Coral Springs Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Legal Help for Injured Pedestrians Across South Florida

A car crash can change a pedestrian's life in a single moment. One second you are walking or jogging, and the next you are facing serious injuries, hospital visits, and questions about how you will pay your bills. When this happens in Coral Springs, early legal guidance can help preserve evidence, address insurance issues, and clarify your options.

At The South Florida Injury Law Firm, we represent people who have been hit while walking and families who are suddenly caring for an injured loved one. We believe people and organizations should be held accountable when negligence causes preventable harm.

Our attorneys bring more than 100 years of combined legal experience to South Florida injury cases. Our team also includes a former public defender and a former insurance company defense lawyer, giving us perspective on both litigation and the strategies insurers may use to dispute injury claims.

We offer free consultations, and if your injuries make travel difficult, our team can arrange a home or hospital visit.

What Is a Pedestrian Accident?

A pedestrian accident occurs when a person on foot is struck by a motor vehicle. These crashes can happen in crosswalks, intersections, parking lots, residential areas, or other places where vehicles and people on foot share space.

Because a pedestrian has little physical protection from the force of a vehicle, these collisions can cause broken bones, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, scarring, and permanent disability. Some crashes result in injuries serious enough to be considered catastrophic, and others are fatal.

In a Coral Springs pedestrian case, liability may depend on details such as where the pedestrian was walking, crosswalk markings, traffic signals, lighting, turning movements, visibility, and the timing of each person's actions.

Florida Pedestrian Right-of-Way and Comparative Fault Rules

Florida Statute §316.130 sets rules for both drivers and pedestrians.

At intersections with traffic control signals, a driver must stop and remain stopped under the conditions stated in the statute to allow a pedestrian with a permitted signal to cross when the pedestrian is in or entering the relevant portion of the crosswalk. At crosswalks without operating traffic signals or signage requiring a stop, drivers may be required to yield to a pedestrian who is crossing within the crosswalk and is on the driver's half of the roadway or approaching closely enough from the opposite half to be in danger.

Drivers also have a general duty to exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians.

Pedestrians have responsibilities as well. They must obey applicable traffic-control devices, and someone crossing outside a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection generally must yield to vehicles on the roadway.

These rules matter because Florida now follows a modified comparative fault system. A pedestrian's percentage of fault can reduce the damages awarded. In an ordinary negligence action, a claimant found more than 50 percent at fault for their own harm generally cannot recover damages.

Right-of-way questions should be decided from evidence, not assumptions about who "always" has priority.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Many pedestrian collisions involve driver conduct such as:

• Distracted driving, including texting or phone use
• Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
• Failure to yield at a crosswalk or intersection
• Running a red light or stop sign
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Unsafe turns
• Failure to adjust for darkness or limited visibility
• Backing without checking for pedestrians

Determining what happened may require more than the crash report. Crosswalk markings, signal timing, photographs, surveillance footage, witness statements, vehicle damage, sight distance, and accident reconstruction evidence can help establish where each person was and what a driver could reasonably have seen before impact.

Who May Be Liable for a Pedestrian Accident?

The driver who struck the pedestrian is often a central focus of the investigation, but the facts may point to other potentially responsible parties.

For example, an employer may become relevant when a commercial driver was acting within the scope of employment. A vehicle or component manufacturer may be involved when evidence shows that a defect contributed to the crash or the resulting injuries.

Roadway or traffic-control conditions can also become part of the investigation. In some cases, evidence involving signal operation, road design, or another public condition may raise questions involving a government entity. Claims against public entities are subject to different legal and procedural rules from an ordinary negligence claim against a private driver.

At The South Florida Injury Law Firm, we investigate the facts before deciding which parties or legal theories are supported by the evidence.

Compensation and Insurance After a Pedestrian Crash

The financial effects of a serious pedestrian injury can extend well beyond the first emergency-room visit.

Depending on the circumstances, recoverable damages may include:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Reduced future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Scarring or disfigurement
• Permanent disability
• Loss of enjoyment of life

When a pedestrian collision results in death, eligible survivors may have a separate wrongful death claim.

Insurance coverage can also be more complicated than many injured pedestrians expect. Depending on the facts and policy terms, available coverage can involve personal injury protection benefits, the driver's bodily-injury liability coverage, and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.

Our attorneys can review the available policies along with liability, medical documentation, future care needs, lost income, and other evidence that affects the value and recoverability of a claim.

Pedestrian Accident FAQs

What Should I Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Coral Springs?

Get medical attention promptly, even if you are not yet sure how serious the injuries are. Report the collision to law enforcement and, when possible, preserve witness information, photographs, video, and details identifying the vehicle and driver.

Be cautious about providing detailed statements to an insurance adjuster before you understand which insurer is involved and what coverage may apply.

Can I Still Recover Compensation If I Was Partially at Fault?

Possibly. Florida's modified comparative fault law reduces damages according to a claimant's share of responsibility.

For ordinary negligence actions covered by the statute, a person found more than 50 percent responsible for their own harm generally cannot recover damages. A percentage of 50 percent or less can still reduce the amount ultimately awarded.

That makes evidence about crosswalks, signal timing, visibility, speed, and each person's movement especially important when fault is disputed.

How Long Do I Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Claim in Florida?

Florida generally provides a two-year limitations period for negligence actions. Different rules can apply depending on when a claim accrued, the parties involved, and other case-specific circumstances.

Waiting can create problems even before the legal deadline arrives because surveillance footage, witness information, and other evidence may become harder to obtain.

What If the Driver Who Hit Me Was Uninsured or Left the Scene?

A lack of liability insurance does not necessarily mean there is no available coverage.

Depending on the circumstances and applicable policies, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage and other insurance may become relevant. In a hit-and-run case, early efforts to preserve surveillance footage, witness information, vehicle descriptions, and other identifying evidence can be particularly important.

Why Injured Pedestrians Turn to Us

The South Florida Injury Law Firm handles personal injury matters from a local Coral Springs office and serves injured people throughout South Florida.

Our attorneys bring more than 100 years of combined experience, including insight from a former insurance company defense lawyer and a former public defender. That background helps us evaluate both the evidence needed to prove a serious injury claim and the arguments that may be raised against it.

Accessibility is also part of how the firm works. Clients can expect clear explanations and regular communication, and our team is available 24/7. When an injured client cannot travel, we can arrange home or hospital visits.

The goal in a pedestrian case is not to assume fault or assign a value before the evidence is reviewed. It is to determine what happened, identify the available insurance and responsible parties, document the full effect of the injuries, and build the claim around facts that can be supported.