West Palm Beach Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Walking around sunny West Palm Beach is a pleasant way for many residents to exercise and commute. With Florida’s beautiful climate, it’s perfect for pedestrians to get outside regularly. However, this also means pedestrians face significant risks on and near the roads, making them vulnerable to serious injury in an auto accident.
Have you been recently hurt in a pedestrian accident? If so, call the experienced West Palm Beach pedestrian accident attorneys at Pike & Lustig, LLP. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries and other damages.
Florida Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, in 2020, there were 7,900 pedestrian crashes in Florida, resulting in 7,700 injuries and 500 fatalities. This data indicates a significant increase in pedestrian accidents compared to previous years.
Additionally, national statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveal that in 2020, pedestrian deaths accounted for 17% of all traffic fatalities, rising from 6,272 in 2019 to 6,721 in 2020.
With so many pedestrian accidents occurring each year, West Palm Beach residents should be aware of their legal options after a pedestrian accident. More often than not, pedestrian accidents involve a motor vehicle. Distracted and impaired driving often contributes to such accidents. Driving at high speeds and ignoring road rules and regulations can also create dangerous conditions for nearby pedestrians. When a driver’s negligence or recklessness causes pedestrian injury, that driver may be liable to compensate the victim for their damages.
The Creation of a Society That Disenfranchises Pedestrians and Other Vulnerable Road Users
Our society has transformed into an automobile utopia over the last century, thanks to laws against pedestrian street usage, large subsidies on oil, and a car culture that represents the American dream. There are now fewer places to get around on foot in cities due to wider surface streets, laws hindering pedestrians’ right to the road, and the vast amount of parking places that exist in this country. Recent estimates suggest that the United States has approximately 2 billion parking spaces, significantly surpassing the number of registered vehicles. This equates to about eight parking spaces for every car on the road.
What does this mean for pedestrian collisions? We’ve built an infrastructure that prioritizes fast-moving, heavy vehicles, often leaving vulnerable road users like pedestrians at risk. In doing so, we’ve diminished both the legal rights of pedestrians and the common perception that they have a right to the road or even the right of way. As a result, drivers often don’t pay the attention they should to pedestrians and may feel frustrated if they believe pedestrians are slowing them down. While many pedestrian injuries caused by vehicles stem from distracted or drunk driving, others result from driver aggression. If you’ve been injured by an aggressive driver, contact an attorney immediately to discuss your legal options.
Frequent Causes of West Palm Beach Pedestrian Accidents
Alcohol significantly contributes to pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries. According to the CDC, in 2019, alcohol was involved in nearly half (46%) of crashes resulting in pedestrian deaths, with 13% of these incidents involving a driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least 0.08 grams per deciliter (g/dL), the legal limit for adults aged 21 and over in all U.S. states. Additionally, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that in 2020, pedestrian fatalities increased by 3.9%, reaching the highest number since 1989. This does not mean that the pedestrian was crossing illegally or in any way in the wrong. It is the driver’s duty to cause no harm, and if they did not see the pedestrian because it was dark, they were traveling too fast, or they were distracted, they can still be held liable for the collision and for paying damages to the pedestrian victim or the victim’s family.
Pedestrian Fatalities and Injuries Occur Everywhere
Most fatal pedestrian accidents happen in urban areas. Some happen in intersections where the pedestrian is crossing in a crosswalk, while many more happen in parking lots, driveways while the car is pulling out, bike lanes, shoulders of the road, loading zones, on the curb or sidewalk, and even while entering or exiting a vehicle.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
In motor vehicle/pedestrian accidents, the pedestrians are often injured. Pedestrians, unlike drivers, are not protected by airbags, seatbelts, and thousands of pounds of steel. Thus, when a car and pedestrian collide, the pedestrian often sustains serious injuries. Tragically, these accidents can even result in the pedestrian’s death. Children are particularly vulnerable to pedestrian accidents because they are not used to watching out for traffic, and can be harder for drivers to see.
Pedestrians often suffer dangerous physical injuries in car-on-pedestrian accidents. Common injuries may include:
- Broken bones;
- Torn ligaments;
- Cuts;
- Blood loss;
- Concussion;
- Whiplash;
- Spinal injuries;
- Neck injuries;
- Loss of limb; and
- Emotional damage.
- In some cases, a pedestrian accident may even result in death.
If you have suffered any of the above injuries due to a pedestrian accident, contact a reputable West Palm Beach personal injury attorney right away. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Experienced West Palm Beach Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
Have you been injured in a pedestrian accident? If so, do not wait to call Pike & Lustig, LLP today. Our experienced West Palm Beach pedestrian accident attorneys will answer your questions and will explain your legal options. We do not back down from a fight, and we will aggressively represent you in and out of the courtroom. When it comes to personal injury cases, time is not on your side. State law often imposes strict deadlines for filing civil lawsuits, so contact our experienced accident attorneys now. We will aggressively fight to represent your interests. We have helped many accident victims recover compensation. Our dedication to our clients sets us apart from all others. Call us today at 561-291-8298 to speak to our lawyers about your case.
