Were you recently injured in a pedestrian accident in Fort Pierce, FL? Our experienced Fort Pierce pedestrian accident lawyers at Shiner Law Group are ready to help fight for your legal rights and get the compensation you deserve. Call us today at (772) 979-6626 to speak with an attorney for a 100% free consultation.
You may be entitled to seek compensation for medical bills, loss of income, pain, and suffering, and more. Contact our Fort Pierce, FL law offices to discuss the legal options that might be available to you following your pedestrian accident. The next steps are very important. Let Shiner Law Group help you with your pedestrian accident case today.
Were You Injured In A Pedestrian Accident In Fort Pierce?
People should be able to cross the street without living in fear of being hit by a vehicle. You never expect to be involved in a pedestrian accident when you’re out for a jog, walk, or simply crossing the street, but unfortunately, accidents can happen. When they do you need to speak with a Fort Pierce pedestrian accident lawyer to discuss your legal options.
People can be killed or sustain serious injuries, ranging from spinal cord damage and traumatic brain injuries to internal injuries and broken bones in pedestrian accidents. Florida is one of the most dangerous states for pedestrians in the United States, according to statistics. Over 5,000 people have been killed in pedestrian accidents during the last ten years while walking and crossing the road. Pedestrians older than 65 are more likely to be struck by drivers compared to younger ones.
Inattentive driving and poor road engineering have contributed to these statistics, so if you or a loved one has been injured by a vehicle while crossing the road or walking, you should contact the excellent Fort Pierce pedestrian accident attorneys at Shiner Law Group to discuss your legal rights to compensation today.
Are Fort Pierce Pedestrian Accidents a Common Occurrence?
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, pedestrian-related accidents represented 3% of all reported traffic accidents in 2020. In total, pedestrian accidents accounted for 13% of all fatalities in traffic accidents during the same period.
If you look at the last five years, there has been a fluctuation in pedestrian fatalities – from a high of 202 in 2018 to a low of 147 in 2020. Most pedestrian accidents happen when a person crosses the road from a specific location like a crosswalk, followed by playing, walking, or jogging.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a pedestrian was killed every 85 minutes in traffic accidents in the United States in 2019. That is equal to approximately 6,206 pedestrians being killed in traffic accidents in 2019.
Safety Tips for Pedestrians When Crossing the Road in Fort Pierce
Most people prefer to travel by foot in Fort Pierce daily, and walking is a relatively safe activity but can be dangerous when there is traffic on the road. Even walking in parking lots can be perilous if you’re not paying attention to your surroundings. Over the last decade, there has been a marked increase in fatalities caused by pedestrian accidents.
It’s easy to discern that pedestrians walking on the road are the most vulnerable of all roadway users. Fortunately, you can reduce your risk of getting injured or avoiding a pedestrian accident entirely while crossing the road by implementing these proactive safety tips.
- Obey all traffic signs and follow the rules of the road
- Always use the sidewalk, and if there is no sidewalk, walk on the side facing oncoming traffic and be as far away from the road as possible.
- Avoid distractions like earbuds and smartphones, and never take your eyes off the road.
- Refrain from jaywalking when crossing streets at intersections and crosswalks.
- Make eye contact with oncoming drivers to alert them of your presence when crossing the road.
- Wear bright colors during the day and reflective clothing at night to increase your visibility.
- Please don’t rely solely on traffic signals because most drivers don’t obey them.
- Avoid walking or crossing the street in traffic while intoxicated or drunk. Alcohol impairs your reflexes and decision-making abilities.
- Be alert and aware of your surroundings when walking in or around parking lots because most pedestrian accidents occur here.
No matter how mindful or cautious you are while walking or crossing the road, you can still be the victim of a pedestrian accident due to a driver’s negligence. However, you can decrease your chances of being involved or injured in a pedestrian accident by following these safety tips.
