Boca Raton Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

Florida has repeatedly been labeled as one of the most dangerous states for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. Studies frequently rank Florida as the second most hazardous because of its thousands of fatalities per year. In 2020 , there were 104,000 additional emergency room visits and 7,000 fatalities linked to pedestrian accidents. That’s one death every 75 minutes. 

So, unfortunately, these types of accidents are relatively common, especially amongst houseless or lower-class people. They’re the ones who tend to walk more frequently, putting them at higher risk for accidents. 

Pedestrian accidents can cause severe injury and lasting consequences for those who experience them. Not only that, but victims often experience an abundance of stress and even PTSD afterward. Thankfully, Osborne, Francis & Pettis is here to help. We have a wealth of knowledge surrounding pedestrian accident cases, as well as years and years of success for our clients. We’re ready and eager to help you with your case, ready to help lift the stress off your shoulders. To learn more about our processes and how we can help you get the compensation that you deserve, contact our Boca Raton office online or call us at (561) 293-2600.

Pedestrian Laws in Boca Raton, Florida

Pedestrian laws are important, and those who walk frequently should keep them in mind. However, accidents don’t choose favorites. If a driver is driving under the influence or while distracted, they put everyone at risk–even those following the rules. However, as a pedestrian, you should still do everything possible to reduce said risk. Here are some important Florida pedestrian laws you should know and follow: 

• “A pedestrian shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device specifically applicable to the pedestrian unless otherwise directed by a police officer.” 
• “Where sidewalks are provided, no pedestrian shall, unless required by other circumstances, walk along and upon the portion of a roadway paved for vehicular traffic.”
• “The driver of a vehicle at any crosswalk where signage so indicates shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross a roadway when the pedestrian is in the crosswalk or steps into the crosswalk and is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.”

Causes of Boca Raton Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents are most frequently caused by driver negligence. Negligence refers to a breach in the duty of care that drivers owe the second they get behind the wheel of their vehicle. Negligence is committed without malicious intent, meaning that they haven’t planned to hurt anyone or don’t mean to. However, many of these actions are still conscious choices, such as driving drunk or texting while driving. Drivers should know better — but unfortunately, most believe they’re untouchable and will never be the reason for an accident that hurts another person. 

Negligent acts that often cause car accidents include: 

• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol 
• Improper lane changes 
• Running red lights and stop signs
• Road rage
• Inexperienced drivers
• Speeding

Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Pedestrian accidents can result in all types of injuries, ranging from mild to catastrophic. Minor injuries like cuts and bruises are relatively common, as are more medium-level injuries like breaks, fractures, and soft tissue injuries. Severe injuries, like traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and amputations, are less common but can cause the most long-term damage. 

In some cases, patients are left dealing with and treating their accident injuries for a lifetime.

Others don’t require long-term treatment but may still cause long-term issues like chronic pain. However, it can be challenging to classify injury types for this reason. It can be difficult to tell when something is going to cause long-term damage and when something is going to heal smoothly. For example, a concussion in one person could have completely different effects when compared to a concussion in another person. 

Crushing injuries are also common in pedestrian accidents, especially when the pedestrian is struck head-on, pinning them to another object or vehicle. Crushing injuries can cause internal bleeding and damage to the extremities. These injuries are incredibly serious, as they may be onset. For this reason, seeking immediate medical attention is of the utmost importance. Ignoring medical treatment can damage your case and your health. 

Types of Damages in a Boca Raton Pedestrian Accident Case

There are two main types of damages that you can recover. Economic damages are losses with a monetary value, and non-economic damages are the opposite. Economic damages most frequently include past and future medical bills, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and disfigurement and scarring. 

The amount of compensation you receive for your damages is highly personal, depending on how severe your injuries are, how long you’ll require treatment, and how much the accident and resulting injuries have affected your quality of life.

For this reason, a case evaluation is necessary to accurately estimate your cases’ value and the settlement you could receive. 

Why Do I Need to Hire a Boca Raton Pedestrian Accident Attorney? 

It may seem easy to go it alone, but going through the lawsuit process without representation is no easy feat. Without help, you won’t get the same amount of compensation, and the lawsuit process will only add more stress onto your already overflowing plate.

A pedestrian accident attorney will negotiate a higher settlement on your behalf, keep your documents together, make sure you’re following your treatment plan, and file everything that needs to be filed without missing a deadline. We know how stressful the process is, but it’ll be less so with our help.