Pedestrians Can Suffer Traumatic Brain Injuries

Almost everyone is a pedestrian at certain times, even if you are simply walking from your parking spot into a building. Though walking is necessary, any time you walk near a roadway with traffic, you risk being involved in a collision. Collisions with a motor vehicle can cause particularly severe injuries to pedestrians since they have little to no protection from an impact. Unless a pedestrian walks around wearing a helmet—which is unlikely—they are at risk of sustaining traumatic brain injuries (TBI) should an accident occur. Pedestrians can suffer TBI in other ways, as well, due to dangerous conditions on sidewalks or properties.

No matter how your TBI occurs, you should discuss your case with an experienced Tampa brain injury lawyer as soon at possible. Brain injuries can cause extensive losses due to medical bills, lost wages, and more and you deserve to recover from the liable party.

Pedestrian TBI caused by driver negligence

Pedestrians should be able to safely walk on sidewalks, in crosswalks, or in other designated areas without the fear of getting hit by a car and suffering serious injuries. Additionally, drivers have the legal duty to operate their vehicles in a reasonable safe manner to prevent accidents and injuries to others using the roads, including pedestrians. Unfortunately, too many drivers act in a negligent manner and cause pedestrian accidents, many of which result in a traumatic brain injury.

Some examples of negligent driving behaviors that lead to pedestrian TBI include:

Texting or other kinds of distracted driving
Failure to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks
Violating traffic signals
Speeding
Drunk driving
Aggressive driving in parking lots

Any of the above behaviors and more can cause a pedestrian accident, which often cause TBI. This is because, when an individual is hit by a car, they often either get knocked backward onto the pavement or they can get thrown forward over the hood or even roof of the car that hit them before landing on the street. There is a high chance that a pedestrian accident victims will hit their head in the process and sustain a traumatic brain injury.

Pedestrian TBI caused by dangerous properties

Auto collisions are not the only way that a pedestrian can suffer a serious TBI. Other dangerous conditions may exist in the path of a pedestrian that can result in serious accidents and injuries. For example:

Objects can fall from above and hit a pedestrian
A pedestrian can slip, trip, or fall¹ and hit their head
Dangerous stairs or bridges can cause a pedestrian to fall
Icy sidewalks can cause falls

These are only some examples of ways that a pedestrian can suffer a blow to the head that results in a TBI.

You should not delay in calling a brain injury lawyer

After a TBI caused by a pedestrian accident, it is only natural that you would want to focus on your physical recovery. During your recovery, you may not have the energy to pursue a possible legal claim for you TBI. However, Florida statute sets out a strict time limit for personal injury claims, which is called the statute of limitations.² The statute of limitations in Florida for a TBI pedestrian accident claim is four years from the date of the injury. Though four years may seem like a long time, investigation into the circumstances of your accident can become more difficult as time passes. You also do not want to wait until the last minute to contact an attorney as legal claims can often take a significant amount of time to prepare.

Contact a brain injury attorney in Tampa, Florida for a free case evaluation today

Pedestrians who sustain a traumatic brain injury due to the negligence of another party deserve to receive full compensation for all of their medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income, and other related losses. At the Dolman Law Group in Tampa, Florida, we have a thorough understanding of all relevant Florida laws and procedures and can guide you through the legal process so that you can focus on your recovery. Please call our office at 727-451-6900 for a free consultation today.

Dolman Law Group
800 North Belcher Road
Tampa, FL 33756
727-451-6900

https://www.dolmanlaw.com/legal-services/brain-injury-attorneys/

References:

¹http://www.nsc.org/NSCDocuments_Advocacy/Fact%20Sheets/Slips-Trips-and-Falls.pdf
²http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0000-0099/0095/Sections/0095.11.html