Common Causes of Fort Pierce Pedestrian Accidents
Distracted driving is the most common reason for pedestrian accidents in the daytime when the pedestrian is visible. The definition of a distracted driving accident is a crash caused by a driver who was doing one of the following things:
- Using an electronic communication device
- Texting while driving
- Talking to other passengers in the car
- Eating and drinking while driving
- Reading while driving
- Adjusting the radio
- Looking at something else, a landmark or other people
- Daydreaming behind the wheel
Unfortunately, most vehicles don’t stop immediately and by the time a driver notices you, they may already have hit you. That’s the reason why distracted driving is considered negligence in Florida. You should speak with our Fort Pierce pedestrian accident attorneys to discuss your legal options for compensation if you believe they were distracted when they hit you.
Types of Pedestrian Accidents in Fort Pierce
It’s fairly simple to calculate that if a vehicle is speeding and hits a pedestrian, it increases the chances of the person suffering a serious or fatal injury due to the accident. However, depending on how the pedestrian’s head hits the concrete after falling, even a crash that happens when a vehicle is going at ten miles an hour can result in immediate death.
All motorcycle, car, and truck accidents involving pedestrians are dangerous, and the most commonly seen pedestrian accidents in Fort Pierce are the following:
Back-up Accidents
Back-up accidents happen when a driver hits a pedestrian while backing up their car without looking behind to see if they may hit anyone. These accidents typically take place in parking lots.
Vendor Accidents
Vendor accidents happen on neighborhood streets, when children run onto the middle of the street to catch ice cream trucks or when people are waiting around food trucks.
Vehicle Turn and Merge Accidents
Vehicle turn and merge accidents happen when the driver is focused on making a turn or merging into traffic. Drivers tend to alternate between looking both ways and fail to see pedestrians until they have started to turn or merge.
Passing Accidents
Passing accidents happen when negligent drivers don’t see pedestrians due to a bus or vehicle that has stopped to let pedestrians cross the street. The negligent driver may hit a pedestrian while trying to pass or overtake the vehicle stopped in front of their car in these cases.
Intersection Accident
Intersection accidents happen when pedestrians try to quickly cross an intersection, which causes their crossing to be mistimed, and the driver doesn’t have enough time to react.
Dart-Out Accidents
Dart-out accidents happen when pedestrians suddenly dart out onto the road giving the driver no time to react. Sometimes, the pedestrian may not be at fault in such accidents. For example, if they were on the crosswalk and the driver’s view is blocked by a vehicle stopped ahead of them, it may appear as if the pedestrian has darted onto the road.
Fort Pierce Pedestrian Accidents Caused by Drunk Driving
Apart from distracted driving, many pedestrian accidents result from alcohol use by either the pedestrian or the driver. Drunk driving is an unfortunately common cause of pedestrian accidents because it impairs the decision-making and reflexes of the driver.
Pedestrians can also suffer from these effects when crossing roads on foot while drunk and contributes to a pedestrian accident. Even in cases where a pedestrian was intoxicated and was hit by a driver while walking, the injured party can seek compensation for their injuries.
Most serious pedestrian accidents take place in urban areas at night. That means most pedestrian accidents happen due to insufficient traffic control devices and crosswalks for those attempting to cross the road. In such cases, it’s best to speak with a Fort Pierce pedestrian accident attorney to discuss whether you have a claim against the state or municipality for negligent engineering.
Most Common Fort Pierce Pedestrian Injuries
Pedestrian accidents are often catastrophic because the human body can’t withstand the damage caused by a collision with a motorcycle, car, or truck. The impact of being hit with thousand pounds of metal at speed can cause serious injuries, such as:
- Deep cuts (lacerations) and bruises (contusions), including damage to major organs
- Head injuries, including concussion and severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Facial or dental injuries, which may include loss of vision and eye injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, including loss of function or paralysis
- Orthopedic injuries, including damage to parts of the musculoskeletal system and broken bones
Surprisingly, women are more likely to suffer pelvic injuries than men, like broken hips. The fatal injuries are the ones pedestrians suffer to their chests and heads. If these injuries aren’t fatal, they will require a lifetime of medical treatment and may cause permanent disabilities.
Recovering Compensation After a Fort Pierce Pedestrian Accident
If you were hit by a vehicle in Fort Pierce, you could get a negligent driver’s no-fault insurance policy, which helps cover your medical expenses and lost wages up to the policy maximum.
