Walking and jogging may be great for your health, and New Port Richey’s weather makes these activities appealing. But they can also lead to catastrophic or even fatal pedestrian accidents. Walking through a parking lot, on a sidewalk, or across a drive-thru can be dangerous if drivers aren’t paying attention.
The situation is usually worse in the festive seasons. As the city comes alive, it draws bigger crowds than usual. For instance, New Port Richey and neighboring towns welcomed over 1 million visitors in a recent year. The municipality has some heavy-trafficked roads already. So when the festive seasons pack the streets with unfamiliar drivers—it increases the risk of pedestrian accidents. If you have suffered injuries in a vehicle-pedestrian crash, you may be eligible for financial compensation to, at least, cover the impacts and expenses of your injury.
Read on to discover more about the pedestrian injury claim process and answers to FAQs about the same. You can also contact an experienced New Port Richey pedestrian accident lawyer from LMD Injury Lawyers, Accident Injury Attorneys for a free initial case evaluation for answers specific to your case.
When walking or jogging down the street, you are unprotected compared to someone in a car. So when a truck clips you while crossing the street, the probability of suffering severe injuries is high.
If you can prove that the accident resulted from someone else’s negligent actions, you can potentially make them pay for the resulting injuries and damages. Even so, getting compensated is often easier said than done. The liable parties won’t always accept the responsibility easily.
Insurance companies will work tirelessly to find ways to deny or devalue your claim. Hiring a lawyer to represent your interests gives you the power to take charge of the situation and demand your rightful financial compensation. Your pedestrian accident lawyer can:
At LMD Injury Lawyers, Accident Injury Attorneys, we are dedicated to providing strategic, aggressive representation for our clients. Our settlements and verdicts speak for themselves. We pride ourselves in leveling the playing field against insurance companies and large corporations—leveraging decades of experience handling personal injury cases to provide legal representation. When you call us for help after a pedestrian accident, here’s what you can expect:
At LMD Injury Lawyers, Accident Injury Attorneys, our mission is to help you rebuild your life by recovering the maximum financial compensation you deserve under the law. Give our pedestrian accident lawyers a call to get started.
Pasco County’s roads are not the safest for walkers, joggers, and runners. Each year, the county experiences close to 200 pedestrian crashes. The situation is even worse in New Port Richey, a non-surprising fact as the city is home to some dangerous roads and intersections.
In a recent year, there were 165 pedestrian accidents in New Port Richey. These accidents increased by 17+ percent within a short span. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the city experienced 194 pedestrian accidents in one recent year, with over 23 cases being fatal. Another recent year saw 167 vehicle-pedestrian accidents across the city and Pasco County.
When pedestrians leave the safety of dedicated sidewalks, they are often more likely to be involved in an accident. The majority of such accidents occur at crossroads and intersections. Unfortunately, New Port Richey is home to some of the most dangerous crossroads and intersections in Florida, including:
Main Street and U.S. 19
This intersection is along the busy and construction-ridden US-19 road. That could explain the increasing number of reported accidents.
Madison Street and Main Street
The area overlooks the public library and has multiple blind spots. It’s not uncommon for accidents to occur here—causing pedestrian injuries.
Massachusetts Avenue and Congress Street
This intersection is prone to accidents significant enough to cause injuries and property damage.
Cecilia Drive and Madison Street
The intersection is called “fairly” tricky for drivers.
Other blind spots include:
As noted, pedestrians are prone to accidents whether walking, running, jogging, or sitting in public. Often, pedestrian accidents involve cars and other vehicles. Pedestrian car accidents occur between a motorcycle, car, bicycle, or truck and a person who’s not in a vehicle. For walkers, runners, joggers, and shoppers, here are the common types of pedestrian accidents.
Pedestrian accidents may also be “hit-and-run,” especially if traffic conditions are light and the victim has sustained severe injuries. A hit-and-run could result from panic; nonetheless, it’s still considered a felony under Florida law.
Causes of accidents involving pedestrians include:
Distracted driving
That is, driving while:
Poor Visibility
Poor road visibility can result from:
An attorney can help determine who’s responsible for the poor viability that contributed to the accident, or the party that failed to exercise appropriate caution in case of poor visibility.
Parking Lot Accidents
Drivers in reverse at a parking lot may fail to ensure a clear driveway, leading to fatal pedestrian accidents.
Failure of Traffic Lights
Poor physical road planning or faulty traffic lights can lead to pedestrian accidents. (Think of when road signs contradict traffic control signals.) In such cases, the New Port Richey municipality may be to blame.
