Pedestrian Accidents

Fort Lauderdale Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident

The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help if You Were in a Pedestrian Accident

We help clients pursue full compensation after pedestrian accidents in Fort Lauderdale.

If you were hurt in a pedestrian accident, we want you to know that you are not alone. A Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyer at the Levin Firm can help you seek justice. There’s no need for you to try to navigate the legal process by yourself. Instead, partner with a seasoned lawyer at our firm who will support you throughout your fight for compensation.

If you or someone you love has gotten hurt in a pedestrian accident, reach out to the legal team at the Levin Firm today. Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers offer a free initial consultation to determine your legal standing and explain your rights. We even work on a contingency basis, so you don’t pay us anything unless we win or settle your case for you!

Why Choose Our Fort Lauderdale Pedestrian Accident Attorneys?

The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers has been dedicated to assisting injured pedestrians and their families since 2005, following tragic accidents in Fort Lauderdale and nationwide. Our team of attorneys are known for being tenacious legal advocates, relentlessly pursuing justice and compensation for our clients.

Although we strive to reach a settlement for your Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident case outside of court, our lawyers have a wealth of trial experience, renowned for their meticulous preparation and attention to detail. We collaborate with you to construct a robust case, ensuring that you receive the maximum possible compensation.

But don’t just take our word for it – hear what some of our satisfied clients have to say about working with The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers after a debilitating accident.

Pedestrians Face Hazards in Fort Lauderdale

The truth is that if you’ve spent any time as a pedestrian, you’re probably already aware of the dangers.

It’s of course impossible to control drivers around you and, no matter how safely you act, you can’t always avoid disaster.

When drivers pay adequate attention to the road and pedestrians around them, they all but eliminate these accidents.

Often, pedestrian accidents involve negligent or reckless drivers.

Many scenarios qualify as pedestrian accidents, including:

  • Someone is struck by a vehicle in a crosswalk while they’re walking.
  • Someone is sideswiped by a car while they are walking.
  • Someone is hit by a vehicle in a parking lot while they are on foot.
  • Someone is struck by a car while they exit another vehicle.

These are just a handful of examples of pedestrian accidents. If you have questions about whether your accident qualifies, ask an experienced Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyer. Just remember: if you were on foot when you were hurt by a vehicle, you were likely involved in a pedestrian accident.

Types of Pedestrian Accidents in Fort Lauderdale

Pedestrian Injury stepsRemember: any accident between a pedestrian and a vehicle qualifies as a pedestrian accident. They take all sorts of forms. There’s no one definition for the term “pedestrian accident” and lots of the names you might use to describe different kinds of pedestrian accidents are just colloquial.

With that said, some simple examples of pedestrian accidents include:

  • Passing accident: Sometimes, negligent drivers fail to see pedestrians because some other vehicle has stopped and allowed pedestrians to cross. Vehicles that try to pass the stopped vehicle can easily hit pedestrians in the process.
  • Intersection accident: Pedestrians occasionally cross intersections very quickly. Some drivers end up mistiming the crossing and don’t allow themselves enough time to react.
  • Dart-out pedestrian accident: A dart-out accident occurs when pedestrians suddenly move out into the road. When this occurs, it’s very easy for a negligent or reckless driver to strike the pedestrian.
  • Vendor accident: Vendor accidents are unique, since they only involve one kind of vehicle. When an ice cream truck strikes a child or a food truck hits someone, it’s a vendor accident.
  • Back-up pedestrian accident: Back-up accidents are what they sound like. Some drivers strike pedestrians while they are backing up their vehicles. These accidents are most common in parking lots.
  • Vehicle turn and merge accident: Sometimes drivers are way too focused on traffic and merging and they fail to pay adequate attention to pedestrians nearby. Vehicle turn and merge accidents happen when drivers are merging or making turns into traffic and strike pedestrians.

Common Injuries in Fort Lauderdale Pedestrian Accidents

Unfortunately, it is very common for people to experience serious injuries when they are the victims of pedestrian accidents. Most vehicle occupants are safer in these crashes. The pedestrians involved don’t have the benefit of safety features like seatbelts or airbags.

Some examples of common injuries after a pedestrian accident include:

Broken Bones

Even the most minor bone breaks and fractures can have a big impact on your life. When you consider that many pedestrians experience broken bones beyond minor cases, it’s easy to see how risky pedestrian accidents are. Some broken bones are very severe and may even lead to permanent disability.

Internal Bleeding and Internal Injuries

Internal injuries and internal bleeding are very serious. They can be especially dangerous because they are impossible to recognize by sight alone. And if not treated right away, they can be deadly. It’s important to seek medical attention after a pedestrian accident for this reason.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord is a critical part of our bodies. Our spinal cords are a vital part of what allows us to function as humans on a day-to-day basis. When someone’s spinal cord is injured in a pedestrian accident, the injury is usually due to a compression or a pull on the spinal cord. Common symptoms and complications associated with spinal cord injuries include pain, numbness, paralysis, spasms, and changes in reflexes.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries are often referred to as TBIs. When pedestrian accident victims sustain a TBI, they may suffer lifelong complications as a result. It’s very important to seek medical attention as soon as possible if someone may have suffered a brain injury in a pedestrian accident.