Drivers in Florida are required to carry $10,000 in insurance coverage, but this may not cover the costs of a broken bone. Our Fort Pierce pedestrian accident lawyers will negotiate with the liable insurance company to help you recover compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Rehabilitation and nursing services
- Medical equipment and medication
- Lost wages
- Medical bills
If the insurance policy isn’t sufficient to cover your expenses, you can discuss what it would mean to litigate your case with our Fort Pierce pedestrian accident attorneys today.
Fort Pierce Pedestrian Accident FAQs
We understand that you may have questions related to your case if you have been injured in a pedestrian accident in Fort Pierce, which is why we have highlighted the most frequently asked questions to help you.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Pedestrian Accident in Florida?
In most cases, claimants have two years after the date on which the injury occurred to file a Florida pedestrian accident lawsuit. The deadline may be extended in some limited circumstances.
Therefore, even if it has been more than two years since your accident, you should contact an attorney to discuss the details of your case. An experienced attorney can inform you if there may be a reason for extending the statute of limitation in your case.
What are the Driver’s and Pedestrian’s Duty of Care in Pedestrian Accidents?
In legal claims, a “duty of care” refers to the standard a reasonably prudent person would follow in similar circumstances. Drivers have a duty of care to protect others on the road by operating their vehicles safely and legally.
Pedestrians have a duty of care to obey traffic laws, including yielding the right-of-way to other roadway users when they are legally required to do so.
I Think I Was Partially “At Fault” for My Pedestrian Accident. Does That Mean I Can’t File a Claim?
In Florida, even if you are partially “at fault” for the accident that caused your injuries, you can still file a pedestrian accident claim against other “at-fault” parties. You should also understand that fault isn’t always clear when you are in an accident until a professional investigation occurs. Therefore, it’s advised to speak with an experienced pedestrian accident attorney to understand your options.
I Was Injured in a Fort Pierce Pedestrian Accident. How Do I Obtain Compensation?
Suppose you have been injured in a pedestrian accident in Fort Pierce that resulted from someone else’s reckless or careless actions. In that case, you can seek compensation for your injuries through a pedestrian accident lawsuit.
It’s a legal claim in civil court that seeks to prove who was responsible for the accident that caused your injuries and to show the economic and emotional impact your injury has had on your life.
Why Should I Contact Shiner Law Group for Fort Pierce Pedestrian Accidents?
With ample sunshine and cities designed for walking from place to place, Florida is a haven for pedestrians. Unfortunately, Florida is also one of only five states which account for nearly half of all pedestrian accidents in the United States. The recent yearlong totals reveal that pedestrian accidents are the highest they have ever been in three decades.
There is almost nothing scarier than seeing a vehicle coming towards you and knowing that you can’t escape from getting hit by an oncoming motorcycle, car, or truck. Pedestrian accidents are serious affairs, and so is your legal case. If you were injured while biking, jogging, running, or walking in Fort Pierce, you should contact Shiner Law Group today.
How Can Your Fort Pierce Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Help Me?
When your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage isn’t enough to pay for your expenses and medical bills, you must file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver at fault. However, insurance companies are reluctant to pay injured pedestrians what they need to recover truly.
To combat “lowball” settlement offers, you need an experienced Fort Pierce pedestrian accident attorney on your side to advocate for you. Our Fort Pierce pedestrian accident attorneys can help you collect the maximum compensation for your claim by:
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- Investigating your accident
- Interviewing eyewitnesses
- Locating and identifying all responsible parties
- Examining the police report and other evidence
- Employing accident reconstruction teams and other experts
- Dealing with creditors and hospital billing departments
- Working with your medical team to evaluate the scope of your injuries
Even if you’re not sure about filing a personal injury lawsuit, you owe it to yourself to explore all your legal options. At Shiner Law Group, our Fort Pierce pedestrian accident lawyers want to take the burden off your shoulders after an accident.
We can handle everything for you, from insurance companies to paperwork, so you can focus on what truly matters most – your health.
Fort Pierce Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Review
Fort Pierce Pedestrian Injury Law Office
Shiner Law Group
531 S US Hwy 1, Building A STE D
Fort Pierce, FL 34950
