You don’t expect a quick walk across the street to get to work, school or wherever to land you in the emergency room, but the unexpected happens every day. According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, pedestrians were involved in more than 10,200 crashes in Florida, with over 779 deaths and many more life-changing injuries in 2023.
When a driver hits you, you’re suddenly juggling medical bills, missing work and dealing with confusing insurance rules that can quickly overwhelm you. A Florida pedestrian accident lawyer at Florin|Roebig can explain your rights and pursue a claim against the at-fault driver so you have the best chance at real financial recovery.
Pedestrian Crash Facts in Florida and Nationally
Florida’s roads are some of the most dangerous in the country for people on foot, but national numbers show that pedestrians everywhere are facing growing risks. A pedestrian crash in Florida can lead to life-changing injuries, long-term costs and complicated insurance claims. Understanding the scope of the problem makes it easier to see why holding careless drivers accountable is so important after a pedestrian accident.
Florida pedestrian crash statistics:
- In 2023, pedestrians were involved in more than 10,200 crashes in Florida, including over 779 deaths and more than 1,431 serious injuries.
- Crashes involving pedestrians in Florida most often happen between 6 PM and 9 PM, with about 85% of pedestrian deaths occurring in the early morning, late afternoon or evening.
- Federal crash data report 771 pedestrian deaths out of 3,396 total traffic fatalities in Florida in 2023, meaning nearly 23% of all people killed in crashes were pedestrians (with only California and Texas being higher).
- In Jacksonville, federal city-level data show 164 total traffic deaths in 2023, including 41 pedestrians, putting it in the top 10 in the nation among cities of 500,000 or more.
- Preliminary 2024 estimates from state highway safety offices suggest Florida pedestrian deaths fell from 799 in 2023 to about 713 in 2024, and Texas dropped from 809 to about 767, but both states still rank among those with the highest numbers of pedestrians killed each year.
Key national pedestrian crash trends:
- Nationwide, 7,314 pedestrians were killed and more than 68,000 were injured in traffic crashes in 2023.
- Pedestrians made up about 18% of all people killed on U.S. roads in 2023.
- Preliminary federal and state data project that drivers struck and killed about 7,148 pedestrians in 2024, a 4.3% drop from 2023 but nearly 20% higher than the low in 2016.
- Between 2009 and 2023, pedestrian deaths in the United States rose about 80%, while all other traffic deaths increased only about 13%.
- Roughly 1 in 4 pedestrian deaths in recent years involved a hit-and-run.
- More than 75% of pedestrian fatalities with known lighting conditions in 2023 happened after dark.
- Nighttime pedestrian deaths rose 84% between 2010 and 2023 compared with a 28% increase in daytime deaths.
- Nearly two-thirds (about 65%) of pedestrians killed in 2023 were struck in places where there weren’t sidewalks.
- Light trucks (SUVs, vans and pickups) accounted for just over 54% of pedestrian deaths when the striking vehicle type was known in 2023, compared with about 37% for passenger cars.
- Nearly 1 in 6 of all pedestrian deaths with known roadway types in 2023 occurred on interstates and freeways, often involving stranded motorists, construction workers, tow truck operators or first responders.
- In 2023, about 29% of pedestrians aged 16 or older killed in accidents were impaired by alcohol, and roughly 16% of drivers involved in pedestrian deaths were over the legal limit.
Pedestrian Safety Tips
For many people, walking is part of everyday life, whether you’re crossing a parking lot, heading to the bus stop or simply getting some exercise. However, pedestrians face danger anytime drivers aren’t paying attention or roads aren’t designed with people on foot in mind.
Florida is especially challenging for people who walk. State officials note that pedestrians have the highest fatality rate of any road user group in Florida, and pedestrian-involved crashes remain a serious concern as the state’s population and tourism grow.
You can’t control drivers’ behavior, but you can lower your risk by following safety guidance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV):
- Follow traffic laws and signals. Cross only when you have the signal and obey “Don’t Walk” or red lights, even if the street looks clear.
- Use sidewalks whenever possible. If there’s no sidewalk, walk facing oncoming traffic and stay as far from moving vehicles as you can.
- Limit distractions. Keep your phone down and at least one ear free so you can hear engines, horns and sirens.
- Cross at crosswalks or intersections. If there’s no marked crosswalk, choose a well-lit place where you can see traffic clearly in all directions and wait for a safe gap.
- Look for turning vehicles. Stop at the curb, look to your left and right twice, and watch for drivers turning right or left across your path, even when you have the “Walk” signal.
- Make eye contact with drivers. Don’t step in front of a car until you’re confident the driver has seen you and is stopping.
- Stay visible. Wear bright colors in the daytime and wear reflective gear or carry a light at night or in low-light conditions.
- Don’t assume drivers will stop. Traffic signals and crosswalks give you the right of way, but some drivers ignore them, so keep checking for approaching traffic.
- Avoid walking while impaired. Alcohol is involved in a large number of deadly pedestrian crashes (either the driver or the person walking), which makes judgment and reaction times worse for everyone.
- Use extra caution in parking lots and driveways. Many crashes happen at low speeds when drivers are backing up or cutting across spaces, and it’s easy to be hidden in a blind spot.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Even if you’re cautious and follow every safety rule when walking, a careless driver can change your life in a moment. Crash data from NHTSA and various Florida agencies show that certain patterns show up again and again in serious pedestrian crashes, especially on wide, high-speed roads and at busy intersections.
Some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents include:
- Distracted drivers: Drivers can be distracted by their cell phones, loud music, adjusting controls in the car, eating, passengers or any other activity that takes their attention off the road. It only takes a split second to miss someone in a crosswalk and cause a serious pedestrian accident.
