If you were walking and were hit by a negligent driver, you could suffer more severe injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, or internal organ damage, than if you had the protection of being in a passenger vehicle at the time of your accident. Your medical treatment could be long-term and expensive, and you could be off work for six months or longer as you recover from your injuries…if you are physically and mentally able to return to work at all.
A big question you probably have is who compensates you for your medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma.
Three Ways to Receive Compensation for Your Injuries
As an injured pedestrian, you have more than one possible source for receiving compensation for your injuries. You should consider the following possible avenues for obtaining damages:
- Your automobile insurance company. Florida is a no-fault state, so your own automobile insurance policy may reimburse you for some of your medical bills and lost wages under your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. However, your policy limits most likely will not be high enough to fully compensate you for your injuries.
- The negligent driver. If the driver who hit you was negligent, he and his automobile insurance company are responsible for reimbursing you for your injuries. Florida, like most states, requires drivers and vehicle owners to carry liability insurance coverage to cover injuries to other motorists and pedestrians.
- Uninsured insurance coverage. Even though the driver of the vehicle that hit you was required to have automobile insurance, he may not have purchased it, or you may have been struck by a hit and run driver. In these situations, the driver would still be responsible for compensating you—if you can locate him. However, you may also be able to make a claim under your own uninsured insurance coverage if you purchased it as part of your automobile insurance policy.
If you or a loved one was hit by a pedestrian, we understand the financial and emotional toll it is taking on your family and are here to help. Order our free book, Your Guide to Accident Claims in Florida: Don’t Wreck Your Injury Case, to learn about your legal rights, and call us at (727) 345-4566 to schedule a free consultation.