Holiday Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a pedestrian is any person on foot, walking, running, jogging, hiking, sitting, or lying down.
A recent study produced by the NHTSA found that approximately 65,000 pedestrians were injured in traffic crashes in the U.S. The NHTSA estimates that, on average, a pedestrian is killed every two hours and injured every eight minutes in traffic crashes.
If you or a loved one were involved in a pedestrian accident, please call a distinguished Holiday accident lawyer right away to begin the process of helping you achieve a strong injury settlement. A Holiday pedestrian accident lawyer can assist in determing the damages that may be available and ensuring you know what to expect at each step of the legal process.
Pedestrian Rights and Responsibilities in Florida
Generally, pedestrians have the right-of-way when crossing a public road, a crosswalk, and when navigating public and private sidewalks.
Title XXIII of the 2016 Florida Statutes lists some of the responsibilities of pedestrians. Pedestrians are required to follow traffic signals or traffic control devices unless otherwise directed by a police officer. Pedestrians must always use sidewalks when provided. If a sidewalk is not provided, then the pedestrian can walk on the road but should walk against oncoming traffic.
The idea behind this is that a driver and pedestrian who face each other are more likely to be aware of each other’s presence and therefore less likely to collide with each other. Pedestrians cannot stand in the road to solicit a ride, employment, or business of an occupant of a vehicle.
Common Injuries
Pedestrians involved in motor vehicle accidents typically suffer from severe injuries. Most, if not all, pedestrians navigate the streets without steel-plated armor for protection.
Most pedestrians these days barely even pay attention to their surroundings because of technological distractions such as cell phones, tablets, and handheld video games. This leaves them especially vulnerable to injury if struck by a motor vehicle.
Some of the most common injuries a Holiday pedestrian accident lawyer can help recover damages for are:
- Brain swelling or blood clots
- Skull fracture
- Fractured bones
- Broken teeth
- Fractured legs (as a result of colliding with car bumpers)
- Spinal cord injury
In the occasional low-speed circumstance, a pedestrian may be able to get up and walk away from an accident without any injury. As a Holiday pedestrian accident attorney can tell you, however, this is rarely the case.
Pedestrian Accidents at Night
Nighttime pedestrian accidents are fairly common in Florida. Many individuals have very dark tints and this limited visibility can be detrimental at nighttime. If a pedestrian chooses to walk at night, it is advised to do so in a brightly lit area. A nighttime pedestrian should also avoid wearing dark colors such as black or brown.
Nighttime brings about an increased chance of encountering an individual who is driving under the influence as well. Keep on the lookout for any signs of potentially inebriated drivers because chances are they will not be able to react quick enough to avoid a collision.
Consulting a Holiday Pedestrian Accident Attorney
If you were hit by a motor vehicle while walking on a sidewalk or crossing the street, contact the experienced Holiday pedestrian accident attorneys at our firm today. We offer free consultations and do not charge a dime unless we obtain favorable results for our clients.
We represent clients in Holiday and the surrounding areas but our attorneys are able to provide legal assistance all throughout Florida. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.