Pedestrian accidents can be catastrophic in nature, as most accidents of this type occur when a larger object collides with an unprepared and unprotected person. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2015 over 70,000 pedestrians were injured in vehicle accidents, resulting in 5,376 pedestrian fatalities. Furthermore, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were 9,102 pedestrian-involved crashes in the state in 2016, resulting in 7,796 pedestrian injuries and 667 pedestrian fatalities.
Needless to say, the chances for serious injury are quite high in the event of a pedestrian accident, so those involved in one such event should enlist the counsel of an experienced personal injury attorney. A Palm Beach Gardens pedestrian accident lawyer could help you catalogue your damages, file suit in a timely and effective fashion, and fight for your rights in civil court.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Many pedestrian accidents are the result of driver negligence. In a legal context, negligence refers to when a driver has a duty to take reasonable care and neglects to fulfill that duty. A seasoned attorney could help assign negligence in a pedestrian accident. Some instance of driver negligence that often contributes to pedestrian accidents in Palm Beach Gardens include but are not limited to:
- Speeding
- Drunk or intoxicated driving
- Driver distraction, often due to talking on the phone or texting
- Failure to yield or stop, usually at a stop sign, stop light, or pedestrian intersection
- Backing-up accidents, often involving small children and many times occurring in crowded parking lots
- Drivers failing to compensate for poor weather conditions, such as heavy rains and flooding on the road
Comparative Negligence in Palm Beach Garden Pedestrian Accident Cases
The above examples are all driver-based instances of negligence that may lead to pedestrian accidents. However, under certain circumstances, an injured pedestrian may bear some degree of fault themselves, such as if they were intoxicated, distracted, or crossed an intersection at an inappropriate time.
Florida is a comparative negligence state, which means that even if the driver is mostly at fault, a pedestrian who is also partially negligent may see their recoverable damages decreased by their own percentage of fault. For this reason, even if a plaintiff is certain that the driver that hit them is predominantly to blame for their injuries, it may be important for them to contact a Palm Beach Gardens pedestrian accident lawyer for help recovering the damages they deserve.
Consult with a Palm Beach Gardens Pedestrian Accident Attorney
A determined attorney could potentially be an indispensable advocate should you find yourself injured in a pedestrian accident. Among various other services, a Palm Beach Gardens pedestrian accident lawyer could help you effectively file suit for damages related to your accident and seek compensation for the costs, pain, and life-changing effects that such an incident may produce. To see what may be possible in your particular scenario, get on the phone and call today to schedule a consultation and get started on your case.