Plantation Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Florida law gives pedestrians the right of way in most circumstances and situations. This includes the end of your driveway, the sidewalks downtown and the crosswalks anywhere in Plantation, Davie and Pembroke Pines. The state expects pedestrians to act in a responsible manner and not violate basic traffic laws, like attempting to cross the street without right of way or between cars stopped at a traffic light. If it is determined; however, that the pedestrian was hit by a motor vehicle due to driver error, the victim can file suit to recover monetary compensation for pain, suffering, massive medical bills and lost wages. If you've been injured by a reckless motorist in Broward County, call a Plantation pedestrian accident attorney at The Ellsley Law Firm immediately after the incident to discover your best options.

Florida's statutes of limitations

The days immediately following an accident can be quite troubling for a pedestrian hit by a vehicle. Once-routine tasks can become arduous and medical bills pile up quickly. It’s not unusual to get stuck in a time warp, only to realize one day that you waited too long to take legal action against the party responsible for your injuries. The statue of limitations for filing a claim in an accident involving a pedestrian is just four years from the date of the accident. If you attempt to file even a day later, the judge could throw out the entire case.

Reasons to file suit for a pedestrian accident

Though your health insurance might cover part of your medical bills, you might face ongoing or continuing injuries in the future that insurance won’t cover. Even if you feel “fine” now, injuries could pop up in the future, leaving you racing against the filing deadline. Medical bills come fast and furious, and victims often can’t work while they recover. By filing suit early, you give yourself a better chance of recovering compensation and digging out from under the sudden financial avalanche.

Emotional pain and suffering

The judicial system uses the term “emotional pain and suffering” to refer to monetary amounts that do not apply to specific objects or bills. With medical costs, you can present your bills and get a check that covers the total amount. Emotional pain and suffering is not that cut and dry. You need a pedestrian accident attorney who can gather the right evidence to show how your ongoing medical issues have taken a major toll on you, psychologically.

Lost wages

If you’re lucky, you might have enough paid time off to allow you to recover from your injuries before going back to work. Unfortunately, many pedestrian accident victims aren’t so lucky, and could lose their jobs if their injuries cause them to take time off. The driver responsible for causing your injuries could be held liable for covering your lost wages. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your case, your pedestrian accident lawyer in Plantation could even pursue compensation for future lost wages, should you be forced to miss significant time away from work.

Percentage of fault

Florida has shared fault laws that can hold a pedestrian partially responsible for an accident. Usually, you’ll only be assigned a percentage of fault if you broke any local or state laws put in place to protect pedestrians. During your consultation with our Firm, we’ll let you know whether you’re likely to be assigned fault based on the unique facts of your case.

It can take months – often years – for civil lawsuits to move through Florida courts. That’s why it’s imperative that you contact a personal injury attorney in Plantation as soon as possible after your accident to start the process. The Ellsley Law Firm stands ready to help. Call us today at (954) 888-7720.