Pensacola Pedestrian Accident Attorney

At Staples, Ellis + Associates in Pensacola, our personal injury attorneys are all too familiar with pedestrian accidents throughout the Florida Panhandle, and the tremendous physical, emotional, and financial distress they result in for victims and their families. For nearly 50 years, we have been protecting the rights of pedestrians who have suffered harm due to the negligence or recklessness of others. If you or a loved one has been victimized in this way, our highly skilled pedestrian accident attorneys are ready to help you win the compensation you deserve.

Disturbing Statistics About Pedestrian Accidents

With ever-increasing numbers of vehicles on the road, rising cases of substance abuse, and the expanding number of distracting electronic devices in use, pedestrian accidents have become more frequent during the last decade. According to the CDC, in 2017 almost 6,000 American pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes, and 137,000 were injured. 

Shockingly, even during the quarantine of the 2020 pandemic, pedestrian deaths rose 4.8 percent over the previous year. It is impossible to deny that pedestrian accidents are a serious problem in this country. 

If you or a loved one was hit by a vehicle and seriously injured, you should contact Staples, Ellis + Associates as soon as possible. We will give you our undivided attention, make sure you have access to the best medical care available, and fight aggressively to obtain the maximum damages you need to restart your life.

Risk Factors that Make Pedestrian Accidents More Likely

Although pedestrian accidents can occur on any roadway at any time, your chances of being hit increase:

  • During evening hours — 6 to 9 p.m. and any time after dark
  • If you are male, a young child, or an elderly person
  • If you are disabled and using a wheelchair
  • If you are in an urban area or on a country road*
  • If you are at an intersection
  • If you are wearing dark clothing at night

*This is especially true if you are on a road without sidewalks and/or walking with, instead of facing, traffic

The likelihood of suffering serious injury or death in a traffic accident is far greater if you are a pedestrian since you do not have the cage of a car to protect you. You are also more likely to be the victim of a hit-and-run as a pedestrian because the driver who hit you knows the consequences of this crash will be harsher than one involving a collision of two vehicles.

Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

There are a great many causes of pedestrian accidents, most of them attributable to someone’s negligence. In many cases, the driver is at fault for:

  • Speeding 
  • Driving recklessly 
  • Failing to signal a turn
  • Not yielding the right of way to pedestrians as the law demands

It should be noted, however, that pedestrians, as well as drivers, may be at fault for being:

  • Distracted by headphones or electronic devices
  • Drunk or impaired by drugs
  • Ignoring or disobeying traffic signs or signals
  • Paying no attention to weather or traffic conditions
  • Exhausted, sleepy, or simply inattentive to the task at hand

There is evidence that pedestrian accidents involving cars that jump curbs or crash into storefronts or restaurants are becoming more common. Such accidents are clearly the fault of the driver, not the pedestrian, though some may be the result of an unpredictable medical event.

Third-Party Liability in a Pedestrian Accident

There are rare occasions when a pedestrian accident is the fault of neither the driver nor the pedestrian, such as when the accident is precipitated by an unseen pothole or an icy patch the road crew did not salt or sand. In such cases, our pedestrian accident attorneys may be able to file a lawsuit against the government agency responsible for road maintenance.

What if you, the injured party, were partly at fault for the pedestrian accident?

As noted above, in some cases, the pedestrian’s behavior or inattention may have played a role in the accident. If this is true in your case, don’t worry. Florida works under the principle of pure comparative negligence that will allow you to collect damages even if you bear most of the blame. Though the verdict or settlement you receive will be lessened by your percentage of fault, we know the tactics to use to maximize the compensation you receive.

Injuries Victims of Pedestrian Accidents May Suffer

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the most common pedestrian injuries are:

  • Head trauma and traumatic brain injuries
  • Fractures of the leg, hip, and pelvis
  • Other musculoskeletal injuries
  • Chest and abdominal injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries

Because pedestrians are so vulnerable to the impact of a moving automobile, there is an increased likelihood that your injuries may be catastrophic — e.g. paralysis, cognitive impairment, loss of sight, loss of a limb — resulting in permanent disability or wrongful death. 

No matter what your situation is, we will stand by you, leveraging our legal knowledge and litigation skills to fight for a positive outcome that will give you the resources you need.

What Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Will Do To Help

Understanding how difficult this period is for you and your family, Staples, Ellis + Associates will never charge you any attorneys’ fees until we win your case. In the meantime, while you take the time you need to recover, we will:

  • Negotiate with opposing attorneys and insurance adjusters
  • Investigate the site of your accident and examine any surveillance footage
  • Pore over police reports and medical data
  • Interview witnesses 
  • Investigate any history of driving misconduct by the defendant
  • Consult with experts (medical or otherwise) who may bolster your case under oath

Most of all, we will be at your side to support you in any way we can, answering questions and offering legal counsel and emotional support.

Damages We Will Fight to Win for You and Your Family

Depending on your particular circumstances, we will develop a legal strategy designed to win you damages to cover:

  • Medical and rehabilitation costs
  • Lost income, present and future
  • Lost earning power
  • Extended nursing care
  • Replacement services
  • Pain and suffering
  • Permanent disability
  • Permanent scarring or other disfigurements
  • Final medical costs, funeral costs, loss of financial and emotional support (in case of wrongful death)

If the driver who hit you was egregiously reckless (e.g. driving drunk), we may also be able to win you punitive damages.

Contact Our Experienced Florida Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Now

We know what a terrible time this is for you and your loved ones. Let us take over the logistical and legal matters so that you can rest and heal while we fight to win you the resources to construct a secure and comfortable future. Contact us today for a free consultation.

The Pedestrian Accident Attorneys at Staples, Ellis & Associates serves clients in Pensacola County, Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, Okaloosa County, Walton County, and throughout Northwest Florida.