Redington Beach Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Vehicle height and weight has increased. Distracted driving is at an all-time high. Aggressive driving, speeding, and road rage are reaching an epidemic level. All of this is driving up pedestrian injuries and deaths, and little to nothing is being done about it. In fact, police enforcement of bad drivers is down, and municipalities are spending much of their road budgets on filling potholes instead of providing safe walking infrastructure. But if you or a loved one were injured in a pedestrian accident, the Redington beach pedestrian accident attorney at The Reep Law Firm can help you seek justice by filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault party.
The Problem: Cities are Designed For Cars, Not People
In no other country are motor vehicles so dominant when it comes to the way people live. In just about every major American city, it is difficult or downright dangerous to get around without a car. Pedestrians are not just an afterthought when it comes to road design, they are not really thought of at all. Cities and suburbs are designed to maximize vehicle speed, which involves building wide surface streets with five or more lanes, endorsing high speed limits, and minimizing anything that might be seen as slowing traffic down, such as pedestrian signals or protected bike lanes. Inevitably, this leads not only to pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries, but an increase in drivers, an increase in traffic, and an increase in congestion.
If Road Design is so Horrible, Can a Municipality be Held Liable?
It is incredibly difficult to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit against a city and emerge victorious. A city would have to know about a certain hazard, have time to address the hazard, and fail to solve the problem—such as a faulty pedestrian light—in order for there to be a chance of such a claim being successful. In virtually all circumstances, an injured pedestrian is better off simply filing a claim with the negligent driver who hit them.
Examples of Negligent Driving
Pedestrians have the right of way in many interactions with drivers, yet they are often cut off in crosswalks, in parking lots, and while crossing driveways that cut across sidewalks. A few examples of scenarios in which a driver would be found liable for causing a crash include:
- Pedestrian is hit while walking at night across a crosswalk with the walking signal in their favor
- Pedestrian is walking on the left side of the street, in the shoulder, where there is no crosswalk by an oncoming driver
- Pedestrian is hit while crossing a parking lot pull-out that interests a crosswalk
- Jogging pedestrian is hit from behind while running on the right side of the road
- Pedestrian is hit by a right-turning driver—driver has a green light and the pedestrian has the walking signal
Call a Redington Beach Pedestrian Accident Lawyer at The Reep Law Firm Today
It does not matter what the driver’s excuse might be, if they hit you, they are likely liable for your damages. Our Redington Beach pedestrian accident attorney at The Reep Law Firm can help you recover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Call 727-330-6502 to schedule a free consultation today.
