Boca Raton Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Although pedestrian accidents have historically not made the news, we are starting to hear more about them because the rates of pedestrian accident injuries and deaths are rising dramatically throughout the United States. Each year, emergency rooms throughout the country treat over 100,000 pedestrians for non-fatal pedestrian accident injuries. Florida residents and visitors are at particular risk of being involved in a pedestrian accident, given that Florida has the highest pedestrian fatality rate (1.99) per 100,000 population in the nation, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). 

While the GHSA estimates that pedestrian fatalities may have decreased slightly in 2023, that decrease follows a historical increase of almost 50 percent during the preceding decade. Moreover, California, Florida, and Texas accounted for 37 percent of all pedestrian deaths during the first half of 2023, even though they only make up 27 percent of the U.S. population. In Palm Beach County alone, pedestrian accidents and fatalities have increased around 20 percent during the most recent five-year period (2018-2023), according to data collected by the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV).

Sadly, a pedestrian accident can easily be fatal for the pedestrian, given the massive size and weight difference between the pedestrian and the motor vehicle that strikes them. Non-fatal pedestrian accidents frequently cause serious, life-threatening injuries, that may include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, internal organ damage, and crushed limbs. The severity of these injuries often leaves the victim with lifelong physical and emotional pain.

If you were injured in a Boca Raton pedestrian accident, or a loved one was fatally injured in one, and another party caused or contributed to the accident, Florida law may entitle you to pursue substantial compensation from the at-fault party. The experienced Boca Raton injury lawyers at Demand the Limits understand how difficult it can be to get your life back on track after a serious pedestrian accident and want to help. 

Let us put our experience and legal expertise to work for you. Call us today at 863- 777-5731 or submit the FREE CASE EVALUATION form on our website to get the help you need with your Boca Raton pedestrian accident case.

Justice for Boca Raton Pedestrian Accident Victims and Surviving Loved Ones

The victim of a Boca Raton pedestrian accident often suffers serious, even fatal, injuries. Along with physical injuries, a victim may experience emotional trauma and financial hardship directly related to a pedestrian accident. Attempting to secure necessary medical treatment while also trying to navigate the legalities involved in pursuing compensation from an at-fault party can be overwhelming. 

An experienced Boca Raton pedestrian accident lawyer at Demand the Limits can provide you with the guidance and legal advocacy you need if you were injured or lost a loved one in a Boca Raton pedestrian accident. Of equal importance, we understand the challenges you are facing and the questions you need answered in the wake of a pedestrian accident injury. We know that you seek compassion, justice, and accountability, and we are honored to be able to provide those things for you along with aggressively pursuing compensation for your injuries or loss.

If you are an injured victim or surviving family member of a pedestrian accident, we urge you to contact an experienced Boca Raton pedestrian accident lawyer at Demand the Limits. For over 25 years, we have been committed to utilizing our considerable resources, extensive experience, and unparalleled dedication to fighting for justice to hold parties responsible for pedestrian accidents accountable and get just compensation for their victims. 

Contact the team at Demand the Limits by calling 863- 777-5731 or by filling in our Free Case Evaluation form online to find out how we can help you.

Why Are Pedestrian Accidents Increasing in Florida?

There is no doubt that pedestrians throughout the U.S. are at greater risk of being seriously injured or killed today than they were in the past. Over the last couple of decades, pedestrian accidents have increased at almost 10 times the rate of other motor vehicle accidents across the nation, and pedestrian fatalities have risen at a pace seven times higher than population growth from 2019 through 2023. 

In Florida alone in a single recent year, there were 10,296 pedestrian crashes, 713 of which were in Palm Beach County. Those pedestrian accidents resulted in 794 deaths throughout Florida, with 52 fatalities and over 500 non-fatal injuries in just Boca Raton and surrounding Palm Beach County. 

Experts and safety analysts offer a variety of potential factors that may help explain the dramatic increase in pedestrian accidents throughout the United States, and specifically within the State of Florida. Some of those factors include:

• Larger Vehicles: Not surprisingly, a study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that more people are driving SUVs and trucks which cause more serious injuries than smaller vehicles when involved in a collision with a pedestrian at speeds of greater than 19 miles per hour. At speeds over 40 mph, the likelihood of a pedestrian fatality is almost double when the vehicle involved is an SUV or truck.
• Rideshares: There is some empirical evidence to suggest that the increased number of rideshare vehicles, such as Uber and Lyft, on the roadways has contributed to the increase in overall motor vehicle accidents, including pedestrian accidents
• Increased Speed Limits: In Florida, as was the case in most states, the maximum speed limit on interstates was increased to 70 mph in 1996. A study conducted by the IIHS found that a 5 mph increase in the maximum state speed limit was associated with an 8.5 percent increase in fatality rates on interstates/freeways and a 2.8 percent increase on other roads. 
• Aging Population: Florida has long been a popular retirement destination, meaning the older demographic is over-represented within the state. Unfortunately, being older puts you at a higher risk of being involved in a pedestrian crash because while a middle-aged man can walk 3.5 feet per second, older people walk 2.5-3 feet per second, and traffic lights are timed for a walking speed of 3.5 or even 4 feet per second.  
• Distracted Driving: Although Florida law prohibits texting while driving, people ignore the law and distracted driving remains a significant contributing factor in all motor vehicle accidents. Each year, over 3,000 people are killed in distracted driving accidents nationwide. 

