Were you recently hit by a car while walking in Lakeland, Florida? At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, our Lakeland pedestrian accident lawyers are ready to help you fight for your compensation for the costs of your medical bills, lost wages, and suffering. We’ve successfully won millions in jury awards and settlements. We offer a free consultation and can be reached anytime at (863) 251-6196.
Since 2001, we’ve dedicated our careers to helping injured clients stand up to insurance companies, corporations, and other powerful defendants.
Bringing decades of experience and a reputation for no-nonsense approaches to litigation, we’ve successfully won millions in jury awards and settlements for injury cases just like yours, such as car accidents, wrongful death cases in Lakeland, dog bites, bicycle accidents, and more.
We’ll fight to get the financial accountability you deserve. Contact our law office in Lakeland, FL, to learn more about how we can help you get through this tough time.
How Our Lakeland Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With Your Pedestrian Accident Case
Getting compensation after you were hit by a car in Lakeland is often easier said than done. Negligent motorists and other liable parties won’t be quick to accept responsibility. Insurance companies will fight your tooth and nail as you see compensation that’s rightfully yours.
You’ll need to be aggressive in your pursuit of compensation if you want to get the money you deserve. That’s where our Lakeland personal injury attorneys can help.
At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, we go toe to toe with heavily funded corporations and powerful adversaries on behalf of our clients every day. We get top results in the process.
We also strive to help our clients move forward through an incredibly difficult time in their life in any way we can. It’s why our client satisfaction is second to none.
By hiring our law firm to represent you after a pedestrian accident, you put your case in experienced hands and give yourself the opportunity to recover.
As we navigate your case, our respected legal team will:
- Oversee a thorough investigation of your accident
- Determine why it happened, who’s at fault, and who’s liable for your resulting injuries
- Obtain evidence that can be used to build and support a successful claim for damages
- Defend you against tactics designed to shift fault and limit your financial award
- Aggressively negotiate with the insurer and other parties
- Offer guidance when you are asked to make important decisions about the future of your pedestrian accident case
If the insurance company rejects your claim or if you aren’t offered a reasonable settlement, our Florida trial attorneys will be fully prepared to argue your side of the story in court. We are experienced and successful negotiators but truly thrive in front of a jury. Our reputation can help you expedite the claims process and help you walk away with the financial award you genuinely deserve.
Give our legal team in Lakeland, Florida, a call to learn more. Your first case evaluation is free.
How Common Are Pedestrian Accidents in Lakeland, Florida?
Polk County – home of Lakeland, Florida – sees hundreds of pedestrian accidents annually. In 2021, 335 pedestrian accidents were recorded in Lakeland and surrounding towns. No fewer than 27 people were killed in these serious traffic accidents.
That means there are just three days a month in which pedestrians are not involved in car accidents in Polk County.
Why Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen?
Pedestrian accidents in Lakeland are largely avoidable. They simply shouldn’t happen. Unfortunately, pedestrians tend to get hurt when other people are negligent.
Negligence refers to a failure to exercise reasonable care, which, in turn, causes another person to get hurt.
Common examples of negligent behavior or actions that contribute to pedestrian accidents in Lakeland include:
- Failing to look for pedestrians in an intersection or crosswalk
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Lack of knowledge of Lakeland traffic laws
- Rolling stops
- Attempting to beat a red or yellow light at an intersection
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Texting and driving
- Other types of driver distraction
- Unsafe and illegal turns
- Driving in prohibited areas
- Fatigued driving
- Road rage
- Negligent vehicle maintenance
Factors like route defects, vehicle defects, limited visibility due to bad weather conditions, and more can also contribute to situations where a pedestrian is more likely to be involved in an accident.
How Much Money Can I Recover in a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit?
There’s no standard settlement or value for pedestrian accident claims in Florida. The amount of money you can receive is directly associated with the details and specifics of your situation.
Ultimately, several factors will play an important role in the valuation process.
- What types of injuries did you suffer when you were hit by the car?
- Are your injuries catastrophic?
- Are you still able to work?
- If so, how has your earning capacity changed?
- Has your pedestrian accident caused a permanent impairment or disability?
- How old are you?
- Did you take proper steps to mitigate your injuries?
- Are you partly to blame for your pedestrian accident?
- What kind of emotional and psychological toll has the accident taken?
You can generally expect cases involving catastrophic injuries to be worth more than others. However, every situation is unique. The best thing you can do is speak with an experienced Lakeland car accident attorney near you as soon as you can after your pedestrian accident. Call Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers for immediate assistance today.
What Types of Damages Are Awarded to Injured Pedestrians in Florida?
In Florida, injured pedestrians can seek economic damages and non-economic damages after an auto accident.
Economic damages make victims financially whole, while non-economic damages help to offset the hard-to-value trauma many victims experience.
