Florida Pedestrian Accident Lawyer: Woman, 62, Killed After Walking into Path of Pasco County Sheriff’s Vehicle on U.S. 19

July 15, 2019

A 62-year-old woman was killed Wednesday night after walking into the path of a Pasco County Sheriff’s Office vehicle while she crossed U.S. 19, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The Port Richey woman was hit at about 9 p.m. as she walked across the highway near the intersection of Johnson Road, the Highway Patrol said. She walked right into the path of an unmarked 2015 Dodge Charger, troopers said.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The vehicle was being driven by a 29-year-old deputy who was on duty at the time. He will be placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the Highway Patrol investigation, said a sheriff’s spokesman.

The Highway Patrol said no charges are pending against the deputy.

The man is an Army veteran who started working for the Sheriff’s Office in 2013. His personnel record shows he has not been subject to any disciplinary actions.

There are numerous vessels that utilize Pasco County’s busy streets: cars, trucks, bicyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians, among others. It is everyone’s responsibility to behave legally and safely and share the roadways.

One of the more common types of cases our Pasco County Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton handle are collisions between cars and pedestrians. When a negligent driver hits an innocent pedestrian, the resulting injuries are usually catastrophic, if not deadly. Our experienced injury lawyers can help you and your family pursue justice and financial compensation if you or a family member was hit while legally walking on or along a roadway.

While our Pasco County Injury Attorneys have seen a lot of these accidents, we can attest that the main cause for most of them is negligence. To be clear, pedestrians aren’t always blameless, but many automobile drivers do struggle to maneuver their vehicles safely around pedestrians.

The most common causes of these accidents are:

• Drunk drivers
• Drivers running red lights and striking pedestrians in the crosswalk
• Drivers executing right turns through crosswalks without looking for pedestrians
• Distracted driving, including driving while texting, talking, etc.
• Speeding drivers
• Pedestrians lack of visibility

In a collision between a motor vehicle and a pedestrian, the results are almost always inevitable. Pedestrians lack the same protections as a car, truck, or SUV, so they are at the mercy of the vehicle operator. As a result, the injuries that result from these accidents are both severe and one-sided.

The seriousness of a pedestrian’s injuries can vary depending on a number of factors including the speed of the vehicle, the angle of impact, and the body part first struck. In most pedestrian collisions involving adults, the vehicle will typically hit the legs of the pedestrian first, causing them to be pushed forward and the upper body and head to strike the car windshield or hood. If the accident occurs at higher speeds, the pedestrian may be tossed into the air onto the car hood or thrown onto the ground, causing secondary impacts.

Our Pasco County Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton have helped pedestrians who have suffered:

• Broken bones
• Spinal cord injuries
• Brain injuries
• Musculoskeletal injuries
• Amputations
• Head trauma
• Leg injuries
• Pelvic injuries
• Knee injuries
• Torn ligaments

These types of injuries cause long-term pain and suffering as well as hefty medical expenses. A personal injury lawsuit can help you handle the heavy financial burden brought on by the driver’s negligence, making it easier for you to focus on recovering. A pedestrian accident can involve a lengthy recovery period and leave a person unable to work for months, while medical bills, and others, keep piling up. The most severe injuries may leave a pedestrian accident victim unable to return to work permanently.

At Whittel & Melton, our Pasco County Injury Attorneys help pedestrians who have been hurt in automobile accidents caused by motor vehicle drivers. When you meet with us for a completely free consultation, we will go over every detail of your case so that we can make sure you understand all of your legal options. We help injury victims in New Port Richey, Dade City, Zephyrhills, Land O’Lakes, Hudson, Holiday, Lutz, Trinity and Wesley Chapel. If we accept your pedestrian accident case, we will handle it on a contingency basis, which means you will not owe any upfront costs.

Regardless of whether your pedestrian accident was caused by a drunk driver, a distracted driver, a driver who was speeding or breaking traffic laws, or someone who just did not exercise enough caution, we will be the dedicated advocates for you working to achieve financial justice on your behalf.