The team of Miami injury lawyers at Brotman, Nusbaum, and Ibrahim (BNI) is uniquely qualified to represent you or those you love in cases involving pedestrian accidents. Our goal is building lasting client relationships and seeking justice. Getting results and recovering millions motivates us. That’s why when it comes to pedestrian problems, providing a risk-free, no-obligation, in-person consultation should motivate you!
As experienced Miami injury lawyers, we know that pedestrian accidents can be devastating. You can be going about your day, enjoying the summer weather one moment, and within a blink of an eye, end up with a trip to a major Miami hospital and broken bones. If you have been involved in an accident as a pedestrian, as your Miami injury lawyers, we believe that it is crucial that you know your legal rights and remedies with regard to the injuries you have sustained. It is very often the case that these types of Miami accidents result from the negligence of another motorist, often in a car or truck. Most typically, because of the size discrepancy in this case, it is the pedestrian who suffers significant injuries. It is vital, as an injured pedestrian, to contact an injury law firm like Brotman, Nusbaum, and Ibrahim immediately to seek full and complete compensation for all of your damages. We have handled hundreds of cases involving pedestrians, and we understand what is necessary to get the best results. These cases are often disputed and minimized in the eyes of the insurance companies, but you can rest assured that is not the way our injury lawyers see it, and we will fight for you.
Pedestrian injuries happen every day. Look at the news on any given day, and you will see all kinds of horrifying stories about pedestrian accidents. Pedestrian accidents know no boundaries: they happen to people of all ages, nationalities and creeds. You can’t live your life in fear, but it’s a sobering fact that loading your groceries into you car and being struck by an SUV that is backing up can land you in a hospital, in critical condition, with possible fatal injuries.
A pedestrian is a person who is walking, which they especially do in a town or city like Miami, rather than traveling in a vehicle. A pedestrian accident occurs when a pedestrian is injured by either a vehicle or property defect due to negligence. Negligence means failure to do (or not do) something to protect others from foreseeable risks. In order to establish negligence in a pedestrian accident case, the injured person (the “plaintiff”) must prove that the person at fault (the “defendant”) either:
- Owed a legal duty to the plaintiff under the circumstances;
- Failed to fulfill (“breached”) that legal duty through action or inaction;
- Caused the accident or injury involving the plaintiff; Or
- Harmed or injured the plaintiff
Whether injured by a vehicle or property defect, a pedestrian may recover damages for the injuries suffered if another person’s negligence caused or contributed to the incident. When it comes to a driver hitting pedestrians, the most common factors contributing to driver negligence are:
- A distracted driver
- Drivers speeding
- Failure to yield
- Disobeying traffic signs/signals
- Failure to signal while turning
- Lack of regard for weather or traffic conditions
- Driving “under the influence” (DUI) of drugs or alcohol
Obviously, a pedestrian must exercise “reasonable care” for his or her own safety, because contributory negligence will be assessed against a pedestrian if they failed to exercise such care; and actually may have contributed to the cause of their own injuries. When it comes to pedestrian negligence, some people make the following mistakes:
- Ignore the “walk” signal at an intersection
- Walk into traffic and disrupt the flow
- Fail to use marked crosswalks
- Dart right in front of vehicles
Human beings are complex, and more often that not, will try to avoid being “in trouble” or having to pay money in any way. If you are involved in a pedestrian accident, it is important to know that the people who may be legally responsible for your injuries might try to blame You for the accident, by claiming that your own negligence caused the accident! Yes, this really happens.
If you’ve been or will ever be involved in a pedestrian accident, it is imperative that you DO the following:
- Call the police immediately
- Absolutely DO NOT leave the scene of the accident before help arrives
- Record names and phone numbers of any and ALL witnesses
- Absolutely DO NOT make any statements to anyone – including drivers or insurers
- Immediately take care of your health. If you need help, call emergency services or have someone else call and request an ambulance. Many injuries seem minor but can portend larger troubles later so err on the side of having a physician examine you.
Have you had pedestrian accident? Our Miami injury lawyers are here for you. If you or someone you love has been in a pedestrian accident and was hurt, you may be wondering what to do next. You only have a set amount of time to bring a claim for your injuries, because of statutes of limitation. Need Legal Help? Don’t wait. Call us today. By contacting Brotman, Nusbaum, and Ibrahim (BNI), you’ll have a clearer idea of what your next steps should be, while focusing on getting your health back on track. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week!
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