While these factors might have played a role in increasing the number of pedestrian accidents in Florida, the reality is that many accidents are caused by negligence. When a driver or another party’s negligence causes or contributes to a pedestrian injury accident, the injured victim has the right, under Florida law, to bring a claim for damages against them to pursue just compensation for their pain, suffering and losses.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a pedestrian accident, the experienced injury lawyers at Demand the Limits want to help you obtain the compensation you deserve for all the damages you have suffered.  Call us today at 863- 777-5731 or submit our Free Case Evaluation form to get started on your pedestrian accident case.

How Can Pedestrian Accidents Be Avoided?

To help avoid being involved in a pedestrian accident, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTSA) recommends the following guidelines for drivers:

• Always be on the lookout for pedestrians.
• Never drive while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.
• Drive very slowly when turning or driving through a crosswalk.
• Always yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
• Be especially cautious when it’s hard to see your surroundings, such as during bad weather or at night.
• Always follow speed limits, especially slower speed limits in school zones and residential areas.
• Be extra cautious when driving in reverse.
• Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk, since there could be people crossing the street that you cannot see.

In addition, the NHTSA also provides the following safety tips for pedestrians to help them stay safe and avoid being injured in a pedestrian accident:

• Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
• Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available.
• If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
• Cross streets at crosswalks or intersections. Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right.
• If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely; continue watching for traffic as you cross.
• Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways or backing up in parking lots.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking; they impair your abilities and your judgment.

If everyone would follow these safety tips, most pedestrian accidents could be avoided. Unfortunately, however, many people don’t drive or walk safely, and the number of pedestrian accidents increases every year.

Who Is Legally Responsible in a Boca Raton Pedestrian Accident?

Liability in a pedestrian motor vehicle accident may be attributed to the pedestrian, the motorist, a city, state, or federal government, or a combination of these parties. If more than one party shares in the fault (negligence) for an accident, legal liability is apportioned according to Florida’s comparative fault law. For example, if a motorist is found to have been 75 percent at fault and a pedestrian incurred damages valued at $100,000, the motorist would be responsible for paying the pedestrian $75,000, representing 75 percent of the damages.

Both motorists and pedestrians are obligated to follow the applicable rules of the roadway. If a motorist clearly violates the law, determining fault may be relatively easy. For example, if a motorist continues driving after a pedestrian has entered a clearly marked crosswalk, the motorist has violated the law and negligence is clear. Oftentimes, however, the issue of negligence is more complicated, and fault may be shared by two or more parties. For instance, the city, state, or federal government may even share some of the responsibility for a pedestrian accident if a crosswalk is poorly designed or maintained. 

When negligence is not clear and fault is an issue, it is especially important to have an experienced Boca Raton pedestrian accident lawyer on your side to ensure that all parties who contributed to the accident are identified and held accountable. The Demand the Limits lawyers have the experience and skill needed to thoroughly investigate your accident, identify all responsible parties, collect the evidence needed to prove negligence, and fight to obtain full, fair compensation for you.

Call us at 863- 777-5731 or submit our Free Case Evaluation form to get the experienced legal help you need with your pedestrian accident case.

Am I Entitled to Compensation for My Boca Raton Pedestrian Accident?

If you were injured in a Boca Raton pedestrian accident, or a loved one was fatally injured in one, you could be entitled to compensation in the form of both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are intended to reimburse you for direct, out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident, while non-economic damages compensate you for the subjective injuries sustained in an accident. 

Collectively, you could receive compensation for things such as:  

• Medical expenses (to date and estimated future expenses), including hospital stays, doctors, office visits, diagnostic tests, assistive devices, medical equipment, and medications
• Lost income and wages (both present and future) due to inability to work or inability to work in the same capacity as before the accident
• Rehabilitation, therapy, and other care costs
• Physical pain and suffering
• Diminished quality of life
• Mental anguish, anxiety and PTSD
• Disfigurement, disability and scarring
• Other damages recoverable under Florida law

If you lost a spouse, parent, or child in a Boca Raton pedestrian accident, you may be able to file as a claimant in a Florida wrongful death lawsuit, which may entitle you to compensation for things such as the loss of companionship, care, and support provided by the decedent before the accident.

To talk to an experienced, compassionate attorney about the damages you have suffered due to a pedestrian accident, call Demand the Limits at 863- 777-5731 or submit the Free Case Evaluation form on our website.

Get the Expert Help You Need from an Experienced Boca Raton Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

A Boca Raton pedestrian accident can leave you with lasting physical, emotional, and financial injuries. While no amount of money can turn back the clock and prevent the accident from happening, you may be entitled to substantial compensation for your injuries or loss. Furthermore, the party (or parties) responsible for the accident should be held accountable for their negligence. 

The experienced Boca Raton pedestrian accident lawyers at Demand the Limits can help you hold the negligent party or parties accountable and get the compensation you deserve for the damages you have suffered.  As your lawyers, we will 

• Make sure you receive proper medical treatment.
• Protect your rights throughout the legal process.
• Conduct a thorough, independent investigation into the accident.
• Determine what factors contributed to the accident.
• Identify all negligent parties.
• Gather the evidence to demonstrate negligence and your need for substantial compensation.
• Communicate with insurance adjusters and attorneys on your behalf.
• Negotiate aggressively on your behalf to obtain a satisfactory out-of-court settlement when possible.
• Aggressively litigate in court when necessary to obtain a just award.

The experienced Boca Raton pedestrian accident lawyers at Demand the Limits have the resources, experience, and commitment needed to help you pursue justice if you were injured or lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident. We are dedicated to helping injured victims and surviving family members through the legal process so they can receive the maximum compensation available for all their injuries or losses. 

Call us at 863- 777-5731 or submit our Free Case Evaluation form to get the powerful advocacy you need to win your pedestrian accident case.