Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Lakeland, FL
Strategic Representation After Serious Injury
- 40+ Years of Legal Experience
- Millions Recovered for Injured Clients
- AV-Preeminent® Rated for Ethics & Skill
- No Fees Unless We Obtain Compensation
“First class.”
"Moody Law handled my case in a totally Professional manner. They explained everything and laid out the process in a clear/concise manner. They were always available to answer any questions. Debbie was fantastic. Would highly recommend Moody Law to anyone who wants First Class service." — Phil, 5-Star Review
A $700,000 Victory For a Victim's Family
Life after a pedestrian accident can feel overwhelming as medical bills, grief, and uncertainty affect you and your family all at once. Our role is to help restore stability by pursuing justice and the compensation you and your family deserve.
In one case, we secured a $700,000 jury verdict for the family of a teenage girl killed by a drunk driver, even after the defense tried to shift blame onto her. Results like this prove that when the stakes are highest, Moody Law stands firm for our clients. If your world feels upside-down due to someone else's negligence, we are here to help.
Pedestrians Face Unique Hazards In Polk County
Fast Roads & Dark Driving
Many roads in and around Lakeland have high speed limits, limited lighting, and few crosswalks, making drivers less able to see or react in time.
Alcohol-Impaired Drivers
Florida has one of the nation’s highest rates of drunk or drug-impaired driving deaths. Impaired drivers often fail to yield or see pedestrians in low visibility.
Poor Walkability
Many neighborhoods in Polk County lack sidewalks or have gaps; some roads have no safe walk paths, forcing pedestrians into dangerous conditions.
What We Can Collect for You
Lost Wages
Suffering a serious injury from a pedestrian accident can affect your career and the amount of money you earn. Our law firm will work to win compensation for past and future lost wages, including if your injury requires you to step down from your current job. We will also help you secure disability benefits.
Medical Bills
Our lawyers will fight for fair compensation for all of your past and future medical expenses. This compensation also includes reimbursement for mileage to and from your medical appointments. Many parties may be held responsible for your injuries in addition to the driver.
Pain and Suffering
Florida law permits compensation for pain and suffering under a few circumstances. Clients filing a wrongful death lawsuit may be entitled to compensation for their pain and suffering. Also, pedestrian accident victims who have sustained permanent disfigurement may be entitled to compensation.
“Thank you, Moody Law.”
"I highly recommend. Will definitely use them again in the future if it is necessary. Thank you Moody Law." — Kristin, 5-Star Review
You Likely Have Two Years To File a Claim
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In Florida, victims of negligence now have just two years from the date of their injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Similarly, grieving families have only two years from the date of their loved one's passing to file a wrongful death case. Failing to meet your deadline almost certainly means you lose the chance to obtain compensation in your pedestrian accident case – forever.
You Aren't Alone
Request a Consultation
Attorney Daniel D. Moody represents the injured. If you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian traffic accident around Lakeland, a personal injury attorney from Moody Law can help. Based in Central Florida, we serve Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, Haines City, and Tampa Bay.
During a free consultation, our legal team can review the accident and discuss the potential liability of the pedestrian and the driver given the situation.
Drivers Have Responsibilities to Florida Pedestrians
The driver is always expected to exercise caution and stay alert to their changing surroundings, including pedestrians on the road. A few driver responsibilities laid out by the Florida law include:
Yield the Right-of-Way
Section 316.130(15) of Florida law states that every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid collision with any pedestrian or human-powered vehicle. The pedestrian always has the right-of-way as a car can cause more damage to a pedestrian than the pedestrian can to a car.
Provide Warning
Drivers must give a warning to pedestrians when necessary and exercise proper precautions. This law is in place because the motor vehicle driver is better positioned to avoid injury or death to a pedestrian even when the pedestrian may not be observing the traffic or the rules of the road.
Respect Stopped Vehicles
Drivers sometimes have to make unexpected stops for pedestrians crossing at marked or unmarked crosswalks at an intersection. Drivers at the rear of the stopped vehicle are expected to safely stop behind the paused vehicle and not pass and overtake the car in front of them.
