Hollywood Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

Florida is consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous states in the nation for pedestrians. Wide roadways, heavy traffic, high tourism, and a lack of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure all contribute to serious and often fatal crashes involving people on foot. When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, the injuries are almost always severe. Unlike motorists who have the protection of airbags, seatbelts, and steel frames, pedestrians are completely exposed to the impact. At Ansel & Miller, our Hollywood pedestrian accident lawyers represent victims across South Florida, helping them recover the financial compensation they need for medical care, lost income, and the lasting consequences of these devastating events.

Pedestrian Accidents in Florida: A Growing Concern

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Florida routinely records one of the highest pedestrian fatality rates in the country. Recent reports show that thousands of pedestrians are injured each year in traffic collisions across the state, with several hundred losing their lives. Cities like Miami, Orlando, and Tampa rank among the most dangerous metropolitan areas for pedestrians, with crashes concentrated in areas where high-speed traffic intersects with dense urban development.

The problem is made worse by Florida’s year-round warm weather and tourism industry. Millions of visitors come to the state each year, many unfamiliar with local roads and distracted by GPS devices, sightseeing, or heavy traffic. Combined with high population density and reliance on cars, these factors create a dangerous environment for pedestrians.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

While every case is unique, certain factors appear again and again in Hollywood, Florida, pedestrian accident cases. Some of the most frequent causes include:

Distracted driving – Texting, using a phone, or adjusting a navigation system can cause a driver to miss a pedestrian in a crosswalk or intersection.
Failure to yield – Florida law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, yet many crashes occur because drivers ignore or misjudge this rule.
Speeding – Higher speeds dramatically increase both the likelihood of hitting a pedestrian and the severity of the resulting injuries.
Drunk or impaired driving – Alcohol and drugs impair judgment, reaction time, and awareness, making it far more likely that a driver won’t see or avoid a pedestrian.
Poor visibility and weather conditions – Nighttime driving, rain, and poorly lit roads all contribute to pedestrian crashes when drivers don’t adjust their driving to current conditions.

While most pedestrian collisions occur in intersections, a large number also take place on open stretches of roadway where pedestrians cross without a designated crosswalk. Florida’s urban sprawl and limited pedestrian infrastructure make jaywalking common, but drivers still have a duty to exercise reasonable care to avoid hitting pedestrians, even when the motorist has the right of way.

Florida Pedestrian Safety Laws

Florida law provides important protections for pedestrians, but enforcement and compliance are ongoing challenges. Under state statutes:

Pedestrians in crosswalks have the right of way, and drivers must yield.
Drivers must exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians, even outside of crosswalks.
When turning at intersections, drivers must watch for pedestrians crossing in the marked or unmarked crosswalk.

Despite these laws, pedestrian fatalities remain high. Safety advocates have pushed for changes such as lower speed limits in urban corridors, improved lighting, and the installation of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. But until those changes are widespread, pedestrians remain highly vulnerable on Florida roads.

How Florida’s No-Fault Insurance Laws Apply

Like other motor vehicle crashes, pedestrian accidents in Florida are subject to the state’s no-fault insurance system. This means that an injured pedestrian may be able to recover benefits for medical expenses and lost wages from their Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, even if they weren’t driving a car at the time.

However, PIP coverage is limited and only applies to certain categories of damages. More importantly, pedestrian accidents often involve serious or catastrophic injuries, which can take a claim outside of the no-fault system. Under Florida law, when an accident causes significant or permanent injury—such as permanent disability, disfigurement, or death—the victim can pursue a personal injury claim directly against the at-fault driver.

This distinction is critical. Many pedestrian accidents result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, fractures, and internal organ damage—injuries that easily qualify as exceptions to the no-fault system. In these cases, the injured pedestrian can seek damages not only for medical bills and lost income but also for pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and other non-economic damages, provided they can prove a driver’s negligence caused their injuries.

The Severity of Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Because pedestrians have no protection, even low-speed collisions can cause devastating harm. Victims often suffer, for example, traumatic brain injuries from striking the pavement or vehicle, spinal cord damage that may result in partial or total paralysis, multiple fractures requiring extensive surgery, internal bleeding or organ damage, and permanent scarring or disfigurement.

Recovery is often long, painful, and expensive. Many pedestrians require months of hospitalization, rehabilitation, or ongoing care. In the worst cases, families are left to cope with the wrongful death of a loved one, facing overwhelming emotional and financial consequences.

Pursuing Compensation After a Pedestrian Accident

A successful pedestrian accident claim in Florida depends on proving the negligence of the driver or another responsible party. This may involve gathering witness statements, traffic camera footage, police reports, and accident reconstruction evidence. Our attorneys work with experts in biomechanics, medicine, and crash analysis to demonstrate how the accident occurred and the extent of the damages.

Compensation in pedestrian accident cases may include many different categories of legal damages, including past and future medical expenses, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and wrongful death damages when the accident is fatal.

Because insurance companies often attempt to shift blame onto pedestrians, such as by claiming they were jaywalking, wearing dark clothing, or not paying attention, it is essential to have strong legal representation to counter these arguments and protect your right to full compensation.

Why Pedestrian Accident Cases Require Skilled Legal Help

Pedestrian accident claims can be especially complex. Multiple insurance policies may be involved, including the pedestrian’s PIP coverage, the driver’s liability insurance, and sometimes uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Determining how these policies interact and which damages are recoverable requires careful legal analysis.

At Ansel & Miller, we provide individualized attention and aggressive representation for every client. We understand the devastating toll a pedestrian accident can take, and we are committed to fighting for maximum compensation. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling catastrophic injury cases, and we use that experience to stand up to powerful insurance companies and corporations on behalf of our clients.

Contact Ansel & Miller for Help After a Pedestrian Accident in Hollywood, Florida

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident in Hollywood or South Florida, you do not have to face the aftermath alone. At Ansel & Miller, we combine personalized client service with the skill and resources to take on the most complex and high-stakes injury cases. Whether negotiating a fair settlement or taking a case to trial, we are dedicated to achieving justice for our clients.

Call us today for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn more about how we can help you move forward after a pedestrian accident.