Were you injured in a pedestrian accident in Sunrise?
The Andres Lopez Law Firm stands with injured pedestrians in Sunrise and pursues the recovery they are owed.
If a driver struck you while you were walking in Sunrise, arrange to be examined by a physician, retain everything you have from the scene, and consult an attorney before providing the insurance company with a recorded statement. Walking should not be hazardous, yet a person on foot has no protection when a vehicle fails to stop or yield. The injuries can be serious, and the driver’s insurer is already working to limit its payment well before you feel prepared to address it. The Sunrise, FL pedestrian accident lawyer at The Andres Lopez Law Firm has represented injured people throughout Broward County since 2009. We work on a contingency basis, the initial consultation is free, and no fee is owed unless we recover on your behalf.
Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Sunrise, FL
A pedestrian accident claim is grounded in negligence. The injured person is entitled to compensation because a driver, and at times a roadway authority or a property owner, failed to exercise reasonable care. Drivers are required to watch for people on foot, to yield at crosswalks, and to reduce speed where pedestrians are likely to be present. When a driver disregards those obligations, the person on foot is the one who is injured.
The central dispute in these cases is usually the question of fault. Insurers commonly assert that the pedestrian entered the road abruptly, crossed against the signal, or was difficult to see. As your pedestrian accident attorney, we answer those assertions with specific facts, including the crash report, the point of impact, the timing of the traffic signal, and any video that recorded the collision. Proving fault in these disputes can be difficult as the evidence frequently contradicts the account the adjuster offers at the outset. The earlier we begin to collect it, the stronger your position becomes.
The value of the claim also merits careful attention. A pedestrian thrown to the road may sustain fractures, internal injuries, or a head injury that does not become apparent for several days. We document the complete course of treatment, including the care that remains ahead, so that the claim reflects the actual harm rather than the limited impression an insurer prefers to rely on.
Types of Pedestrian Accident Cases We Handle in Sunrise
Pedestrians are injured in a number of recurring circumstances, and each one directs us toward different proof. The following are among the pedestrian accident cases our firm handles for clients in Sunrise.
- Crosswalk and intersection collisions. A turning driver frequently fails to yield to a pedestrian who has the right of way. We compare the signal phases with witness accounts as our team is experienced in handling how crosswalk and jaywalking cases are treated under Florida law.
- Parking lot and backing collisions. A driver who reverses without checking can knock a pedestrian to the ground at low speed and still cause a serious injury. These collisions are common in busy lots and garages.
- Collisions in low light. Many of these collisions occur at dusk or after dark, when a driver sees less and reacts late. Fault generally remains with the driver as a collision after dark does not shift blame to the person on foot.
- School zone collisions. Drivers who speed near schools or disregard crossing guards place children at risk in school zone crashes.
- Hit-and-run collisions. When a driver leaves the scene, we pursue uninsured motorist coverage and review nearby cameras in an effort to locate a source of recovery and identify the vehicle.
- Transit and bus-stop collisions. People crossing to reach a bus are exposed to turning and passing traffic, and these claims can involve more than one responsible party.
The harm from these collisions can persist for years, and some of our clients continue to manage catastrophic injuries well after the event. When one driver is responsible, the claim often resembles an ordinary car accident matter, with the same questions of coverage to resolve.
Why Choose The Andres Lopez Law Firm as my Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Sunrise, FL?
A Firm That Tries Cases Rather Than Simply Settling Them
Adjusters offer more when they believe a plaintiff will follow through. We prepare every case for trial and take it there when an offer is inadequate, and that readiness changes the nature of the discussion. Our personal injury lawyer in Sunrise, FL handles each matter with that approach from the beginning.
Andres Lopez has concentrated on personal injury law in Florida since 2009 and earned his law degree from the University of Maryland. He is licensed in Florida and Maryland and admitted before the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. His peers recognized him as a Florida Rising Star through Super Lawyers in 2015 and 2016, and he is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Local Knowledge and No Cost to Begin
Sunrise includes a number of wide, fast roads and busy commercial corridors where pedestrian collisions occur, and we understand how Broward juries evaluate these claims. For injured clients across the region, our firm has recovered millions of dollars for clients. We require no payment in advance, the consultation is free, and we provide services in Spanish.
Understanding Pedestrian Accident Cases
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Cases
Liability rests on negligence, which requires showing that a driver owed a duty of care, breached it, and caused the injury. Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence standard, a partially at-fault pedestrian may still recover, with the award reduced by that person’s share, unless the share exceeds fifty percent. Because insurers use that rule to attribute fault to the pedestrian, the evidence gathered early is significant. Compensation in a pedestrian accident claim can include the following:
- Past and future medical care, including surgery and rehabilitation
- Income lost and a reduced capacity to earn over time
- Physical pain, emotional distress, and the related harm that follows
- Long-term care for permanent injuries
A pedestrian struck by a vehicle frequently requires far more treatment than the initial hospital visit suggests, and we account for that future care when we value the claim.
What Are Important Aspects of a Pedestrian Accident Case?
A strong claim depends on records collected before they are lost. Several items carry the greatest weight:
- The crash report and the responding officer’s notes
- Medical records that tie each injury to the collision without unexplained gaps in care
- Photographs of the scene, the vehicle, the crossing, and the injuries
Careful documentation protects the value of the claim, and we help clients preserve it before video is overwritten and recollections fade.
What Is the Pedestrian Accident Case Timeline?
Each claim is different, although most proceed through the same stages. The general course is set out below.
- We collect records and evidence while you receive treatment
- We send a demand to the insurer after your condition has stabilized
- Negotiation follows, and the insurer may dispute fault or the claim’s value
- We bring a lawsuit if the offer remains unreasonable
- Discovery, mediation, and trial come next when no fair settlement is reached
What Should You Bring to Your Pedestrian Accident Consultation?
The more documentation you provide, the sharper our advice can be. Bringing the following will help our review:
- Any crash report or police paperwork you received
- Photographs along with the names of any witnesses
- Medical bills and records, plus a list of your treating providers
- Your insurance information and the driver’s, when it is available
You should expect a direct discussion of your claim and the steps ahead. We will tell you honestly whether we are able to assist you.
What Are Important Florida Legal Resources for Pedestrian Accident Cases?
The public sources below let you review the rules and the crash data behind a Florida pedestrian accident claim.
- The statute of limitations at section 95.11 fixes the deadline for most injury lawsuits at two years for negligence claims that accrued on or after March 24, 2023.
- Florida’s allocation of shared fault is governed by the comparative fault statute.
- National patterns in pedestrian injuries and collisions appear in the NHTSA pedestrian data.
- Details on Florida crash records and how to request them appear on the state crash records page.
- Because head injuries are frequent in these collisions, the CDC brain injury data explains how they are measured.
Reach Out to The Andres Lopez Law Firm to Schedule a Consultation
Being struck while walking can leave you injured, anxious, and unsure of what comes next. We can review your rights and offer an assessment of what the claim may be worth, at no cost and with no fee unless we recover. Before you decide anything, we will explain what to expect. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a Sunrise pedestrian accident lawyer who handles serious-injury matters.