Key Takeaways
- A free case evaluation at Justin C. Johnson & Associates helps you understand your rights under Florida law, explore your options, and learn about the next steps, all at no upfront cost.
- After a pedestrian accident, it’s important to get medical care within 14 days to ensure PIP coverage, file a police report, preserve any evidence, and contact the firm quickly to protect your claim.
- St. Petersburg, Florida, our firm is a dedicated trial-ready team with over 25 years of experience, top professional ratings, and contingency-fee arrangements. They’ve successfully recovered results up to $15,000,000.
- Florida law outlines the responsibilities of both drivers and pedestrians, and there’s a 2-year deadline to file a claim. The firm can help you navigate insurer issues, gather evidence, and handle hit-and-run cases to get you the full compensation you deserve.
Know your rights after a Florida pedestrian crash
Yes, your free case evaluation with Justin C. Johnson & Associates starts the path to answers and a plan. In your first call, we listen, outline options, and explain what Florida law means for your claim. You leave with clear next steps and no upfront cost.
Our St. Petersburg team has spent more than 25 years helping injured people across Florida, pairing trial strength with caring service and securing real payments for clients. We are honored that 95% of our work comes from client referrals.
Why Your Free Case Evaluation Is Important
A free case evaluation is extremely helpful in learning about your legal circumstances without financial obligation or risk. In fact, during a case evaluation, we promptly go over with you all the information regarding your vehicle accident, including details of the crash, injuries, insurance policies, and looming deadlines.
We also explain how evidence related to your case is preserved for later use, how medical bills will be handled, and how they will be integrated into your claim. We provide an idea of the possible settlement ranges you might receive based on similar cases under Florida law and the facts you provide.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit?
That’s a great question, and the short answer is yes: hiring a lawyer will greatly help, especially if you need assistance handling insurance companies, meeting deadlines, and gathering vital evidence.
The attorney will take over all the work of getting video footage of the accident, interviewing witnesses, gathering your medical records, and pressing insurance companies for full payment of what you deserve. If your case goes to trial, our legal team is fully prepared to represent your interests in court and achieve the best possible outcome.
Legal Assistance After Getting Hit as a Pedestrian
If you have been struck by a vehicle while walking, seeking legal assistance will help to protect your rights and get the support you need for your injuries. Your priorities should be obtaining medical care, reporting the accident to the authorities by filing a crash report, and calling our office without delay for guidance.
In Florida, PIP insurance helps to cover early medical expenses if you seek treatment within 14 days of an accident. It usually covers up to 80% of reasonable medical costs, subject to the limits of your policy. Understand how this applies when a vehicle hits a pedestrian and interacts with your insurance claim or lawsuit.
Legal Recourse When Driver Flees the Scene
Sometimes, a driver in an accident may flee the scene without stopping; this is often referred to as a hit-and-run. Irrespective of that, you may still pursue your rights and damages through legal action. According to Florida law, drivers in any accidents resulting in injury or death have a legal duty to stop at the scene of the crash, remain there, and render reasonable assistance to anyone injured.
It is a serious crime to leave the scene in such circumstances, with much heavier penalties if the injuries are grave or someone has been killed. We identify responsible drivers promptly by reviewing traffic camera footage and other options to prevent you from bearing the financial burden, including uninsured motorist coverage.
What Florida Law Says About Pedestrians and Drivers
Florida law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop to allow them to pass. Pedestrians may not suddenly step off the curb or enter into the path of oncoming traffic so that the driver can’t yield. When sidewalks are provided, pedestrians must use them.
When sidewalks are absent, pedestrians must walk on the left shoulder of the road facing traffic to see oncoming traffic. These rules become significant because they determine who is at fault in the case of an accident and are considered essential for making claims to garner full compensation for any injury caused.
Deadlines to File a Claim in Florida
Generally, you have up to two years from the date of the injury or accident in Florida to file a legal claim for negligence, with most pedestrian accident claims being included. You risk losing the right to pursue compensation if you wait too long, since evidence may be lost or forgotten.
It is quite important to protect your chances of a successful claim by reaching out to a legal professional early on, to gather crucial evidence and make sure your claim is filed well before any legal deadline set forth by Florida law.
What Compensation Can Cover
Compensation provided in pedestrian accident cases can take care of a wide range of costs and losses. This includes medical bills for treatments and surgeries, as well as expenses for any necessary future medical care. It can also replace wages lost while you are unable to work, compensate for a reduced ability to earn in the future, and provide compensation for pain, suffering, and emotional distress.
