Orlando Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

Each year the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) publishes a report providing the details of pedestrian traffic fatalities by state. The GHSA’s preliminary report for 2023 projects that drivers struck and killed 3,373 pedestrians across the United States in the first half of 2023 alone. In a typical year, more than 100,000 pedestrians are treated in emergency rooms for non-fatal pedestrian accident injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a pedestrian accident in Winter Park due to the negligence of another party, you may be eligible for compensation to cover your physical injuries and emotional distress.

Pedestrian accidents often result in severe, sometimes fatal, injuries for those involved. Coping with financial strain alongside physical pain and emotional anguish can be overwhelming for victims. For those who have lost a loved one, the grief can be profound, compounded by concerns about the future. When the actions of another party contribute to or cause a pedestrian accident, it is crucial to seek legal guidance to hold the responsible party accountable. At Bailey Fisher, our Orlando pedestrian accident attorneys are dedicated to assisting victims in navigating the legal process to secure the compensation they deserve for their physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial hardship.

What Florida Pedestrian Traffic Laws Apply to an Orlando Pedestrian Accident?

Many of the rights and responsibilities of pedestrians in Florida are governed by Florida Statute 316.130 which requires pedestrians to obey traffic signals, use crosswalks and sidewalks, and refrain from stepping into the path of a vehicle. Motorists, however, also have legal duties and responsibilities to pedestrians under the statute, such as:

Drivers of motor vehicles are required to stop for pedestrians who are in a crosswalk with a traffic control signal or signage. If there are no traffic control signals or signs, a driver must yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
A motorist cannot pass another vehicle that is stopped for pedestrians in a crosswalk.
Motorists are obligated to use due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians, to provide warnings, and to exercise proper precaution when there is a child or confused/incapacitated person present.

When a pedestrian is injured or killed in a motor vehicle collision, the pedestrian may be entitled to compensation if the motorist’s negligence caused or contributed to the collision. Failing to abide by traffic rules and regulations is typically viewed as negligent conduct in the eyes of the law.

What Causes Orlando Pedestrian Accidents?

According to the GHSA, a steep drop in traffic enforcement across the country since 2020 has enabled dangerous driving behaviors, including speeding and driving impaired, to flourish. Along with the decrease in enforcement, most roads are designed with the needs of fast-moving, heavy vehicles in mind, making them inherently dangerous for pedestrians. The lack of proper infrastructure in many places, such as sidewalks and crosswalks, makes roads even more dangerous for pedestrians. Other factors that routinely contribute to pedestrian accidents include:

Drug and alcohol use. The most recent GHSA report indicates that almost one in three (30.5 percent) of pedestrians ages 16 or older killed in motor vehicle crashes had a BAC of 0.08 or greater, making them legally intoxicated at the time of the accident.
Aggressive driving. Aggressive driving behaviors, such as failing to yield, weaving in and out of lanes, and trying to “beat” traffic lights make it more difficult for a driver to notice a pedestrian and/or to stop in time to avoid hitting a pedestrian.
Lighting. Most pedestrian fatalities occurred at night. In 2021, 77.1 percent of crashes with known light conditions occurred after dark, regardless of whether there was artificial lighting.
Distracted driving. Whether the distraction is a cell phone, food, passengers in the vehicle, or something else, when a driver is distracted, it dramatically increases the likelihood of a pedestrian accident.
Speed. Depending on the age of the victim, speed is a contributing factor in as much as ten percent of all fatal pedestrian accidents nationwide.
Failing to obey traffic laws. Even when pedestrian-friendly laws exist, failure to enforce those laws causes motorists to essentially ignore them, increasing the risk to pedestrians.
Age. The age of the pedestrian can be considered a contributing factor given that one in three pedestrian accident victims is over the age of 60 years old.

What Are Some Common Orlando Pedestrian Accident Injuries?

Pedestrians have no protection against injury when struck by a vehicle. Consequently, serious injury or death frequently results when a pedestrian is involved in a motor vehicle collision. Common pedestrian accident injuries include:

Traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Spinal cord injuries.
Paralysis.
Neck and back injuries.
Soft tissue injury, including strains and sprains.
Internal organ damage.
Road rash.
Broken and fractured bones.
Loss of a limb.
Lacerations and scarring.
Death

What Type of Compensation Is Available in an Orlando Pedestrian Accident?

If you were injured in an Orlando pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to economic and non-economic damages for your injuries. Economic damages are intended to compensate an injured victim for the easily quantifiable out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident, while non-economic damages compensate a victim for the more subjective injuries. Collectively, economic and non-economic damages may include compensation for:

Medical, hospital, and specialist expenses.
Past and future lost income or wages.
Rehabilitation and therapy expenses.
Physical pain and suffering.
Disfigurement and scarring.
Emotional trauma.

If you are the surviving spouse, parent, or child of someone who was fatally injured in an Orlando pedestrian accident, you may also be entitled to compensation in a Florida wrongful death lawsuit for things such as the loss of companionship, care, and support and the loss of future earnings.

Get Help from an Experienced Orlando Pedestrian Accident Attorney

If you suffered injuries in an Orlando pedestrian accident, or a family member was killed in one, the Orlando pedestrian accident attorneys at Bailey Fisher can help you obtain the compensation to which you are entitled for all your injuries. We are committed to aggressively pursuing those parties responsible for your injuries to ensure that you are fully and fairly compensated for your physical injuries, emotional trauma, or loss of a loved one.

Call us at 407-628-2929 or submit our online form today. An experienced Orlando pedestrian accident attorney will evaluate your case for free. For viable personal injury cases, we will follow up with the necessary legal action to hold the responsible party accountable for their negligence and recover the financial compensation you deserve for your pain, suffering, and losses.