck accidents, bus accidents, train accidents, van accidents, or commercial vehicle accidents. Most of these cases are a direct result of a negligent driver and could have been prevented. If a loved one has been in an accident which resulted in their death, the lawyers at Shiner Law Group are here to help.
Speaking with a Boca Raton Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Near Me
Pedestrian accidents occur daily and most are preventable, however, if you are in Florida, keep in mind that Florida is a no-fault state, should you get in an accident in Boca Raton, Florida, or anywhere within the State of Florida you need a personal injury lawyer to fight for you and ensure that you get the justice and the compensation that you deserve.
Call the Boca Raton personal Injury attorneys at Shiner Law Group today at 561-777-7700 or filling out our free online case evaluation form.