Businesses
Pedestrian accidents may occur in instances where private companies or businesses near the road fail to ensure the public rights-of-way is free from falling objects or obstructions.
Left-Hand Turns
Left-hand turns can sometimes prove tricky for drivers. In such cases, drivers are more concentrated on getting through the intersection than watching out for pedestrians.
Additional Causes
Pedestrians are likely to sustain severe or even fatal injuries in a crash. The reason is, they are unprotected or lack cover that can absorb or cushion their blow. At LMD Injury Lawyers, Accident Injury Attorneys, we represent New Port Richey victims who suffer different pedestrian injuries, including:
Our compassionate wrongful death lawyers also represent families who have lost a loved one in a fatal pedestrian accident. Call our law office for your free consultation to discuss your case and legal options.
Each pedestrian accident claim involves unique facts, situations, and circumstances. Here are answers to frequently asked questions about such claims in New Port Richey.
Right after the accident, you should remain calm as possible. Move to a safer spot until the first responders come to the rescue. If your injuries aren’t severe, check whether other accident victims need immediate medical help, and call 911 if they do. Most importantly, don’t admit fault. In other words, avoid saying you’re sorry or didn’t see the incoming vehicle or something else in those lines.
Keep in mind that the things you do and say in the hours or days following the accident can significantly impact your ability to recover substantial compensation. You can better your odds of winning your claim by following these steps.
If involved in a pedestrian accident, seek medical attention immediately. That’s even if you feel or believe you’re not seriously injured. Seeking medical attention diagnoses and treats your injuries and creates an official record documenting them, their degree of severity, and current and possible future treatments and their costs. Note that delaying to see a doctor may imply your injuries were not serious, which can give the defense a reason to devalue your claim.
Memories fade with time, making accounts of the accident unreliable. As such, note down as many details about the incident as possible, and if possible, right after the accident. Examples of facts you can record include:
Florida’s no-fault insurance will be the primary coverage for damages resulting from the accident. That means in the case of a child, the PIP insurance of their guardian will apply. If the victim is an adult and lacks PIP coverage, the at-fault driver’s auto insurance becomes the primary coverage. You must, however, seek medical attention within 14 days of the crash to receive the no-fault benefits.
Report the accident to the City of New Port Richey Police Department at (727) 841-4550 ext. 1, or the nearest police station. The goal is to have the crash documented. In case of severe injuries or property damage, call 911 instead. Cooperate with the police as they conduct their preliminary investigation, but don’t admit fault or apologize.
Retaining a pedestrian injury lawyer is essential. For one, the lawyer can leverage their years of experience to smoothen the legal process. They are better poised to evaluate your case and negotiate a fair settlement, or fight your case in court, if necessary—all while observing the strict statutes of limitation.
Having an attorney can make it easy for you to ignore efforts by adjusters to coerce you into accepting lowball settlements. Instead, you can direct all conversations and questions to your pedestrian accident lawyer.
Driver’s fault in pedestrian accidents: Florida road traffic law requires drivers to be alert to road hazards when driving. If the driver forfeits their obligation, they may be considered liable for the crash. A driver may be considered at fault if:
A driver may be deemed negligent for:
Pedestrian accident victims mainly use auto insurance claims to obtain their deserved financial compensation, whether in or out of court. Civil litigation undergoes specific proceedings. Of course, each case is unique, but here’s a typical process.
Each personal injury claim is unique, and the value varies based on several factors, including:
Overall, compensations include economic damages, non-economic damages, or both.
Economic damages are compensations for specific financial losses you incurred due to the accident. They include:
Non-economic damages include an amount for less-tangible losses like:
In some cases, you might be eligible for punitive damages, but only if the liable party intended to harm you or acted with gross negligence.
Florida’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is four years starting from the date of the accident. Take care to ensure that your injuries are diagnosed and treated to maximum medical improvement promptly, allowing your attorney time to send a demand package well before the statute of limitation expires.
There are a few exceptions to the 4-year limitations; however, some may work against you. For example, if you believe the city is responsible for your accident, you’ll have less time than four years to file a claim. You’re, therefore, better off contacting a lawyer immediately after the accident to discuss your case and legal options.
You deserve the chance to focus on healing after a pedestrian accident in New Port Richey. Don’t juggle recovery with a convoluted legal claim. Let the board-certified pedestrian accident lawyers at LMD Injury Lawyers, Accident Injury Attorneys pursue financial compensation on your behalf.
Call us or contact us online to schedule your free claim evaluation today. Here, we’ll discuss your case and determine your eligibility for financial compensation.
(727) 849-5353