When walking in Volusia County in areas near motor vehicle traffic, you almost certainly have seen some close calls with cars as tourists often walk in these areas. Because they are likely unfamiliar with the streets, they may make a mistake while walking, leading to a pedestrian-motorist accident or a close call.
Other times, drivers make a serious mistake behind the wheel on roads in the county, leading to a collision with a pedestrian causing significant injuries. If this happened to you or a loved one, you have the right to seek compensation for your pain, suffering, and medical bills.
For help with your case, consider retaining an Orange City pedestrian accident lawyer from Bogin, Munns & Munns. Our legal team will work to seek the compensation you may be entitled from the insurance company representing the driver who hit you. Call us today for a free consultation at (386) 860-5200.
The Frequency of Auto-Pedestrian Accidents in Florida
According to the Miami Herald, Florida is one of the most dangerous states in the United States for pedestrians. Between 2008 and 2017, Florida had 2.73 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 population in collisions with motor vehicles, which was significantly higher than the national average of 1.55 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 population.
Volusia County and the Daytona Beach metropolitan area are also extremely dangerous for pedestrians, ranking second in average pedestrian deaths in the entire United States, only trailing the Orlando metropolitan area, according to a Smart Growth America study.
Protecting Pedestrians
It is important for drivers to do everything possible while behind the wheel to avoid striking a pedestrian. Drivers need to be fully aware of their surroundings, which means keeping their eyes on the road and avoiding distractions in the car.
A driver who is sending or receiving text messages on a smartphone or who is trying to read an in-car navigation system screen may not see a pedestrian in the crosswalk until it is too late to stop.
Major Injuries in Collisions
Pedestrians who are hit by a car typically suffer serious injuries and often require emergency care. According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), in 2017 in Florida, 9,420 accidents occurred that involved a pedestrian. More than 8,100 of those pedestrians suffered an injury, and 659 of them died.
Because of the weight and size of a motor vehicle, and because pedestrians do not naturally have protective gear on while walking, severe injuries are possible, even when the car is traveling at a low speed. The pedestrian may never be able to return to the same life they had prior to the accident, creating ongoing health problems and an inability to earn a living.
An Orange City pedestrian accident lawyer is ready to defend your right to receive the compensation you may be entitled. Bogin, Munns & Munns will negotiate with the driver’s insurance company, showing how your personal injuries have changed your life. Contact us at (386) 860-5200 today for a free case review.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries Victims Suffer
As shown by the numbers mentioned earlier, fatalities are common when a car strikes a pedestrian. Even if the pedestrian survives, the injuries can be devastating, both in terms of short-term treatments required and in the long-term quality of life.
Pedestrians hit by a car can suffer a wide variety of injuries in the accident. Some injuries may occur at the time of the collision, and others may occur when the body hits the ground. Some of these injuries include:
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Broken bones
- Damage to limbs
- Lacerations
- Facial trauma
- Internal organ damage
Some of these types of pedestrian accident injuries could require emergency surgery, leaving the victim facing a long hospitalization. Physical therapy may be required, as well as ongoing treatment for emotional trauma. With the lingering injuries that a pedestrian accident can leave for victims, medical bills will add up quickly and will continue to accumulate.
To consult with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer serving Orange City, call 855-780-9986
The Value of a Pedestrian Accident Attorney to Prove Liability
If the facts in the case clearly shows that the driver was at fault for hitting you, the insurance company may contact you soon after the accident to admit fault.
However, not all pedestrian accident cases are this clearly defined, so you may want help from a pedestrian accident attorney to investigate the case and to determine that the facts indicate the driver was completely at fault.
Negotiating on Your Own
You do not have to hire an attorney to represent you in a personal injury case after a pedestrian accident. You have the right to attempt to negotiate the settlement with the insurance company on your own.
Understand, though, that the insurance company almost certainly will have an attorney on its side, along with multiple insurance adjusters and investigators. The job of these people will be to attempt to limit the settlement amount the insurance company has to pay you.
Insurance professionals work with personal injury cases on a regular basis, while you hopefully only have to go through something like this once in your life. Hiring an attorney can help you even the playing field in terms of experience in dealing with cases like this.
Orange City Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Near Me 855-780-9986
An Orange City Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Help You Recover the Compensation You May be Entitled
When you are struck by a car while walking, you may never see the crash coming. One second, you are crossing the street. And the next second, you may have suffered life altering injuries that leave you facing weeks and months of rehabilitation or hospitalization.
You did not do anything wrong, and you do not deserve to have to try to pay your medical bills on your own. Beyond reimbursement for your medical bills, you also deserve an amount that compensates you for any work time you missed while recovering, as well as for your future pain and suffering.
Bogin, Munns & Munns can protect your rights in a case like this. Our pedestrian accident attorneys have seen far too often the consequences of a collision between a pedestrian and a motorist. We are ready to defend your rights. For a free case review, contact us at (386) 860-5200 today.
Call or text 855-780-9986 or submit our Consultation Request form today
