Daytona Beach Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2012, 4,743 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States, and another 76,000 pedestrians were injured. This averages to one crash-related pedestrian death every 2 hours, and a pedestrian injury every 7 minutes. Pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to be killed in a car crash on each trip. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), hitting a pedestrian at a speed of over 30 miles per hour results in more serious injuries and fatalities, yet a driver can severely disable a pedestrian in a crash where the driver is traveling only 10 miles per hour. The NHTSA defines pedestrian as, “any person on foot, walking, running, jogging, hiking, sitting or lying down.”
If you have lived in Florida for any length of time, you know how dangerous the streets can be if you are on foot. Public sidewalks filled with other pedestrians, poorly maintained walkways, crosswalks and parking lots filled with bursting traffic. Unfortunately, these are all ways that present Florida pedestrians with potentially dangerous hazards that may cause serious accidents. If you have been injured, consulting with a knowledgeable Daytona Beach pedestrian accident lawyer can help you and your family move forward.
The most common laws regarding rights and duties of pedestrians are:
Pedestrians have:
- The right-of-way in crosswalks
- On public and private sidewalks
- On public roads and highways
Pedestrians duties include:
- Pedestrians are subject to traffic lights, do not walk or wait signals, and other pedestrian safety devices and warnings
- If there’s a sidewalk along a roadway, a pedestrian must walk on it. When there isn’t a sidewalk on a public roadway, a pedestrian must walk along the shoulder of the road facing traffic.
- Even when a pedestrian has the right of way, he must maintain a proper lookout and act reasonably and prudently (carefully) under the circumstances.
- Pedestrians must use common sense. They must be aware of their surroundings and do whatever is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances to remain out of harm’s way.
Most pedestrian accidents are avoidable. If you were injured by a distracted or otherwise negligent driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your suffering, lost wages, and medical expenses. A Florida pedestrian accident injury lawyer can help you get that compensation. Pedestrian accidents commonly occur in or near crosswalks, around residential areas, and in heavily trafficked areas – such as schools and shopping centers – where drivers are often distracted and may not pay proper attention.
The following are some of the leading causes of pedestrian accidents and reasons why drivers are at fault in pedestrian accidents:
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Talking or texting on the cell phone
- Inattentive or distracted driving
- Rolling through stop signs
- Recklessly driving through crosswalks
- Failing to follow traffic laws
Pedestrians who have been hit by a car often suffer catastrophic injuries. In some accidents, pedestrians are thrown up on hoods of cars, run over, dragged down the street and thrown against concrete. Pedestrian accident victims suffer some of the following injuries:
- Coma
- Dislocated shoulders and hips
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Paraplegia
- Quadriplegia
- Lacerations
- Bone fractures
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
If you have been injured, consulting with a knowledgeable Daytona Beach pedestrian accident lawyer can help you and your family move forward. Call us today at 866-785-5470 for a free legal consultation. All personal injury and wrongful death cases are handled on a contingent-fee basis, meaning that if there is no recovery, there are no fees or costs. Our initial consultation is free of charge.
The Daytona Beach pedestrian accident lawyers at Bundza & Rodriguez, P.A., will investigate your case and evaluate your claim. Don’t wait to call. It is important you are aware of your rights and that you act quickly to protect those rights. If you fail to act in a timely manner, you may lose your right to receive compensation for your injuries.
