If you were struck by a vehicle while walking in Tampa, Florida, you may be entitled to compensation through a pedestrian accident claim. Garvin Injury Law can help you pursue maximum money damages, whether it’s through a settlement agreement or jury verdict in court.Â
Our Tampa pedestrian accident lawyers have decades of experience and have won tens of millions of dollars on behalf of our deserving clients. We’ll treat you like family if you hire us and make sure your case receives the full brunt of our attention and resources.Â
Call (239) 277-0005 or reach out to us online today for a free consultation. We can answer all of your questions at that time.Â
Injured in a Car Accident?
Contact an Attorney at Garvin Injury Law Today
How Garvin Injury Law Can Help After a Pedestrian Accident in Tampa, Florida
Garvin Injury Law is highly respected throughout the Florida legal community. Led by attorney Leland Garvin, our top-rated personal injury law firm has spent over 50 years fighting for accident victims across the state. When you hire our Tampa personal injury lawyers, we can:
- Investigate the accident and identify all of the liable parties
- Collect police reports, traffic camera footage, and witness statements
- Determine your best legal course of action
- Hire qualified accident reconstruction experts
- Protect you from unfair comparative fault arguments
- Handle all of the communications with the insurance companies
- Negotiate a full settlement on your behalf
- Take your case to court in Hillsborough County if needed
Contact our pedestrian accident lawyers in Tampa, FL, today to learn more about your case and your legal options going forward. Your initial consultation is free of charge.
Insurance and Legal Considerations for Tampa Pedestrian Accident Cases
Florida operates under a no-fault car insurance system, which means your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage can pay up to $10,000 in medical expenses and lost wages after an accident, regardless of who caused the crash. However, PIP coverage is limited and does not compensate you for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering.
If your injuries meet Florida’s “serious injury” threshold or if another exception applies, you may be able to step outside the no-fault system and file a lawsuit against the driver who hit you.
Given how serious pedestrian injuries tend to be, many victims do qualify to file a claim against the at-fault driver. Our attorneys can evaluate the facts of your situation and identify every available path to compensation from there.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Tampa
The Tampa Bay metro area consistently ranks among the most dangerous regions in the country for pedestrians. High-speed roads, limited crosswalk infrastructure, and heavy traffic volume all contribute to the problem. Some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents in Tampa include:
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks
- Speeding through residential areas
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Impaired driving
- Making turns without checking for pedestrians
- Poor street lightingÂ
- Missing crosswalk signals
Dangerous corridors like Hillsborough Avenue, Dale Mabry Highway, and Fowler Avenue near USF see especially high rates of pedestrian crashes. At the end of the day, however, you may be owed damages no matter how and where your accident took place. Reach out to our legal team today for help.
How Much Is My Tampa Pedestrian Accident Claim Worth?
Cases involving the most severe injuries generally result in higher compensation, but several other factors come into play as well. These include:
- The severity of your injuries and expected recovery
- Your total medical expenses, both past and future
- Whether you’ll be able to return to work
- The available insurance coverage and policy limits
- Whether you share any responsibility for the accident
- The strength of the evidence supporting your case
Having a qualified Tampa pedestrian accident attorney on your side can also affect the outcome, such as by more fully calculating your damages and better utilizing expert analysis.
What Kinds of Damages Can I Recover After a Pedestrian Accident in Tampa?
If you’re eligible to pursue a claim beyond PIP, you can seek both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover your financial losses, such as:
- Medical expenses, including hospital bills
- Lost wagesÂ
- Reduced earning capacity
- Rehabilitative care and physical therapy
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages address the personal toll of the accident, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of quality of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
In cases where the driver’s conduct was particularly reckless, such as driving under the influence, punitive damages may be available as well. That said, these require clear and convincing evidence and are generally only available in cases that go to trial.
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Pedestrian Accident Claim in Tampa?
Florida’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in most cases. If you don’t take appropriate legal action before that deadline, you could lose your right to pursue compensation.
Exceptions do exist, but only in limited circumstances. For example, if the injured victim is a minor, additional time may be available. However, in other situations, the timeline could be shorter. Contact our pedestrian accident lawyers today so we can help you determine the deadline that applies to your case.
What Does It Cost To Hire a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Tampa?
Most pedestrian accident attorneys in Tampa, including ours, work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you won’t pay anything upfront to hire our lawyers for your case. We only collect attorney’s fees if we win compensation for you, and the terms will be spelled out in a written agreement before we get started so that there won’t be any surprises.Â
Schedule a Free Case Review With Our Tampa Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
Being struck by a vehicle as a pedestrian is one of the most traumatic experiences a person can go through. If you were injured because of a negligent driver’s actions in Tampa, FL, Garvin Injury Law can help you pursue the maximum compensation you need to move forward.
Contact our Tampa pedestrian accident attorneys today to schedule a free consultation. We’re ready to fight for your rights as soon as you give us the go-ahead.Â