Every year, countless people take to the streets of Jacksonville on foot, never expecting their routine walk to change their lives instantly.
Pedestrian accidents are sudden and shocking and often leave a lasting impact on the lives of those involved. If you or a loved one has been in a pedestrian accident, you know all too well the confusion and pain that follows.
At Blakeley Law Firm, our Jacksonville pedestrian accident attorneys provide a compassionate yet powerful voice for those silenced by such tragedies.
With our understanding of Florida's pedestrian laws and a commitment to personal client care, we stand ready to guide you through the legal process. We ensure that you receive the justice and compensation you deserve.
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Why Choose Blakeley Law Firm?
When selecting legal representation after a pedestrian accident, the choice can be overwhelming.
Here is why Blakeley Law Firm stands out:
- Experience: Our history in advocating for pedestrian accident victims in South Florida is extensive. We bring a wealth of knowledge and proven strategies to the table for each case we handle.
- Success: Our track record speaks for itself, with significant settlements and verdicts that reflect our commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for our clients.
- Client-centered approach: We pride ourselves on getting to know our clients, understanding their stories, and making their goals our mission.
- Location: Our presence in Jacksonville, specifically with an office on Touchton Road, means we are both convenient for our local clients and deeply integrated into the community we serve.
Consult our Jacksonville pedestrian accident lawyers right away.
Pedestrian Accident Compensation
When pursuing compensation in a pedestrian accident case, we thoroughly evaluate every aspect of how the accident has affected your life. This includes:
Medical Expenses
Suffering an injury as a pedestrian can lead to an avalanche of medical expenses.
At Blakeley Law Firm, we meticulously review and account for every medical bill and anticipated healthcare cost our clients face. This includes emergency room charges, surgical costs, medications, physical therapy, medical equipment, and long-term care needs.
Proving medical expenses is a rigorous process that involves collecting comprehensive documentation of all treatments received.
Our team works with medical professionals to project future costs, ensuring that any settlement or judgment accounts for the full spectrum of your healthcare needs. By presenting a clear and detailed picture of these costs, we stand a better chance of recovering the total amount you need.
We recognize that each client's situation is unique. Some may require specialized treatments or face complications that demand innovative therapies. We advocate for every client to receive full compensation, not just for the care they have already received but for the medical treatments they will need in the future.
Our firm supports you through the entire claims process, from the initial filing to negotiating with insurance companies or presenting your case in court. We ensure that you are not left struggling with the financial burdens of your injuries.
Lost Income and Earning Capacity
The impact of a pedestrian accident can ripple through every aspect of your life, including your career. Our clients often face a reality where they cannot work temporarily or, in some cases, permanently.
At Blakeley Law Firm, we assertively pursue compensation for lost income and the loss of earning capacity.
To establish the full extent of your lost income, we gather employment records and income statements and collaborate with economic experts to determine the appropriate value.
If your injuries have impaired your ability to work or caused a career change, we calculate the potential earnings you've lost out on. This projection includes considerations for promotions, raises, benefits, and pension contributions you will reasonably have expected to receive were it not for the accident.
We also factor in the potential for retraining costs if you need to switch careers, ensuring that these expenses are part of your compensation.
Pain and Suffering
While economic damages like medical expenses and lost income are quantifiable, pain and suffering are more subjective and represent a significant portion of the trauma our clients endure.
At Blakeley Law Firm, we take a compassionate approach to validate and quantify the pain and suffering of our clients.
Proving pain and suffering involves not just presenting medical records but also personal testimonies, psychological evaluations, and expert witnesses to articulate the depth of your emotional and physical pain.
We help paint a picture of the accident's impact on your daily life, relationships, mental health, and overall well-being.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Loss of enjoyment of life is a deeply personal loss, and proving it involves demonstrating how your injuries have changed your lifestyle. We listen to your story, document your life before and after the accident, and often use expert testimony to underscore the severe changes you have experienced.
Our team of Jacksonville pedestrian accident attorneys commits to a thorough exploration of how your injuries have limited your hobbies, social interactions, family relationships, and other joys of life. We then build the case for fair compensation for these intangible yet invaluable aspects of your existence.
Where Can Pedestrian Accidents Happen in Jacksonville?
In Jacksonville, the downtown area, with its mix of office buildings, restaurants, and cultural venues like the Florida Theatre and Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts, sees a high volume of foot traffic, which can lead to pedestrian accidents, particularly during rush hour when commuters and residents are on the move.
The San Marco district, known for its historic and picturesque surroundings, draws locals and tourists alike, increasing the potential for pedestrian accidents along its vibrant streets, such as San Marco Boulevard, where people frequently visit trendy shops and eateries.
Jacksonville's beaches, including Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, and Atlantic Beach, are hotspots for pedestrian activity. The coastal roads and intersections are bustling with people crossing to enjoy the sand and surf, leading to a heightened risk for accidents, especially on sunny weekends and holidays.
Riverside and Avondale's historic districts boast beautiful parks and streets, such as the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens and the Shoppes of Avondale, where pedestrians might find themselves sharing the road with vehicles, leading to potential accidents.
In all these areas and beyond, our firm uses its knowledge of Jacksonville's neighborhoods and traffic patterns to advocate for our clients. We are committed to investigating the specifics of accidents in these areas, considering local traffic laws, and utilizing our understanding of the region to strengthen our clients' claims.
Understanding Pedestrian Accidents in Jacksonville
Pedestrian accidents can happen in many different situations, but they all have one thing in common: the pedestrian is incredibly vulnerable to severe injuries.