Road rash

pedestrian accident

Road rash is very common in pedestrian, bicycle, and other accident victims who were not inside a passenger vehicle. Some people are even thrown from their vehicles during an accident and sustain road rash in the process. Unprotected skin may sustain road rash. Even minor road rash can hurt, but more severe instances of road rash can harm muscle and bone or lead to severe infection.

Fort Lauderdale Pedestrians’ Rights and Responsibilities

Here in Fort Lauderdale, most pedestrians have the right of way in most circumstances. Some people think that this isn’t true if a pedestrian crosses outside of a designated crosswalk or crossing signals but, in all actuality, even pedestrians who aren’t using proper crossings have received compensation in court.

Fort Lauderdale drivers must yield to pedestrians as soon as they step into a crosswalk. Fort Lauderdale pedestrians must yield to drivers if those pedestrians choose to cross the street somewhere without a crosswalk.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accidents in Fort Lauderdale

What are the common causes of Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accidents? Why do Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accidents happen?

On the whole, distracted driving is the most common cause of pedestrian accidents.

Distracted driving accidents can very easily be caused by drivers:

  • Talking to passengers;
  • Reading;
  • Texting;
  • Eating and drinking;
  • Using electronic communication devices or other electronic devices;
  • Adjusting the radio;
  • Grooming;
  • Daydreaming or getting lost in thought; or
  • Looking elsewhere.

How long will my Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident case take?

Fort Lauderdale Pedestrian Accident LawyersThere’s no easy answer to this question. Some cases move very quickly, while others remain in the legal system for months (or a year or more).

There are a few factors that can influence a case’s timeline. If the victim received severe injuries, for example, a case usually won’t commence until they’ve made good progress in their recovery. This helps make their prognosis more clear and ensures they’re physically fit to participate in legal proceedings.

If a pedestrian accident survivor opts to pursue a high level of compensation, that can also lengthen a case. This is not necessarily a bad thing, it just means that the legal system will work hard to make sure that everything the survivor requests is fair.

What compensation is available after a Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident?

Since every pedestrian accident is different, the damages that survivors receive also vary.

These are more common:

  • Medical expenses: This includes present and projected medical expenses associated with the accident such as surgeries, medication, custom medical equipment, medical transport, and so on.
  • Pain and suffering: You don’t deserve to experience the pain and suffering you have to bear after a pedestrian accident. The law allows accident survivors to pursue damages for pain and suffering to help account for their experiences.
  • Lost wages: If you lost wages because you missed work after your accident, a pedestrian accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation for lost wages.
  • Diminished earning capacity: An attorney can also help you secure damages for diminished earning capacity if your accident permanently altered your ability to work and earn money.

What if someone dies in a Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident?

When someone loses their life in a pedestrian accident, the accident moves into the legal field of wrongful death.

The good news is that many Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident attorneys (the ones who help after pedestrian accidents) also practice wrongful death law. Loved ones can work with a pedestrian accident lawyer to bring a claim on their loved one’s behalf.

Why do you need a Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident attorney?

Here’s the truth: If you don’t have someone with legal experience representing you, you’re not likely to see the compensation that you rightfully deserve. It’s difficult to represent anyone in court, and representing yourself is its own ball game. You aren’t legally required to work with an attorney to take legal action, but you also may not be awarded damages to account for your experiences.

Here are some other good reasons to hire an injury lawyer after a pedestrian accident:

  • Many injured pedestrians accept settlements that are much too small or blatantly unfair. This is because accident survivors truly believe that those settlements are the best they can achieve. When you work with an attorney, you’ll know your case’s worth and will have someone who is experienced with insurance companies helping you fight for it.
  • It’s easier and faster to get your money after an accident when you work with a Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyer, too. Cases move faster when competent and experienced legal professionals are involved. The opposing side will also generally respond more promptly (and respectfully) to a lawyer than they will to you personally, because they know they can’t get away with pulling the wool over an experienced attorney’s eyes.
  • You can focus on your physical, mental, and emotional healing after a pedestrian accident while someone else takes care of the legal process.

Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Fort Lauderdale: The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers

Win With Levin.

Gabriel-Levin
Pedestrian Accident Lawyer, Gabriel Levin

If a pedestrian accident hurt you, The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Reach out to us today or dial (954) 715-3260 to find out more about your legal rights. You can even take advantage of a FREE initial consultation with our legal professionals.

We work diligently to ensure that our clients feel supported and empowered throughout the legal process. This is because, at the Levin Firm, we’re concerned with more than just helping you achieve legal success. Our team offers conscientious support to accident survivors throughout the legal process.


 

Fort Lauderdale Office
Attorneys Gabriel Levin and John Mattiacci at The Levin Firm welcome the opportunity to meet and work with you.
Toll Free: 877.825.8542