In cases of wrongful death, the family can expect support for the loss of a loved one. Awarding amounts depend on the severity of injuries, recovery time, and how the accident has affected your daily life and your ability to function.
Why Choose Justin C. Johnson & Associates
Choose Justin C. Johnson & Associates because we are a local law firm with an extensive history of success, backed by decades of proven results. Our group holds the highest rating from Martindale-Hubbell for both legal ability and ethical standards, a testament to our professionalism and commitment.
We have been named Super Lawyers year after year, a reflection of our continued legal excellence. With offices in St. Petersburg, Florida, we represent clients throughout the state. Contingent fees mean that you owe us nothing unless we recover money for you.
Trial-Ready Team with a Track Record of Real Results
Our team prepares every case for trial, and this often leads to stronger negotiations and better settlement offers for our clients. We have attained numerous significant payments on behalf of our clients in the form of actual settlements and verdicts, up to $15,000,000.
Many of our cases result in recoveries of seven figures or more, and even eight-figure recoveries. Please note that in Florida, most legal cases settle with monetary awards, and about 95% of the cases in our practice are resolved for amounts ranging from $50,000 to $750,000.
Client-First Communication
We keep you updated, answer questions, and guide choices at each step. It is one reason referrals make up 95% of our cases, and why clients return to us and recommend us to family and friends.
What To Do After A Pedestrian Crash
- Do these steps as soon as you can to protect your health and claim.
- Get medical care right away and follow up as advised.
- Call the police so the incident is documented.
- Save photos, video, and names of witnesses if possible.
- Call our office before speaking with any insurer.
How Insurance Works For Pedestrian Crashes
Understanding how insurance works in the event of a pedestrian crash can be complicated, but we’re here to make it simpler. If you’re hit by a vehicle and need medical care, personal injury protection (PIP) may help cover your initial medical expenses, especially if you seek treatment within 14 days of the accident.
Besides PIP, we check whether the driver’s bodily injury or uninsured motorist coverage can cover your medical bills, and we consider other coverage, such as premises coverage, if a property hazard contributed to the crash. Our main goal is to organize all your available insurance options and coverage, making sure we pursue every possible dollar to help cover your costs after a pedestrian accident.
Why Acting Quickly Helps Your Case
Taking prompt action is essential in legal matters because certain types of evidence can quickly become unavailable or disappear. For example, camera footage might be deleted or overwritten if not preserved early on. Witnesses can become hard to find over time, making their testimony harder to obtain. Acting swiftly helps ensure that substantial evidence is collected and preserved before it is lost.
By acting quickly, you can strengthen your case by securing critical proof right away. This can also increase your chances of recovering the maximum compensation available under Florida law. Early action enables us to request, collect, and secure key records and evidence efficiently, helping build a solid case from the start.
How We Are Paid
Our firm works on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t have to pay anything up front or out of pocket. Instead, our payment is contingent upon our successfully recovering compensation for you. If we win your case or settle your claim, we take a percentage of the awarded amount as our fee.
If we do not recover any compensation, you owe us nothing. This fee structure aligns our interests with yours. We are motivated to maximize your recovery and provide you with the best possible legal representation.
Free Case Evaluation - Justin C. Johnson & Associates
If you’re facing a legal issue or case and need some help, don’t hesitate to reach out to Justin C. Johnson & Associates today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Our caring and experienced legal team is here to listen to your concerns, offer guidance, and explore your options with you.
Feel free to call us anytime to speak with our friendly attorneys or staff. No upfront costs or hidden fees, so there’s nothing to lose by reaching out. We’re here to support you during this tough time. Contact us today for your free evaluation and take the first step toward resolving your legal matter.
FAQs
1. How soon should I call a lawyer after a pedestrian crash?
Call right away. Early help protects evidence, meets deadlines, and sets up medical and insurance steps the right way.
2. What if the driver left the scene?
We can still pursue compensation. Florida treats leaving the scene with injury or death as a crime, and we use every legal option to recover for you.
3. Will insurance cover my medical bills if I were walking?
Personal injury protection may apply when a motor vehicle hits a pedestrian, but you must get initial care within 14 days for benefits.
4. Who decides fault in a pedestrian crash?
Florida law sets rules for drivers and pedestrians at crosswalks and roads. Evidence and these rules guide fault decisions and settlement talks.
5. How much does it cost to hire your firm?
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency and only get paid if we recover money for you.