Severe Injuries Associated with Pedestrian and Semi-Truck Accidents
A collision between a huge semi-truck and a car can have horrible enough consequences. But when a truck hits a pedestrian, the results are typically catastrophic – oftentimes, fatal. Florida is a beautiful state, one where people love to take a walk and enjoy the sunshine. If that walk turns tragic, it will be imperative for the victim, or the victim’s family, to pursue compensation. If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident involving a semi-truck, please get in touch with The Eberst Law Firm, P.A. as soon as possible. We will provide you with a free consultation to let you know how we may be able to help. You can give us a call at 888-CALL-JON or use our online form. Why Are Semi-Trucks so Dangerous? The sheer size of a semi-truck makes it incredibly dangerous. These mammoth vehicles can easily weigh 80,000 pounds (40 tons) when fully loaded. When one of these huge trucks hits a pedestrian, that person will be incredibly lucky to survive. Unfortunately, in most cases they don’t. Florida Pedestrian Laws and Truck Accidents According to Florida law, a pedestrian is defined as a person who walks close to traffic, or walks on the side...
FAQ: Florida Pedestrian Injury Claims
[caption id="attachment_2853" align="alignnone" width="900"] Caution watch for Pedestrians Traffic Sign.[/caption] Florida is an unsafe state for pedestrians. Florida is actually ranked as the number one most dangerous state for pedestrians. In total, there have been approximately 5,893 pedestrian fatalities in Florida between 2010 and 2019. And hundreds of thousands of people have been injured because of pedestrian accidents in the same timeframe. If you’ve been involved in a pedestrian accident case in the state of Florida, you may be stressed, confused, or just plain angry. At The Eberst Law Firm, we understand what you’re going through. That’s why we created a list of frequently asked questions that we hope can calm your mind. How Does the Law Define a “Pedestrian”? Florida law defines a pedestrian as anyone who is “afoot” or anyone who is walking on the side of the road or close to traffic. Basically, if you walk your daily commute, if you’re walking to the store, or even if you’re just taking a nice walk to get some exercise in, you’re a pedestrian. Why Are Pedestrian Accidents So Common in Florida? Florida pedestrian accidents are more commonly caused by an error on behalf of the motor vehicle driver. This means that the driver...
Does Florida Have a Pedestrian Safety Problem?
[caption id="attachment_2865" align="alignnone" width="900"] NORWALK, CT, USA - JUNE 11, 2021: Yellow box with cross button for pedestrians with crosswalk on Post road.[/caption] When moving to a new place, it’s important to know how safe it is. Of course, crime statistics most often come to mind, but that isn’t the only kind of safety that matters. Pedestrian, cyclist, and motorist safety are all significant factors to consider as well. So, how does Florida rank when it comes to pedestrian safety? The Most Dangerous States for Pedestrians, Ranked The most dangerous state for pedestrians is, unfortunately, Florida. Florida comes in at number one with 5,893 pedestrian fatalities between the years 2010 and 2019. There is a massive difference between the number one and number two most dangerous states, as Alabama comes in second with only 936 pedestrian fatalities in the same time frame. However, the death rate isn’t the only thing that determines how dangerous a state is for pedestrians. The population and the infrastructure put into place for pedestrians also play a huge role in determining the danger level. The top ten most dangerous states include: Florida Alabama New Mexico Mississippi Delaware Louisiana Arizona South Carolina Georgia Texas If you’re thinking about...
Daytona Personal Injury Answers: The Shocking Causes and Effects of Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents can be devastating, causing life-changing accidents and huge piles of medical debt and other damages. Because of how devastating their effects are, victims also often have to deal with mental issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The shocking effects of pedestrian accidents are long-lasting and often don’t go away right after the accident occurs. If the injury is severe, the patient may have to deal with side effects for months, years, or even the rest of their life. If they’re lucky enough to have their injury heal quickly, they still may have to deal with lasting chronic pain or lasting mental health effects, like PTSD. Each pedestrian accident is different, so it can be hard to predict exactly what each person will go through after their injury. Statistics of Daytona Beach, Volusia County Pedestrian Accidents? In the top 20 most dangerous places to walk in the country, Florida cities make up nine out of 20, almost half. The Orlando/Kissimmee/Sanford area comes in at number one, with 740 pedestrian fatalities from 2010-2019. The Deltona/Daytona Beach/Ormond Beach area comes in at number five, with 235 fatalities in the same time period. The crazy part is, while the Orlando area has more fatalities within...
Pedestrian Accidents: Frequently Asked Questions
Pedestrian accidents can leave people with many questions. While drivers should be aware that they’re sharing the road, that’s not always the case. They’re sometimes too fast or too distracted to look out for people traveling on foot. With the average car weighing over 4,000 pounds, pedestrians are up against way more than the typical accident victim. Q: What should I do after I’m injured in a pedestrian accident? A: If you’re physically able, move away from the road so you’re not at risk for another accident. Call 911. Your health and safety are the first priorities, and an operator will get an ambulance and police to your site. Gather as much information as you can. A copy of the police report as well as photos of your injuries, the vehicle, and the surrounding area can serve as evidence in your favor. Gathering witness statements is also useful. If you’re seriously injured, these steps may not be immediately possible for you to do. See if a bystander can assist you. Q: What if I’m partially at fault? A: Because Florida has a comparative fault statute, more than one party can be considered liable for an accident. Say as a pedestrian, you were hit while...
