Sarasota Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Being hit by a car or truck is a traumatic experience. Having to prove your own innocence and hold the negligent driver responsible exacerbates the stress, anxiety, and financial fears of injured pedestrians, which is why going through this experience without an attorney makes it so much more difficult. The experienced Sarasota pedestrian accident attorneys with Hale Law will guide you through this process of filing a claim, communicating with your own auto insurance, negotiating with the at-fault party, mediation, and potentially taking the other party to court if necessary. Not only will an attorney take on the responsibility of ensuring your financial stability through a personal injury claim, but will help reduce the stress from your life during this difficult time.
FLORIDA IS THE MOST DANGEROUS STATE FOR PEDESTRIANS
Due to poor pedestrian infrastructure; multi-lane, high-speed surface streets, and cities and suburbs that are essentially designed only with automobile drivers in mind, Florida is the most dangerous state in the country for people on foot. In fact, a Florida pedestrian is 50 percent more likely to die crossing the street than a pedestrian in the average state. According to research and the Miami Herald, 5,433 pedestrians in Florida were killed in a 10-year period. During this decade, 2.73 pedestrians were killed per 100,000 residents, equating to a “Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI)” of 182.0. The next most dangerous state is Texas at 111.9, while the safest state, Vermont, has a PDI of just 13.8. As such, it is 13 times more dangerous to walk to one’s destination in Florida than it is in Vermont.
COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF PEDESTRIAN COLLISIONS
No matter how your collision occurred, an experienced attorney can get to the bottom of it and prove that the other party was negligent, and therefore liable for covering your damages. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the following is true for fatal collisions, which tends to be similar for non-fatal pedestrian collisions as well:
- One out of five fatal pedestrian collisions is a hit and run;
- The vast majority (75 percent) of fatal pedestrian collisions occurs at dark;
- One out of five pedestrians killed are children under 14; and
- Larger vehicles do the most damage.
Common characteristics for at-fault drivers include distraction, speeding, drunk driving, and aggressive driving.
COMPENSATION FOR PEDESTRIAN COLLISIONS
Pedestrians who are injured by drivers can file a lawsuit or “personal injury claim” with the at-fault driver for financial compensation. The following damages can be compensated for:
- Hospital, doctor, and other medical expenses both past and future;
- Pain and suffering;
- Loss of joy of life;
- Emotional distress;
- Lost wages;
- Lost earning ability due to disability;
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement;
- Property damage; and
- More.
A SARASOTA PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT ATTORNEY CAN WIN YOUR CASE
Seriously injured pedestrians deserve significant compensation for their injuries, and here at Hale Law, we can help you accomplish just that. To speak to a Sarasota pedestrian collision attorney, call us at 1-800-800-1414 today to schedule a consultation at no cost.