A pedestrian accident in West Palm Beach can happen in the blink of an eye. After being struck by a moving vehicle, you could have injuries that affect you for the rest of your life. In situations like these, you have legal options, and our West Palm Beach pedestrian accident attorneys are here to help you navigate the legal system.
At GED Lawyers, our West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers understand Florida’s legal system inside and out, and we’ve recovered millions for injured claimants just like you. Don’t try to “tough out” this challenging period alone. Instead, entrust your pedestrian accident case to our legal team and focus instead on your health. We offer free consultations where you can learn more. Contact us today.
Will PIP Cover Your Losses After a Pedestrian Accident in West Palm Beach?
Florida’s no-fault insurance system means that in most cases, car accident victims must turn to their personal injury protection (PIP) for medical coverage. If you have PIP, you can also file a claim as an injured pedestrian. However, PIP’s basic coverage doesn’t account for everything, and given the severity of your injuries, you may also need to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurer to cover all your losses.
We handle all aspects of your insurance claim, from its initial filing to the distribution of your settlement proceeds. Our personal injury lawyers shield you from bad-faith insurance practices, keep you updated on your case’s progression, and do everything possible to bring your case to a fair conclusion.
We offer evening and weekend appointm so that, so we can fit into your schedule. If you’re worried about the legal process, we offer mock trials to prepare you for anything that might happen.
With GED Lawyers, you get something that many pedestrian accident claimants don’t: peace of mind and the ability to focus on your recovery instead of your legal situation. Throughout our partnership, you can breathe easily, knowing that we’re putting your needs first and always fighting for what you and your family deserve.
Our West Palm Beach Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Seek Maximum Compensation for Your Injuries and Losses
GED Lawyers routinely secures compensation for claimants suffering from these severe injuries that a pedestrian accident can cause:
- Broken bones
- Head, neck, and shoulder injuries
- Lacerations and avulsions
- Facial and dental injuries
- The loss of one or more limbs
- Spinal cord trauma
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
To us, financial compensation represents more than money. It symbolizes holding another party accountable for their wrongful actions. Our West Palm Beach pedestrian accident attorneys fight to secure financial recovery that accounts for your:
- Emergency transportation costs
- Emergency medical treatment
- Surgeries
- Hospitalizations
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Medications, mobility aids, and medical equipment
- Long-term nursing
- Lost wages, earnings, and benefits
- Lost future income and reduced earning capabilities
- Household services
- Physical pain and suffering
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Diminished quality of life
If you lost a loved one to a fatal pedestrian accident in West Palm Beach, our West Palm Beach wrongful death attorneys can seek compensation for your loved one’s funeral and burial expenses, prior medical bills, lost household support, loss of consortium, and other out-of-pocket expenses.
Our West Palm Beach Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Prove Negligence
To recover compensation for your past, present, and future losses, we must learn who caused the accident and how. This information allows us to determine who is liable for your losses. We may find that one or more of the following factors contributed to your accident and injuries:
- Speeding or driving too fast for current conditions
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Failure to yield in a crosswalk
- Failure to stop at a red light or stop sign
- Distracted driving
- Texting and driving
- Reckless or aggressive driving
- Making an improper turn
What is Negligence in a Legal Case?
Negligence is defined by four key elements that your lawyer must demonstrate. These four elements include the following:
- The at-fault party owed the victim a duty of care. For example, a driver must follow traffic laws to keep others on the road safe.
- They breached their duty of care. For example, they were speeding.
- This breach caused the accident. Continuing the example, the at-fault party was speeding and unable to come to a full stop while you were in the crosswalk, hitting you and causing your injuries.
- The breach directly caused your losses. Your lawyer may use your medical records to show the severity of the injuries you suffered during the accident, financial statements for the income you have lost, and expert testimony on your recovery and prospects.
We Will Prove a Negligent Motorist is Liable for Your Injuries
Our car accident lawyers will use their legal knowledge and years of experience to prove that negligence led to your accident. Negligence requires showing that because a motorist acted carelessly or recklessly, they caused your accident and your resulting losses.
We will collect the needed evidence to prove negligence, which may include:
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Eyewitness accounts
- Cell phone, surveillance, or dashcam footage
- Crash debris and photographs from the scene
- Testimony from doctors, crash reconstruction experts, and other specialists
If you have any documentation that could support your case, share those details with your lawyer. The more information we have, the stronger your claim.
