In 2020, there were 78 pedestrian accidents reported, with 15 fatalities from these pedestrian accidents. In addition, there were 59 reported injuries from these accidents. While these numbers may seem low, the reality is that you won’t care how many accidents there were or whether or not pedestrian accidents are on the decline (although, unfortunately, pedestrian accidents across Florida increased by 4.06% between 2018 and 2019) if you are one of the victims of a crash. It is equally valid that you do not want to feel like “just a number” when working with the insurance company to get the compensation you deserve, although this is often what it feels like as you attempt to get a fair settlement. This is why working with an attorney is so essential after any accident you are involved in that someone else caused.
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Our law firm offers a free consultation for victims of pedestrian accidents, and the family members of those killed in pedestrian accidents, about how to move forward with a personal injury case and recover fair and comprehensive compensation for the many damages they have suffered. This initial consultation is an important first step towards understanding your rights as a victim, as well as learning more about how our team of award-winning attorneys handles cases similar to yours.
Knowing that you are not alone and knowing that there is a clear path forward are important for keeping your stress and anxiety low to focus on your recovery. Once you understand that we have your legal needs covered, you can take the time and space you need to move past this painful and disruptive experience. While our primary goal as your representative law firm is to get you the money you are owed, a nearly equal goal is to help you look towards the future with confidence, knowing that you will not need to take on the financial burden of someone else’s dangerous behavior.
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Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Walking around on foot is an economical way to get exercise and enjoy the sights that Fort Walton Beach has to offer. But, unfortunately, you are at the mercy of the drivers all around you who must obey the traffic laws and operate their vehicles responsibly to keep from injuring or killing you due to their negligent or reckless driving. The following are just a few of the many ways that someone can cause a pedestrian accident. Still, whether or not you see your accident cause listed below, we encourage you to contact us for a consultation to learn more about how we can help you proceed in the best way possible.
Texting While Driving
Texting while driving is a growing epidemic, and it’s no surprise considering that every app on a smartphone is designed and developed by a team of engineers focusing almost solely on catching and retaining a user’s attention for as long and as often as possible. However, this does not excuse a driver of their responsibility. When someone causes an accident due to texting or using their smartphone, it is their fault, and they (or, more likely, their insurer) must pay for the damages they caused.
Drunk Driving
The federal blood alcohol concentration limit for drivers over 21 is 0.08% and 0.02% for minors operating a motor vehicle. When someone ignores these limits and operates a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other mind-altering substances, they put themselves and everyone else on the road at an increased risk of an accident. At night, when drunk drivers are most often out, it can be challenging to notice joggers, cyclists, and other pedestrians, especially when the driver is intoxicated.
Ignoring Traffic Laws
Many traffic laws protect pedestrians from vehicle accidents, but they only work when people obey them. Suppose a driver ignores traffic laws such as allowing a pedestrian the right of way on a crosswalk or deferring to intersection walk lights. In that case, they may collide with a pedestrian and cause severe damage. It’s an unfortunate reality that a reckless and dangerous driver is rarely the one who is injured during a collision with a pedestrian, so the victim who was hurt through no fault of their own is left to deal with the repercussions.
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Seeking Compensation After a Pedestrian Accident
A victim of a pedestrian accident will most often file a claim with the driver’s insurance (unless the driver is one of the estimated 20% of Florida drivers who are illegally operating their vehicle without insurance). Once the claim is initiated, an adjuster will be assigned to the case to go through all of the accident details and the impacts on the victim’s life to determine how much they are owed. However, the problem with this process is that it is very one-sided, as the adjuster is working on behalf of the insurer and focused on settling the claim as quickly and affordably as possible.
When you have an attorney representing your side of the case, they will pay close attention to detail to ensure that they address ALL of the damages you have suffered, including the “abstract” damages such as your pain and suffering and the emotional impacts of this traumatic experience. Unfortunately, insurers often try to overlook these damages, known as non-economic damages, and rely on the claimant’s inexperience with these processes to avoid even discussing these very real and significant impacts.
When our law firm is working for you, you can be confident that a detail-oriented pedestrian accident lawyer is going over all of your Fort Walton Beach pedestrian accident specifics to ensure that you are fighting for the money you are owed and not a dollar less.
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