Pompano Beach Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

The Real Cost of a Pedestrian Crash

A collision between a car and a person on foot rarely ends in minor bruises. The harm often reaches far beyond the hospital:

• Serious injuries. Brain injuries, spinal-cord damage, and broken bones can require months of care.
• Financial strain. Florida is one of the deadliest states in the country for people on foot — roughly 10,290 pedestrian crashes and 778 pedestrian deaths statewide in 2023, per the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles — and medical bills and lost income add up fast.
• Emotional toll. Trauma can disrupt daily life, work, and relationships for you and your family.
• Insurance pushback. Insurers often offer far less than long-term care actually costs.

Our team investigates each case using police reports, scene evidence, and witness statements, and uses that record to support claims for medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Why Pedestrian Claims Get Denied or Reduced

Insurance companies look for reasons to pay less. Watch for these common tactics:

• Blaming the pedestrian. Florida uses modified comparative negligence: your recovery drops by your share of fault, and it is barred entirely if you are found more than 50% at fault (§768.81).
• Pointing to a high-risk area. The Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach metro ranks among the nation's most dangerous for pedestrians, according to Smart Growth America's Dangerous by Design report — and insurers use that to argue the walker was careless.
• Exploiting the fine print. Adjusters lean on policy complexities to shrink payouts.

We push back with a full case review, challenge unfair blame, and document the other driver's negligence.

How Florida's No-Fault System Works for Pedestrians

Florida is a no-fault state, and the rule that surprises most people is this: PIP follows the person, not just the car. That means you can be covered even though you were on foot:

• Your own PIP usually pays first. If you own a car, your own Personal Injury Protection covers you as a pedestrian — 80% of medical costs up to $10,000 — and only if you seek treatment within 14 days (§627.736). If you don't own a car but live with a relative who does, that relative's PIP applies. If neither exists, the PIP of the vehicle that struck you covers you.
• Serious injuries exceed PIP. A brain or spinal injury can cost far more than $10,000, leaving a large gap that PIP alone cannot close.
• Other coverage may apply. When your injuries meet Florida's serious-injury threshold (§627.737), you can pursue the at-fault driver's bodily-injury coverage — and your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage if the driver has too little insurance or none.
• A pedestrian's rights on the road. Florida law requires every driver to use "due care" to avoid hitting anyone on foot (§316.130). When a driver fails that duty, they can be held responsible for the harm they cause.

Your Filing Deadline in Florida

You generally have two years to file. A 2023 change to Florida law (House Bill 837) shortened the deadline for most personal injury claims from four years to two years from the date of the crash (§95.11). Wrongful-death claims also carry a two-year deadline.

Wrongful Death and Catastrophic Injuries

Some crashes cause permanent harm or take a life. These cases demand extra care:

• Fatal crashes. We pursue compensation for funeral costs, lost support, and the family's suffering under Florida's Wrongful Death Act.
• Catastrophic injuries. Brain damage or permanent disability calls for a settlement that accounts for future care, not just today's bills.
• A team-based approach. We work with medical professionals to project long-term costs so nothing gets left out.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Crashes in Pompano Beach

Driver negligence is the leading factor in most pedestrian cases. Distracted driving is a frequent culprit — texting behind the wheel contributed to 3,308 deaths nationwide in 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Other common causes include failure to yield at crosswalks, speeding, and impaired driving. We examine the details of each crash — including on a motor-vehicle level — to hold negligent drivers accountable and strengthen your claim.

Why Injured Pedestrians Work With Kaiser Romanello

• Decades of experience. Our attorneys have handled personal injury cases across Broward County for years.
• Clear communication. Clients tell us they always know where their case stands.
• Personalized attention. We tailor our approach to each client, from a single fracture to a complex crash.
• No upfront cost. You owe no fee unless we recover compensation for you.

We serve Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and West Palm Beach, backed by an experienced Florida personal injury team.

How We Build Your Case

• Gather evidence. We collect police reports, surveillance footage, and witness statements from the scene.
• Document the injuries. We work with medical professionals to assess your injuries and project future costs.
• Negotiate. We counter low offers from insurance adjusters with a documented demand.
• Prepare for trial. If the insurer will not deal fairly, we are ready to take your case to court.

Frequently Asked Questions