New Port Richey Pedestrian Accident Injury Lawyers

As a pedestrian, you should be able to go for a walk without the fear of being struck by a driver. Sadly, pedestrian accidents do happen and when they do, the injuries sustained are usually severe. Pedestrian accident injuries can vary from broken bones to traumatic brain injuries or even death.

If you or someone you care for has been harmed in a pedestrian accident in New Port Richey, then you want to take legal action right away. Call our New Port Richey Pedestrian Accident Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton at 727-847-2299 or contact us online 24/7. We will begin investigating the cause of your accident promptly and work aggressively towards getting you the full and fair financial compensation you deserve.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents happen for a variety of different reasons. Most of the pedestrian accidents that we deal with regularly stem from one of the following incidents:

• Distracted Drivers: Truth be told, most drivers just do not pay attention to the task of driving when they are behind the wheel. We are all probably guilty of this at some point or another, but fiddling with radio dials, applying makeup, texting or talking on the phone, eating, or looking at GPS are all dangerous behaviors that take our attention away from the road, and anyone who may be crossing it.
• Parking Lots: Walking through a parking lot can be quite dangerous as you have cars coming from all directions backing in and out of parking spaces. Small children, the elderly, and drivers who aren’t paying attention are a recipe for disaster.
• Texting Drivers: This certainly falls into the distracted driver category, but worth mentioning again. Florida Statutes allows law enforcement to stop motor vehicles and issue citations to motorists that are texting and driving. A person may not operate a motor vehicle while manually typing or entering multiple letters, numbers or symbols into a wireless communications device to text, email and instant message. Regardless of the law, this does not stop motorists from engaging in these behaviors.
• Speeding Drivers: Many motorists strike unsuspecting pedestrians simply because they are going too fast. Drivers who are speeding do not have time to slow down for crosswalks, or they may veer into the road because of their excess speed. Speeding drivers must be held accountable for their recklessness.
• Drunk Drivers: This has been a decades-long problem. Even so, drivers still place others in danger everyday when they choose to drink and drive. Pedestrian accidents that result because of a drunk driver often end in serious injuries or death. We know how to handle these serious cases and recover appropriate compensation for the victim.

Victims of Pedestrian Accidents: What Should I Do?

If a driver hits you while you are walking, then these are the steps our New Port Richey Pedestrian Accident Injury Attorneys recommend taking (if at all possible):

• Get Medical Attention Right Away: Call 911 and get examined by a doctor. You may have serious life threatening injuries.
• Get Police to the Accident Scene: Police need to get to the scene and investigate so that an accident report can be generated. The at-fault driver may later try to place blame on you or deny they did anything wrong. Having an official accident report will help back up your version of events.
• Get the Driver’s Information: You want to get the driver’s name, address, license plate number, driver’s license number, and insurance information.
• Get any Witness Information: If someone saw your accident, then get police to speak to them so that they can take notes on what the person saw. It is a good idea to also get their full name, address and phone number in case you need to get in touch with them in the future.
• Photograph the Scene: Your memories can fade, so take pictures of the crash site and anything else that could help build a strong case, like your physical injuries, damage to the vehicle, crosswalk signs, stops signs or traffic signals, etc.
• Follow Up with Your Doctor: You want to follow your doctor’s orders, so keep seeing them and follow their advice.
• Get in Touch with Your Insurance Company: You can let them know you were harmed in a pedestrian accident, but DO NOT answer any questions. Tell the insurance adjuster that you have a lawyer and direct any questions to them.
• Contact Whittel & Melton: We have years of experience handling pedestrian accident cases in New Port Richey and throughout the state of Florida. We know how to negotiate with the insurance companies to get you top dollar for your injuries. We will never let you settle for low ball offers that won’t cover the full scope of your injuries. Call us now at 727-847-2299 or contact us online 24/7. We will provide you with a free consultation and help you understand what steps to take next.