Florida has a lot going for it. In many parts of the state, the weather is pleasant year-round. Also, many areas have cheap housing as compared to other US regions.
There are some safety issues, though, and pedestrian accidents are up at the top of that list. There are a lot of highways in Florida and also plenty of roads without sidewalks. Whenever you try to walk somewhere in Florida, especially in the more rural areas, you’re asking for trouble.
We’ll take a moment right now to talk about some Florida pedestrian accident statistics. We’ll also go over what can happen if a car hits a pedestrian.
Florida Pedestrian Accident Stats
About 800 Florida residents die in pedestrian accidents every year. Between the years 2008 and 2017, pedestrian accidents in the state killed 5,433 people.
If you break down the stats even further, you’ll see that Florida has nine of the country’s twenty most dangerous pedestrian cities. For every 100,000 Florida residents, a pedestrian car accident will kill about 2.73 people. That is significantly higher than many other US states.
As you can see, it’s not hyperbolic to say that Florida and walking don’t always mix so well. Now, let’s talk about what can happen if a driver hits you.
Trying to Assign Pedestrian Accident Blame
If you’re walking in Florida, and a car hits you, the first thing that you’ll need to do is determine whether that was your fault or the driver’s. As a pedestrian, you should have the right of way. However, maybe you were not in a crosswalk at the time, or you tried to cross against the light. If so, that will complicate matters somewhat.
The driver may try to say that you leaped into the road, and they could not stop in time. They might say that another vehicle’s actions distracted them.
You will also have to worry about their insurance company. It is the driver’s insurance that must pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and so forth if the driver is culpable. That is why the insurance company will frequently attempt to dispute your event version.
What Can You Do About It?
If the driver or their insurance company is trying to say that what happened was your fault, you’re likely going to need to hire a personal injury lawyer. You’ll want one that has handled car accident cases in the past, especially those with pedestrians involved.
Once you tell the lawyer what happened, they will work to prove that what you said took place. You would hope you won’t have to take the driver to court, but you might have to if they insist that they did nothing wrong.
The Lawyer’s Investigative Team Will Gather Evidence
The first thing your attorney will likely do is put their investigators to work recreating the accident scene. They will examine the spot where the car hit you and try to gather any material evidence that exists.
They might locate traffic footage that shows what happened. There are plenty of Florida traffic cameras that can help you in this regard.
The investigator might also look for any store footage that caught the collision if there are businesses around. At the same time, the lawyer can handle the insurance company communications.
The insurance company reps will probably try to talk to you, so they can get you to say something indicating that what happened was at least partially your fault. Nothing obligates you to speak to them, though. The attorney can do that on your behalf, and that’s often the best way to handle the situation.
The Case Might Go to Trial
You would hope that the insurance company and the driver will realize at some point that their refusal to admit the driver’s guilt is not helping them. They may offer you a settlement amount. You just have to hope that it’s enough to handle your medical expenses, physical therapy, pain and suffering, and anything else for which you need compensation.
If the driver or the insurance company will not back down, your attorney can represent you in court. If that happens, the process might be long and arduous. You have to hope that your attorney can prove what happened and that the jury agrees with them.
If you win your lawsuit, you can hopefully return to your normal life. From that point forward, though, you’ll probably be a lot more careful about where in Florida you choose to walk around.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
Speak Your Mind