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Florida has one of the highest rates of pedestrian accidents in the country. According to the state’s Department of Transportation, the pedestrian injury rate is more than double the national average. In a single year alone, Florida reported 499 deaths, more than 2,000 hospitalizations, and more than 7,500 emergency room visits for accidents involving pedestrians.
Accidents involving pedestrians do not always lead to death, but nevertheless can cause very severe injuries. Sometimes, injuries do not present themselves immediately but can flare up later in life. For this reason, if you were injured in an accident while on the road, contact Port St. Lucie pedestrian accident lawyers immediately to help you make sure you have the financial means to get the necessary medical attention and rehabilitation for your injuries. The personal injury lawyers at Kogan & DiSalvo in St. Lucie County could provide you with powerful representation to help you seek compensation from the defendant.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
A collision involving a moving vehicle and a pedestrian may involve:
- The driver failing to obey the rules of the road
- Distracted or aggressive driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Pedestrian crashes in Port St. Lucie can lead to head, neck, and shoulder injuries, brain trauma, broken ribs, and internal bleeding. A pedestrian who has been hit by a vehicle should seek immediate medical attention, even if they initially feel okay. The body may be in shock in the aftermath of an accident and adrenaline could be masking the full extent of the injuries.
Pedestrian Rights in St. Lucie County
When a driver gets behind the wheel of a vehicle, they automatically accept a lawful “duty of care” for those around them, including pedestrians. This means they have a duty to act with reasonable care while on the roads, and if they fail to do so and cause an injury to a pedestrian, the pedestrian may be able to collect compensation for their negligent acts.
Under Florida Statutes § 627.7407, vehicle drivers are required to purchase a car insurance policy with both property damage liability (PDL) coverage and personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. In the case of a pedestrian accident in Port St. Lucie, the injured pedestrian can make a claim with the driver’s PIP insurance.
A claim could help cover damages such as medical expenses and lost income for total compensation of up to $10,000.
The Impact of Comparative Negligence Rules
Under Florida Statutes § 768.81, if the injured pedestrian is found to be partially negligent in causing the accident, the amount of compensation available to the pedestrian will be reduced in proportion to the amount of the pedestrian’s negligence. St. Lucie County lawyers with experience in pedestrian accident cases could review a situation and determine if a claimant may be partially to blame for their injuries.
For instance, if a court finds that the driver was 75 percent at fault and the pedestrian was 25 percent at fault, the pedestrian’s financial award will be reduced by 25 percent. If their damages are calculated to be $100,000, they may collect $75,000 from the defendant.
Contact Port St. Lucie Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Today
Collisions involving pedestrians can cause very serious injuries that may impact the rest of a person’s life. If you were injured in a pedestrian accident, contact the Port St. Lucie pedestrian accident attorneys at Kogan & DiSalvo today. They can go over your rights and potential legal options, including the option to pursue financial compensation for all your injuries and losses sustained because of someone else’s carelessness. To learn more, set up a free consultation.
