Orlando Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

Florida is known for being one of the most dangerous states for pedestrians, ranking fourth in the country in a study performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Orlando itself is filled with busy streets and poor infrastructure for pedestrians. Those who walk around frequently will find that they can’t always count on safe conditions like sidewalks, crosswalks, and walk signals. However, some parts of the city are better than others. 

Unfortunately, many cities in the United States aren’t that safe for pedestrians, as they’re often an afterthought in cities where cars are the primary mode of transportation. In 2020, 7,000 pedestrians were killed in crashes involving motor vehicles, adding up to approximately one death per 75 minutes. Out of all the total motor vehicle crashes in 2020, one in six deaths were pedestrians. 

However, those are just the fatalities. In addition, 104,000 pedestrians visited the emergency department after being struck by a motor vehicle in 2020. Osborne, Francis & Pettis have helped many people with their cases and are ready to help you with yours. To schedule a free case consultation, contact us online at our Orlando office or call us at 561-293-2600.

Why You Need to Hire a Pedestrian Accident Attorney

It’s normal for people to feel overwhelmed with the personal injury lawsuit process following their accident. It’s a common misconception that hiring an attorney will only complicate things. In fact, an attorney's job is to make your life easier. Without an attorney, insurance companies will lowball your settlement offer, sometimes giving you only hundreds in exchange for your signature. Because they assume you don’t know anything about the process, they’ll try to trick you early before someone has the chance to talk you out of it. 

Attorneys do more than protect you from tricky insurance companies, though. They’ll also gather evidence, work with expert witnesses and regular witnesses, and keep any documents of importance organized on your behalf. When you work with Osborne, Francis & Pettis, the last thing we want you to feel is stress, so we’ll do everything in our power to keep you from doing so. 

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Orlando, Florida

A pedestrian accident occurs when a motor vehicle driver acts with negligence. Negligence refers to a breach in the duty of care we all owe each other on the roads. Our duty as drivers is to keep each other safe and drive carefully. When someone texts, drives drunk, speeds, or otherwise engages in a dangerous act behind the wheel, they breach this duty. In breaching that duty, they can cause an accident, and in causing an accident, they can cause injuries or death. Common negligent acts that cause car accidents include: 

• Distracted driving
• Impaired driving
• Fatigued driving
• Inexperience
• Speeding
• Aggressive driving
• Failure to properly maintain vehicle
• Improper lane changes
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Following too closely

In the case of an accident that occurs because of a defective part, a third party (the manufacturer) may be at fault for the accident and your injuries because of negligence. This negligence often comes in the form of not performing proper safety checks or failing to issue a recall.

Injuries Associated with Pedestrian Accidents and How They Affect Quality of Life

No matter how severe your injuries are, every injury type will impact one’s quality of life in one way or another. More minor injuries like broken bones and soft tissue injuries can still cause life-long chronic pain, so don’t rule out what you may consider to be minor. You never know how much it’ll cost you long-term. Pedestrian accidents often lean to the severe side, as pedestrians don’t have any protection while walking. A head-on collision can cause damage to the entire body, even at low speeds. 

Common injuries associated with pedestrian accidents include:

• Crushing injuries
• Back, neck, and spine injuries
• Brain injuries
• Broken bones
• Fractures
• Soft tissue injuries (strains, sprains, and tears) 
• Lacerations
• Bruising
• Amputation (at the scene or because of complications) 

Pedestrians may end up with more than one injury, though, with varying healing times and the potential for multiple surgeries, doctor visits, and medications. While following a treatment plan after an accident is critical, it can also be stressful–especially if you don’t know how you’re going to pay for everything. We’re here to alleviate as much of that stress as possible. However, injuries impact life greatly. Because your injuries have likely altered how you spend your days, you deserve to receive compensation that reflects that.

How Much Compensation Will I Receive for My Damages?

There’s no way to accurately estimate the compensation you’ll receive without reviewing your case in full. Many factors play into compensation, and no two cases are the same. The severity of your injuries, how they’ve impacted your life, and how much insurance coverage the at-fault party has available are only a few of those factors. The compensation you receive is based on the damages that you’ve incurred as a result of the accident and your subsequent injuries. Those damages may include:

Economic damages

These are damages with an associated monetary cost:

• Medical bills, including ambulance costs, surgery costs, doctors visits, durable medical equipment (DME), in-home medical care
• Past and future medical bills
• Loss of earning capacity
• Costs to modify your home to account for DME

Non-economic damages

These are damages without a clear dollar amount, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Disability
• Scarring and disfigurement