Boca Raton Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
According to a 2024 survey by Smart Growth America, Florida is the second-deadliest state for pedestrians in the United States. Sadly, this will not come as a surprise to anyone who has ever tried to navigate Boca Raton and other parts of Palm Beach County on foot. South Florida has long been a car-first region, and unfortunately, far too many motorists refuse to share the road responsibly with pedestrians.
Lacking any sort of protection, a pedestrian struck by a car is at high risk of death or life-threatening injuries. The recovery process is often long and costly. The skilled Boca Raton pedestrian accident lawyers at Steinberg Law can assist you in seeking compensation from your insurance company and the negligent driver.
Your Own Auto Insurance May Still Cover You
One thing many Boca Raton residents do not realize is that if they have auto insurance, their policy will likely still cover them for a pedestrian accident. You do not actually have to be driving or sitting in your car for Florida’s mandatory “no-fault” insurance coverage to apply. This is because your policy covers you and other insured members of your household if you are injured in an accident involving a motor vehicle. That is, you only have to be hit by a car to qualify for no-fault benefits. It does not matter if you were in your car at the time.
No-fault insurance provides Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits of up to 80 percent of your accident-related medical bills up to the policy limit (usually $10,000) and coverage for up to 60 percent of your lost wages due to time missed from your job. Critically, PIP coverage does not include compensation for non-economic damages such as your pain and suffering.
However, if your accident resulted in what Florida law classifies as a “serious injury”–and that is often the case when it comes to pedestrian accidents–you are no longer limited by your no-fault insurance. You can directly pursue a claim against the negligent driver that struck you. Some examples of qualifying serious injuries include:
- death;
- significant permanent loss of a bodily function, such as the loss of a limb;
- permanent injury, as determined to a reasonable degree of medical probability; and
- significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement.
Through a personal injury claim, the negligent driver and their insurance company can be required to pay the full measure of your accident-related losses, including 100 percent of your medical bills, lost income, and your pain and suffering.
Contact Steinberg Law Today
Walking across a street should not be considered a dangerous activity. But the reality of life in South Florida places many pedestrians at risk of serious, life-threatening injuries at the hands of reckless motorists. If you, or someone in your family, has been the victim of such negligence, it is in your best interest to contact the Boca Raton pedestrian accident lawyers at Steinberg Law today to schedule an initial consultation.
