Whenever someone either has to travel on foot to get to their job, or they just want to take a leisurely walk around the neighborhood, the risk of a pedestrian accident is always high. This can lead to a lot of pain, of course, as well as a lot of financial misery. It shouldn’t be that way, but, unfortunately, that’s the way it is – not only in Miami, but the rest of the state of Florida as well.
If you’ve been involved in this type of accident, and suffered a severe injury due to the carelessness of a motorist, the law firm of Keller, Melchiorre & Walsh is ready to help. We have helped our clients obtain millions of dollars in compensation, and we’re ready to work to do the same for you. Also, you won’t have to pay a dime unless we’re successful.
Don’t hesitate to schedule a free evaluation of your case by contacting us online or calling (561) 295-5825.
How Safe is Miami for Pedestrians?
It’s not – at all. In fact, according to one study, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach area comes in at No. 14 on the list of the most dangerous in the nation for pedestrian accidents.
But there are actually parts of the state of Florida that are even more dangerous. Florida ranks No. 2 among all states, and four other metropolitan areas rank higher than Miami. These include the following:
- Tampa/St. Petersburg: #4
- Jacksonville: #6
- Orlando: #8
- Melbourne/Palm Bay: #12
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians almost always have the right of way in any situation where a car is approaching. But motorists often fail to honor that, and devastating accidents occur as a result.
Distracted Driving
One of the biggest reasons these accidents take place is distracted driving. There are far too many drivers who are so dependent on their phones that they simply can’t bear to go a few minutes without checking texts or emails, or calling someone. When they do this, of course, their eyes leave the road. They can’t react quickly enough when a pedestrian crosses their path. Many pedestrians are doing exactly what they should do, but they still get hit.
When a pedestrian is walking at night, they’re not only at risk of being struck by distracted drivers, but impaired drivers as well. When a person decides to get behind the wheel when drunk or on drugs, they have even less focus than a motorist using their phone.
Shared Negligence in Pedestrian Accident Cases
It’s also true, however, that pedestrians can sometimes be at least partially at fault as well. They might also be glued to their phone and oblivious to their surroundings, or they can be impaired.
But when this happens, they may still be able to at least get some compensation. Florida follows the “comparative negligence” principle, meaning that the victim of an accident can still obtain money as long as they’re not assigned 50% or more of the blame.
Injuries Associated with Pedestrian Accidents
When a vehicle hits a pedestrian, of course, the person walking always comes out second best. This can lead to severe injuries, with effects that can last a lifetime. These are just a few of the more common examples.
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injury
- Crush injuries that lead to amputation
- Internal organ damage
- Severe lacerations
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal cord damage
- Disfigurement
How Can a Pedestrian Accident Affect Quality of Life?
Any sort of severe injury can lead to life-long debilitation. Spinal cord damage resulting from a pedestrian accident can result in permanent paralysis, while a traumatic brain injury can be so horrible that the victim will need help performing the most basic of tasks.
Types of Evidence Used
If you’re going to win your case, your attorney will have to investigate the accident. This will help them gather the evidence needed to prove you weren’t to blame.
Evidence can include photos at the accident scene, surveillance cameras that may have footage showing what happened, witness statements and more. The sooner that investigation begins, the better the chances your attorney will be able to obtain the proof you need before that evidence disappears forever.
Compensation in a Miami Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit
If an attorney ever promises that you’ll obtain a certain amount of money – even though that attorney doesn’t even have all the facts of the case – then you need to find another attorney. But once those facts are uncovered through a thorough investigation, then your lawyer will have a very good idea of how much you deserve.
You’re going to experience a lot of financial losses, or damages, due to your injury. Some of the expenses you could very well have to deal with include:
- Lab tests
- Physical therapy
- At-home care
- Home modifications
- Surgical procedures
- Stays in the hospital
- Ambulance transportation
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional and mental trauma
- Loss of quality of life
Since you may be able to obtain compensation for these and other damages, you could potentially receive a significant amount of money.
Do You Need to Hire a Pedestrian Accident Attorney?
But your only realistic chance of getting the compensation will be to have an experienced pedestrian accident attorney working for you. The insurance company representing the driver who hit you will do everything it can to either give you as little money as possible, or to flat-out deny your claim entirely.
But when you hire a Keller, Melchiorre & Walsh attorney, we’ll immediately work to gather the evidence it takes to prove your case beyond a shadow of a doubt. We’ll show this proof to the insurer, and convince them that it will be in their best interests to offer you full and fair compensation.
Contact KMW if You’ve Been Injured in a Miami Pedestrian Accident
The key to winning your case will be to have as much proof as possible. In order to get that proof, you’ll need to hire an attorney as soon as you can so they can start their investigation. Talk to a Keller, Melchiorre & Walsh lawyer for a free case review. You can call (561) 295-5825 or contact us online.