How to Handle Being Involved in a Car Accident During Coronavirus Pandemic
[caption id="attachment_2991" align="alignnone" width="900"] health protection, safety and pandemic concept - male taxi driver wearing face protective medical mask driving car with passenger[/caption] The “normal anxieties” that bombard people when being involved in an auto accident have now been overshadowed by worries from the dreadful coronavirus; for this reason, it is vital to educate yourself about how to handle being involved in an auto accident during this worrisome time so that you can hopefully avoid worrying about contracting this virus and can instead focus your attention on receiving treatment for your injuries. How is Coronavirus changing America’s roadways? At The Eberst Law Firm we have noticed that throughout this pandemic less people have driving on our roadways, but we know that with recent loosening restrictions, many people will be ready to venture into the world and seek out long-awaited shopping, entertainment, dining, and more at full force. Of note is that throughout this pandemic, bicycle accidents have increased so it is important to protect oneself as a cyclist as well. Please read our article, “Biking Accidents Increasing Due to Coronavirus” to read more about this. Also of importance is that even though less people are on America’s roadways, more traumatic...
Car Accidents Decreasing, but Biking Accidents Increasing due to Coronavirus
Eerie photos that show the formerly bustling New York City’s popular sites such as Times Square and Wall Street with hardly a soul in sight have been circulating the internet this Spring of 2020 as the city has enforced lockdowns due to COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus. Even smaller cities, like those on the Treasure Coast of Florida, have been transformed from previously busy highways, town roads, and downtown areas into ghost towns without hardly any cars on the road. These lockdowns, government mandated forms of social distancing, and a general fear of catching coronavirus, are the main reasons why people aren’t traveling America’s roadways as much. However, despite the drop in traffic from motor vehicles, the overall stir-crazy that has resulted from these quarantines has pushed people to get out of their house any way they can. This has led to a steep increase in pedestrians and bicyclists. Coronavirus Leading to Less Auto Accidents, but Possibly more Traumatic Crashes Traffic accidents have decreased tremendously since the coronavirus outbreak due to the near complete shutdown of cities, according to news sources Quartz. The Washington Post recently reported that the usual rush hour traffic congestion has nearly disappeared in many cities since the coronavirus outbreak in the United...
Do people really “Share the Road”?
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents in Florida People choose to walk and bike on our roadways for many reasons; some might simply want to get some fresh air outside while others may walk or bike to as a primary means of transportation. However, if you are walking or biking outside for whatever reason, it is important to exercise caution. Since cars are obviously much heavier and more solid than a bike or pedestrian, the outcome is often tragedy for the person walking or cycling. Florida Pedestrian and Bicycle Accident Statistics Research performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that incidents between vehicles and pedestrians occur so frequently that one pedestrian dies almost every 1.6 hours here on America’s roadways. Similarly and even closer to home, an article published by the National Public Radio (NPR) in February states that out of the top ten most dangerous cities for pedestrians, an alarming eight of those are in Florida. Regarding cyclists, the Orlando Sentinel newspaper reports that Florida has the highest amount of fatalities among bicycle riders in all of America. Statistics aside, it isn’t difficult to see why it is dangerous to be a pedestrian or biker on today’s roads. In a fast-paced world, many are either driving too...
Florida Has One of the Highest Rates of Pedestrian Death
High Pedestrian Deaths in Florida Due to Car Accidents Traveling by foot is one of the most reliable albeit slowest forms of transportation available to the many denizens of Florida. Perhaps your destination is too close to justify taking a car or your vehicle may be out of commission. Regardless of why you are walking, there is a disturbingly high chance that you may be in danger of a pedestrian accident should you choose to walk along the roads of Florida. Our state has unfortunately become one of the top states when it comes to the number of pedestrians that end up in collisions with motor vehicles. Pedestrian accidents are extremely brutal events where people that otherwise may be minding their business can end up suffering severe injuries because a driver may act negligently. Seeking Compensation for Pedestrian Accidents People that find themselves involved in pedestrian accidents are likely to suffer severe injuries that can accumulate significant damages in the form of extensive medical bills, lost wages, wrongful death damages, as well as pain and suffering. All these damages and more can be compensated with a settlement attained through a pedestrian accident claim filed against whichever party’s negligence caused the accident. A pedestrian...
Risk Factors for Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian Accident Causes and Risk Factors A large portion of American pedestrian accidents occur in Florida. Car collisions with pedestrians can be extremely deadly and when someone manages to survive a pedestrian accident they seldom walk away unscathed. Pedestrian accidents cause some of the most severe injuries due to a pedestrians vulnerable body being struck by the full mass of a vehicle. With city infrastructure such as crosswalks and sidewalks in place to protect pedestrians, one may wonder what exactly can contribute to a pedestrian accident occurring. There are a few risk factors and causes of these pedestrian accidents that are much more common than others. Certain conditions can lead to pedestrians being put in danger and should be avoided if possible by those traveling by foot. Pedestrian Accidents Typically Occur at Night The most common times for pedestrian accidents to occur are at night when vehicles are much less likely to see pedestrians walking and don’t expect to see as many pedestrians walking about. Low light conditions from dusk to early morning make for a high pedestrian accident risk. Many pedestrians that walk at night do not take precautions to increase their visibility and sometimes end up wearing dark clothing...