Tampa Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Florida is one of the deadliest states when it comes to the total number of pedestrian accidents.

In 2020, 716 people were killed walking on or near roads in Florida. Then in 2021, that number jumped to an incredible 899 Floridians killed in pedestrian accidents. The most common accident types include:

• Drivers speeding through traffic lights
• Drivers failing to stop and rolling through intersections
• Poor lighting in areas so drivers do not see pedestrians
• Drivers being distracted and failing to yield to pedestrians
• Badly designed crosswalk systems that put pedestrians at risk

There was a recent study done by Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety (CSCRS), did a deep dive into why Florida has so many pedestrian accidents and it really did come down to the design of the roadways and the lack of usability and safety elements for people walking.

Then combine roads never designed to handle the booming population of the area with poor lighting, bad weather and distracted drivers and you have a deadly combination.

In Tampa, there are three roads that are particularly dangerous.

1. Fowler Avenue
2. Busch Boulevard
3. Hillsborough Avenue

These three roads were the location of more than thirty traffic-related fatalities over a three-year period. Sadly, the number of deaths continues to rise as the population increases.

There are 3 main factors when calculating a potential pedestrian accident personal injury settlement: 

1. Your Injuries – Pedestrian accidents tend to have more serious injuries because a person has been hit by a car. A settlement amount is heavily influenced by the severity of your injury. It’s unlikely that you’ll qualify for a personal injury case if you have bumps and bruises and did not need any medical attention. In contrast, if you broke your leg in your accident or needed surgery, then the insurance company would likely pay you more because you were badly injured.
2. Insurance Coverage – Settlements are paid by insurance. We are experts at finding ALL possible insurance coverage, which is why you should hire Rebein Law if you are involved in an accident. Although there are car insurance policies, there are also other types of insurance as well as people and even larger companies who can be sued for negligence. There are numerous insurance policies available to our clients that they were unaware of.
3. Determined Fault – Florida law applies a pure comparative fault standard. Florida allows plaintiffs to claim damages based on exactly how much fault they are deemed to have by a court. As a result, even if you were assigned 90% of the fault for the accident, you can claim damages for 10% of the damages.As an example, if you were driving a car and ran a red light and hit someone who was legally crossing the road within a crosswalk, then you’re most likely going to be found at fault for the accident. Even if you swerved after the fact and hit a pole and were hurt. You were at fault for the accident so you cannot sue anyone for your injuries.

Our lawyers here at Rebein Law, are focused on those who were injured by another person’s negligence and are happy to answer all of your questions! Call us today and let our experts handle these complicated details so that you can focus on your recovery.

Four years is how long you have to file a pedestrian accident claim in Florida. It’s outlined in Florida Statute 95.11 that injury and wrongful death lawsuits have a four-year limitation period. That time limit starts on the day of the accident.

So, you have four years from the date of your accident to file your suit. However, there are exceptions to that law depending on the ages of the people involved and other circumstances. Give our legal team a call and we’ll explain your legal options in a free consultation.

The different types of injuries are directly related to your age. The younger, pediatric accident victims most often have:

1. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
2. Musculoskeletal injuries like broken legs and knees
3. Chest and abdominal injuries

With older, adult pedestrian accident victims, the top two injuries trend is reversed:

1. Musculoskeletal injuries like broken legs and knees
2. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
3. Chest and abdominal injuries

On general terms, victims involved in pedestrian accidents are more likely to sustain:

• Broken bones
• Dislocated shoulders, wrists, and ankles
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord injuries that lead to paralysis
• Concussions or other head injuries
• Neck or back injuries
• Severe lacerations, bruises, and road rash
• Crushing injuries
• Internal organ injuries

Read more on these statistics in this study.

As a contingency fee law firm, Rebein Law charges zero upfront fees and does not collect anything until we win your case. It’s easy to get FREE legal advice from us so that you know all your options, so give us a call. We don’t pressure you into becoming a client. You can be assured that once you become a client of ours, we will immediately get to work gathering all the facts and evidence we need to win your case.

It’s your legal team from Rebein Law that will handle the hard work it can take to prove you’re not at fault in an accident. In this case, you were a pedestrian that was hit by the driver of a vehicle. Once you’re a client of ours, we will immediately begin collecting evidence. The exact evidence that’s needed is as unique as the details of the accident you were in.

Many times, that evidence includes:

• Collect the driver’s information
• Contact Witnesses and Get Their Statements
• Get your Police Report
• See if there is any video footage of the accident
• Document the scene of the accident including the time of day and the weather
• Bring in an accident scene reconstruction expert as needed
• Speak to medical experts about your injuries as needed
• Document all your injuries