When a car strikes a person who is outside of the vehicle, the results can be catastrophic. A pedestrian is especially vulnerable to injuries in the event of an accident, and even a low-speed collision can result in serious injuries or death. The person behind the wheel of the vehicle is often to blame for these types of accidents.
If you suffered injuries in a pedestrian-vehicle accident, you may have legal options available to you. However, you may be unsure of where to begin or who is to blame. It is especially difficult to pick up the pieces if you are dealing with serious physical damage and other implications that come along with it, such as medical bills and insurance difficulties. It may be helpful to gain a better understanding of pedestrian accidents so you can determine what to do next.
Who is at fault?
Every person behind the wheel is responsible for the choices he or she makes while driving. This means that a Florida driver should be attentive at all times and aware of when there are pedestrians in the area. People operating a vehicle owe pedestrians a certain duty of care, and failure to provide this can result in serious consequences. Some of the most common reasons for these types of accidents include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Failure to adhere to traffic signs or signals
- Failure to yield or slow down near crosswalks
- Backing up in a parking lot without looking
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
You could be the victim of a pedestrian accident while you are running, walking, crossing the street, walking down the sidewalk, walking in a parking lot and more. One second of distraction or one poor choice by a driver can leave you with injuries that can change the course of your life. A human body, especially that of a child, is no match against an impact from the steel frame of a moving vehicle. This is why these crashes are often quite serious.
What should you do next?
A careful assessment of your case can determine if you have grounds to move forward with a civil claim. This can help you see if a driver failed in his or her duty of care and if you have sufficient evidence of how that failure negatively impacted your life. Through the civil justice system, you can pursue recourse that may allow you to secure recompense for your financial losses as well as your pain and suffering.