Pinellas County Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
In a world increasingly organized around cars and trucks, there a number of hazards just walking down the street. Crossing the street can be even more dangerous.
Every day, Americans who are traveling on foot are badly injured, or even killed, by motor vehicles. If you or a loved one has been involved in such an accident, you should contact an experienced attorney right away so you can get the compensation to which you are entitled.
The law almost always says that pedestrians have the right-of-way relative to motor vehicles. That is because walkers are more vulnerable to injury than individuals who are in large vehicles moving at high speeds.
The legal system tries to encourage drivers to look out for the presence of pedestrians – but all too often, they do not. A Pinellas County pedestrian accident lawyer can fight for your right as a pedestrian and help you pursue damages.
Driver Negligence
The causes of pedestrian accidents are varied. Sometimes the driver was intoxicated. With the increasing prevalence of smartphones, drivers are more distracted than ever. Speeding is out of control on some roads and highways.
If the driver was negligent, the pedestrian can recover damages with the help of a pedestrian accident attorney in Pinellas County. Negligence is the failure to exercise the degree of care that a reasonable person would have shown under the circumstances.
For example, drivers are supposed to look both ways before turning. If a car is moving well above the posted speed limit, the driver may be unable to stop even if they notice the presence of the pedestrian. When a driver sees a yellow light, they are supposed to slow down and be ready to stop.
But many drivers gun the accelerator so they get through the intersection before the light turns red. This is the cause of many pedestrian accidents.
Getting the Evidence
Traffic accidents of all kinds often happen quickly, leading to conflicting eyewitness accounts. As soon as you contact a Pinellas County pedestrian accident lawyer they will begin tracking down witnesses and getting their accounts on the record before their memories start to fade.
Being hit by a car can be a horribly traumatic experience, both physically and psychologically. Someone is entitled to recover damages for both kinds of harm.
Devastating Damages
With so many sport-utility vehicles and light trucks on the road these days, plus the epidemic of distracted driving since the advent of the smartphone, pedestrian accidents are causing more damage than ever. If the victim is a child or an elderly person, the harm can be even greater and more long-lasting.
Here are just some of the kinds of injuries that happen:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Damage to other vital organs
- Broken arms or legs
- Paralysis
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
How a Pedestrian Accident Attorney Can Help
Such injuries can lead to enormous medical bills, both to deal with the initial emergency and for long-term care, if needed. Loss of consortium—inability to spend time with loved ones—is another type of damages.
Victims in pedestrian accidents often must miss work for weeks or months while they recover. If the victim was the breadwinner for a family, the financial cost can be devastating. Motorists are required by law to carry insurance. The lawyers for insurance companies have typically spent years learning every trick that can be used to deny compensation.
That is why you need aggressive, experienced Pinellas County pedestrian accident lawyers on your side who know how to win a favorable verdict or settlement in this kind of case.