Drive Defensively
Drivers always hold more power than pedestrians. As such, they should use defensive driving. In a pedestrian accident case where a pedestrian is crossing a roadway outside of a crosswalk, the driver of the vehicle must still be paying attention and actively looking for dangerous situations in the roadway.
We Can Fight Defense Tactics Commonly Used in Pedestrian Accident Cases
Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto pedestrians to reduce payouts. From claiming you crossed outside a crosswalk to alleging you “darted out,” these tactics are common. Moody Law knows how to dismantle these defenses for clients in Winter Haven and nearby and keep the focus on driver negligence.
Insurers may argue the pedestrian wasn’t in a crosswalk or crossed unsafely. We show how drivers still had a duty of care.
Defendants may claim the victim should have used a sidewalk. We show that the lack of safe infrastructure doesn’t excuse negligence.
Defense teams may allege the pedestrian ignored signals. We gather witness accounts and camera evidence to establish driver fault.
Another tactic is saying the pedestrian “came out of nowhere.” We counter with crash data, scene analysis, and driver testimony.
“Highly recommend them.”
"My husband and I were in a car accident. Drew Moody and his paralegal Samantha and the Bartow office staff were all professional, accommodating, easy to communicate with and gave clear explanations with details. We were pleased with their work and would highly recommend them." — Kim, 5-Star Review
Common Injuries Suffered in Pedestrian Accidents
Various personal injuries can occur from pedestrian accidents, and a pedestrian accident attorney can help you secure the compensation you deserve. Some common and unfortunate pedestrian accident injuries we've seen in Winter Haven and surrounding areas include:
Musculoskeletal Injuries
According to a study in the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine, 41.4 percent of pedestrian accident victims sustained a musculoskeletal injury. Musculoskeletal injuries affect the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs.
Head and Neck Injuries
According to the same pedestrian injury study, head and neck injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, were the most common injuries for pediatric pedestrian accidents. Almost 35 percent of all children involved in a pedestrian accident sustained this injury.Wrongful Death
Unfortunately, fatalities can result from a pedestrian accident. Surviving family members of the victim may pursue a wrongful death lawsuit to obtain damages to cover funeral costs, loss of companionship, or pain and suffering.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident
Our team can provide the diligent yet compassionate representation you need.
Have You Been Injured by a Motorist? Request a Free Consultation at Moody Law
Any pedestrian injured in a car accident or truck accident should contact a lawyer from Moody Law to discuss the case. Injured victims could be eligible to file a claim and recover financial compensation. Call our Lakeland office to request a free consultation:
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Pedestrian's Injuries?
Various factors and parties may have contributed to the pedestrian's serious injury, which is why it can be a challenge to establish who is at fault. Some potentially liable parties for a pedestrian's injury may include:
The Local Municipality
If crosswalks were poorly placed, sidewalks were ineffective, or other industrial structures were not designed to accommodate a pedestrian's right-of-way, the local municipality can be held liable for the injuries sustained from a pedestrian accident.
Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are often the first party to be held liable for the victim's injuries. In a no-fault state like Florida, your pedestrian accident attorney will first pursue a claim with your insurance company to obtain compensation for your medical bills.
A Product Manufacturer
If a flaw in a device you were using (such as a skateboard or other transportation device) caused you to veer into the path of traffic and sustain an injury, a product liability claim can be filed against the product's maker or distribution company.
The Driver
It may seem like the driver of the vehicle is the obvious party at fault, but this can be difficult to prove without a pedestrian accident lawyer by your side. Our lawyers will work to obtain fair compensation for your pedestrian accident case if the driver is at fault.
Talk to Us First
Don't Talk to Insurance Adjusters
Insurance companies that provide coverage to drivers who harm pedestrians face major financial risk. They are not your friend. It is their utmost priority to minimize your case.
It is possible that an insurance company representative will reach out to you to offer a settlement. This should be refused. It is in their interest to offer you a lowball settlement that may seem like a lot of money now, but that does not truly cover the total cost of your losses.
Instead of succumbing to the pressure, it is wise to divulge no details of your case and tell them you would like no further contact. Anything you say can be misconstrued and used against you during legal proceedings. Direct them to our Lakeland attorneys. We know how to stand up to predatory insurance company tactics and can proudly do the same for you.