Our lawyers are well-versed in the specifics of these accidents, whether they occur at crosswalks, through parking lot mishaps, or on sidewalks, and we use this knowledge to defend your rights.
Types of Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents
Some of the most common injuries our firm sees from pedestrian accidents include:
Head Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are alarmingly common in pedestrian accidents. They can range from mild concussions to severe brain damage, leading to long-term cognitive issues, emotional changes, or physical impairments.
At Blakeley Law Firm, we collaborate with medical professionals to understand the extent of your head injury, ensuring that your compensation reflects immediate medical costs and any long-term care needs, including therapy and rehabilitation.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal injuries can have devastating consequences, such as chronic pain, paralysis, or loss of mobility. These injuries can mean significant lifestyle adjustments and may require modifications to your home, long-term nursing care, or assistive devices. Our lawyers advocate for full compensation that covers these extensive needs, as well as the emotional distress that often accompanies such injuries.
Fractures and Broken Bones
Pedestrians often suffer broken bones upon impact with a vehicle or the ground. These injuries can range from simple fractures that heal with time to complex breaks requiring surgery and physical therapy.
We seek damages encompassing all medical treatments, including compensation for any temporary or permanent disability resulting from the fracture.
Soft Tissue Injuries
While not as visible as other injuries, soft tissue damage like sprains, tears, and bruises can cause significant pain and require extensive recovery. We understand the importance of documenting these less apparent injuries and securing compensation for the physical therapy and treatment needed for a full recovery.
Internal Injuries
The force exerted on pedestrians in an accident can cause internal bleeding or damage internal organs. These life-threatening injuries often require emergency medical attention and can lead to long hospital stays.
Our firm includes all medical evaluations, surgeries, and follow-up care in your claim.
Emotional and Psychological Trauma
Pedestrian accidents can leave victims with not only physical but also emotional scars. Issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression are common after such traumatic events.
We recognize these non-physical impacts and strive for compensation that addresses the full scope of your emotional and psychological healing.
In representing our clients, Blakeley Law Firm takes a holistic approach, ensuring we address every injury and its hardship in your claim. We work to gather the necessary evidence, consult with medical experts, and construct a compelling case that captures the complete narrative of how the accident has altered your life.
Types of Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents come in many forms.
At Blakeley Law Firm, our Jacksonville pedestrian accident lawyers have seen a wide range of these accidents and have a unique approach to each. Understanding the dynamics of how these accidents happen is key to developing an effective legal strategy.
Crosswalk Accidents
Crosswalks should be safe places for pedestrians to cross the road, but all too often, they are sites of serious accidents. Drivers may fail to yield, be distracted, or simply not see a pedestrian. We meticulously investigate crosswalk incidents to establish driver negligence, using traffic camera footage, eyewitness accounts, and expert reconstruction to build a solid case for our clients.
Parking Lot Accidents
Parking lots can be chaotic, with pedestrians and drivers navigating the space often without clear lines of sight. When accidents happen here, we look into factors such as poor lighting, lack of signage, driver inattention, and speeding.
Our firm works to ensure that those responsible for maintaining safe parking facilities are held accountable alongside any negligent drivers.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
Hit-and-run accidents are severe because the responsible party flees, attempting to evade accountability. We collaborate closely with law enforcement and use all available resources to track down these people so that justice can be served.
When you cannot find the culprit, we guide our clients through the process of seeking compensation through uninsured motorist coverage where available.
Backing-Up Accidents
When drivers reverse without checking their surroundings, they can strike pedestrians, resulting in severe injuries. We focus on driver behavior, vehicle camera data, and environmental factors to prove negligence in these accidents. Ensuring our clients receive compensation in these scenarios often involves demonstrating the driver's breach of the duty of care expected while operating a vehicle.
Turning Vehicles at Intersections
Intersections are another common location for pedestrian accidents. Drivers making turns, especially right on red, may not notice pedestrians. We use traffic patterns, signals, timing, and driver records to establish the failure to yield and demonstrate the driver's fault.
School Zone and Bus-Related Accidents
Children are especially vulnerable to accidents in school zones or involving school buses. We advocate for strict adherence to school zone laws and seek to hold negligent parties fully responsible, emphasizing the heightened duty of care drivers have in these areas.
Sidewalk Incidents
While sidewalks should be for pedestrian use exclusively, vehicles sometimes encroach upon them due to driver error or reckless driving. These cases require a firm that will fight for the pedestrian's right to safe passage, something we at Blakeley Law Firm are committed to upholding.
Fighting the Insurance Company
Dealing with insurance companies can be intimidating, particularly when recovering from an accident. Our lawyers have extensive experience handling complex negotiations, pushing back against any attempts by insurance companies to undervalue your claim. We fight to ensure the settlement you receive is fair.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident?
If you find yourself the victim of a pedestrian accident, take the right steps immediately:
- Seek immediate medical attention: Prioritize your health and establish a medical record of the incident.
- Document everything: If possible, gather evidence at the scene and keep a detailed account of your injuries and recovery process.
- Follow medical advice: Adhering to your treatment plan is essential for both your health and legal case.
- Contact Blakeley Law Firm: Bring all the information to us, and we'll handle the rest, providing you with the legal experience and support you need.
Contact a Jacksonville Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you've been in a pedestrian accident in Jacksonville, don't face the journey to recovery alone. Contact Blakeley Law Firm online or call us at (954) 253-9445 to schedule your free consultation. We're here to listen, understand, and fight for you every step of the way.