Collectively, these are known as compensatory damages, and can include money for:
- Present and future costs of medical treatment
- Physical therapy
- Nursing assistance
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Lost job opportunities and benefits
- Related out-of-pocket costs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- PTSD
- Scarring
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of quality of life
Clear and convincing evidence that a defendant acted intentionally or with gross negligence can also result in an award of punitive damages, as well.
However, punitive awards are reserved for the most serious situations, such as in cases where a pedestrian is struck by an extremely drunk driver or runoff the road intentionally.
Who’s Liable for My Pedestrian Accident Injuries?
Under Florida state law, liability extends to anyone who contributes to a pedestrian accident.
Pending the results of an investigation, liable parties might include:
- Negligent motorists
- Other pedestrians
- Bicyclists
- Uber and Lyft drivers
- Employers of at-fault parties
- Property owners
- Vehicle manufacturers
The top-rated Lakeland pedestrian accident attorneys at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers will carefully investigate your case and work to identify anyone who directly or indirectly caused you to get hurt. Once fault is established, we can aggressively pursue monetary damages on your behalf.
How Does Shared Fault Affect My Pedestrian Injury Claim?
Sometimes pedestrians share responsibility for the traffic accidents in which they are involved. An increasing number of pedestrians are texting while walking. Others decide to cross the street somewhere other than a marked crosswalk.
Other times, pedestrians are blamed for their accidents simply because at-fault parties don’t want to accept financial responsibility for the resulting consequences.
Either way, shared fault can absolutely affect your ability to recover compensation after a pedestrian accident in Lakeland.
Florida is a modified comparative negligence state. Damages are proportionately reduced based on an individual’s degree of fault. Sharing 15% of the blame for a pedestrian accident will result in a 15% reduction in damages. However, sharing more than 50% of the fault for the accident will be a bar to recovering damages.
Insurance companies may point fingers and attempt to shift blame to you to limit their own liability. It’s important to be prepared for this and ready to fight back. One of the best things you can do is hire an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer near you in Lakeland right away.
What Types of Injuries Do Pedestrians Suffer in Lakeland Car Accidents?
Pedestrians don’t have the protection of a large steel frame, helmet, or other safety equipment. In an accident with a motor vehicle, they are susceptible to severe and catastrophic trauma.
At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, we represent pedestrians who have sustained:
- Broken bones
- Head injury
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injury
- Back injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Nerve damage
- Crushing injury
- Amputation
- Burn injury
- Cuts and lacerations
- Sprains and strains
- Knee injury, hip injury, shoulder injury, and other joint injuries
If a family member has been killed in a fatal pedestrian accident in Lakeland, our wrongful death attorneys will be there to help you navigate this incredibly trying time.
Do not hesitate to reach out to our law office for help once you have sought medical care at an emergency room or hospital in Lakeland.
When Should I File a Lawsuit if I’ve Been Injured as a Pedestrian in Lakeland, Florida?
You will have two years from the date of your pedestrian accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Lakeland, Florida. If your accident occurred before 3/24/2023, the passage date of a major Florida tort reform law, you may have four years to file your claim.
Even though four years might seem like a lot of time, it’s important to act quickly after your pedestrian accident. Once the deadline expires, you will have lost the opportunity to assert your rights and pursue financial justice.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Experienced Lakeland Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
Depending on the extent of your injuries, you could be faced with tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in related costs and losses. You don’t need to struggle with the consequences of your pedestrian accident on your own. Call Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, and let our Lakeland pedestrian accident lawyers help you make things right.
With millions of dollars in successful results and an aggressive approach to litigation, we are the legal team you’ll want in your corner for this fight.
Contact us and speak with a member of our legal team to learn more. We offer a free initial case evaluation, so reach out for assistance today.
Our personal injury law firm in Lakeland, FL, also provides:
- Lakeland Bicycle Accident Lawyers
- Brain Injury Accident Attorneys In Lakeland, FL
- Car Accident Attorneys in Lakeland, FL
- Lakeland Construction Accident Attorney
- Dog Bite Accident Lawyers in Lakeland, FL
- Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Lakeland, FL
- Motorcycle Accidents Attorneys in Lakeland, FL
- Premises Liability Attorney in Lakeland, FL
- Lakeland Product Liability Lawyer
- Slip & Fall Lawyers In Lakeland, FL
- Truck Accident Attorneys in Lakeland, FL
- Lakeland Uber Accident Lawyers
- Workplace Accident Attorney In Lakeland
- Wrongful Death Lawyers In Lakeland
Visit Our Law Office In Lakeland, FL
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyer – Lakeland
1543 Lakeland Hills Blvd #18
Lakeland, FL 33805, USA
Phone: (863) 251-6196
Hours: Open 24 Hours Daily