You have a Limited Time to Pursue Your Pedestrian Accident Case in West Palm Beach
Personal injury claimants in Florida typically have two years to file their personal injury lawsuits. If you don’t act within this period, you could lose the right to seek damages, even if you have a compelling case.
Don’t lose the right to seek damages. Instead, entrust your case to the legal team at GED Lawyers. From the moment you hire us, we start gathering the evidence needed to prove your case. We also comply with all case-related deadlines. Contact us to get started right away.
Modified Comparative Negligence and Your West Palm Beach Pedestrian Accident Case
Florida is a modified comparative negligence state. Under this legal doctrine, injury victims can pursue compensation as long as they are 50% or less at fault. However, your degree of fault reduces the amount of recoverable compensation. For example, if you are deemed 15% at fault for the pedestrian accident, then you can only recover 85% of your losses.
While this law enables victims to pursue compensation, it can also be used unfairly by insurance companies. They may try to shift blame onto you or argue that you held a higher percentage of blame so that they can offer a lower settlement or deny your claim completely.
One of our West Palm Beach pedestrian accident lawyers will combat these questionable tactics with evidence that establishes the negligence of the other party.
What Should You Do After a Pedestrian Accident in West Palm Beach?
After your collision, the most important thing you can do is to seek medical attention. Visiting a doctor can prevent your condition from worsening and put you on the road to reaching maximum recovery. From a legal perspective, we can also use your medical records, imaging scans, and doctor’s testimony to bolster your claim.
In addition to seeking medical care, here are some other steps that can be helpful for protecting your legal rights after a pedestrian accident occurs:
Call the Police to Report the Accident
Officers from the West Palm Beach Police Department can secure the accident scene as soon as they arrive, which will help ensure the safety of everyone involved. They will also create a police report, which can provide vital information for a pedestrian accident claim. The police report contains their observations of the accident, contact and insurance information on the parties involved, and either witness statements or contact information for witnesses.
Document the Accident
If it is possible for you to do so, it can be helpful to take photographs of the accident scene and your visible injuries. If you are unable to do so, your lawyer will move quickly to gather evidence as well.
In addition to photos and videos, you can keep a journal of your recovery.
Only Speak to Insurance Adjusters if Your Lawyer is Present
Insurance adjusters may try to visit you when you are in the hospital or recovering at home. They may ask leading questions or try to get you to admit fault. Having a lawyer present during these conversations can ensure that your legal rights are preserved. If you speak to a claims adjuster without a lawyer present, only state direct facts. Avoid hypothesizing about what happened, and never say sorry or take the blame for any part of the accident.
Affording a West Palm Beach Pedestrian Accident Attorney
After an accident, your medical bills can quickly become overwhelming. You may feel like you are already struggling enough financially, and adding the cost of a lawyer would completely sink you. However, we believe that everyone should be able to access dedicated legal representation after an injury.
Our personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you only pay us if we win. There are no upfront fees, and your initial consultation is completely free of cost and obligation.
What if Insurance Denies Your Pedestrian Accident Claim or Offers a Low Settlement?
Our lawyers will be there for you. Insurance companies are required to give a reason for denying your claim. We will file an appeal and ensure that we are directly responding to the reason for the denial. For example, if the insurer claims there wasn’t enough evidence, we will do a thorough investigation and may consult additional experts, such as medical professionals or accident reconstruction specialists, to strengthen your claim.
If an insurance provider offers a lower settlement than meets your needs, you do not have to accept it. In fact, many first offers are low offers. Once you have formally rejected the offer, we will re-enter negotiations with the insurer. If we are unable to reach a fair settlement or it seems like going to court is the best option for obtaining fair compensation, we will be prepared to take your case to trial.
Contact GED Lawyers About Your Pedestrian Accident Case in West Palm Beach
GED Lawyers is a personal injury law firm dedicated to protecting your rights. We never let insurance companies or opposing counsel intimidate or push our clients around. Our lawyers will fight for full and fair compensation for your pedestrian accident injury. You have our word that we don’t back down from tough legal battles, and our West Palm Beach pedestrian accident attorneys remain by your side at each phase of the claims process.
Contact our legal team today to begin a risk-free, no-cost consultation and learn more about how we can manage your case. Our no-fee guarantee means we don’t get paid unless we obtain compensation for you.