- Impaired drivers: Alcohol and drugs slow reaction time and make it harder to judge speed and distance. National data shows that a large share of deadly pedestrian crashes involve impairment by the driver, the pedestrian or both. Drunk driving accidents involving pedestrians often lead to life-threatening injuries, if not death, with hit-and-run pedestrian crashes common when the driver is impaired.
- Drivers failing to yield: Florida law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians who are lawfully in a marked or unmarked crosswalk, yet many crashes happen when drivers roll through turns or try to beat a red light at an intersection.
- Drivers making left-hand turns: Studies have found that left-turn crashes with pedestrians are more common and often more severe than right-turn crashes because drivers focus on oncoming traffic instead of people in the crosswalk. However, when the driver has a green light and the pedestrian has a “Walk” light, the pedestrian has the right of way.
- Drivers backing up: Backup accidents happen when a driver is reversing and doesn’t see a pedestrian behind them, causing a collision. These types of crashes commonly occur in parking lots and driveways, especially when drivers back out quickly or rely solely on their mirrors to see behind them.
- Drivers speeding: Driving above posted speed limits decreases a driver’s reaction time while increasing the amount of time it takes to stop the car. The higher the impact speed at the time of the crash, the greater the risk of serious injury and death to the pedestrian.
- Nighttime and low-visibility conditions. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and NHTSA both report that a large share of pedestrian deaths happen at night, often in places without sidewalks or good lighting, which makes it much harder for drivers to spot people on foot.
Worst Pedestrian Accidents in Florida
Florida has experienced many devastating pedestrian crashes on busy urban corridors and high-speed state roads. Officials emphasize that pedestrians have the highest fatality rate among all road users in the state, which means even a single mistake by a driver can have life-changing consequences.
Rather than ranking individual tragedies, it’s more helpful to look at what many of Florida’s worst pedestrian crashes have in common, which includes:
- High-speed, multi-lane roads. Crashes on wide arterials with elevated speed limits often cause the most severe injuries because drivers have less time to react and pedestrians must spend more time exposed in the roadway.
- Few safe crossings. Long stretches without marked crosswalks or signals push people to cross mid-block when they’d prefer a safer route.
- Drivers who are impaired or distracted. Some of the most serious Florida crashes involve drivers who were drinking, using drugs or looking at their phones instead of the road.
- Nighttime conditions. Many fatal crashes in Florida occur after dark, when glare, shadows and poor lighting make it harder for drivers to see people walking near the roadway.
- Hit-and-run collisions. In 2023, there were 104,273 hit-and-run crashes in Florida, with 271 fatalities. About 76% of those killed were pedestrians or bicyclists, showing how vulnerable road users are even more vulnerable when drivers flee instead of stopping to help.
These patterns are important because they help Florin|Roebig personal injury attorneys identify every factor that contributed to a crash, from driver behavior to road design, when they’re building a claim for an injured pedestrian or a grieving family.
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Types of Pedestrian Injuries
Unlike motorists, pedestrians have no protection in a crash, so even low-speed impacts can cause serious injuries. In our experience handling Florida pedestrian accident cases, some of the common injuries that pedestrians sustain include:
- Soft tissue injury: Sprains, strains, bruising and damage to muscles, ligaments and tendons can cause lasting pain and limit your ability to work or enjoy daily activities, especially if medical treatment is delayed.
- Broken bones: Many victims of pedestrian collisions sustain fractures and broken bones in the legs, pelvis, arms, ribs or face. These types of injuries can be extremely painful and may require surgical intervention to make a full recovery.
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI): A pedestrian’s head can hit the vehicle or the pavement, potentially causing concussions or more severe traumatic brain injuries that can impact memory, mood, balance and thinking, sometimes for life. Head injuries are among the most common causes of long-term disability and death in pedestrian-motor vehicle accidents.
- Spinal cord injury: Damage to the spinal cord or vertebrae can cause chronic back pain, numbness, weakness or partial or complete paralysis, which often means extensive medical care and major lifestyle changes. These catastrophic injuries can lead to enormous medical expenses.
- Internal injuries. Blunt-force trauma can injure organs like the liver, spleen or lungs or cause internal bleeding that may not be obvious right away but can be life-threatening without prompt medical treatment.
- Emotional trauma. Many pedestrians develop anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a violent crash, and these emotional injuries are just as real as physical ones.
Florin|Roebig attorneys work with medical experts to understand the full impact of these and other injuries so your claim reflects both current and future losses.
What Should I Do After Being Hit by a Car?
Right after a crash, it’s normal to feel dazed or overwhelmed, but the actions you take in those first few hours and days can protect your health and your ability to pursue compensation later. You may not know immediately after a wreck happens whether you’ll need to sue the liable party for damages, so protect your physical and financial recovery with these steps.
1. Seek Medical Attention
Injured pedestrians should always seek immediate medical treatment. Even if you think you’re okay, adrenaline can hide serious injuries. Call 911. Don’t assume that a bystander will call emergency services for you. The longer you wait to be evaluated by a medical professional, the harder it is for you to prove that your injuries are a result of the accident.
2. Take Photos of the Scene
If you’re physically able, get your cell phone out and take pictures. Be sure to include photos of any visible injuries you sustained, the accident scene and surrounding area, as well as any property damage. Photos are the best way to provide an accurate account of how the accident occurred and who was at fault.
3. Report the Accident to the Police
Contact the police as soon as possible to report the accident. Give an honest description regarding how the accident occurred, but don’t make any statements admitting fault. The other party’s insurance company will utilize any police reports to make a determination on liability based on who was cited for the accident.
4. File an Insurance Claim
Time is of the essence when filing an insurance claim. In Florida, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim for a pedestrian accident is two years, which is the same for a wrongful death claim. Also, even though you were walking, if you own a vehicle in Florida, your personal injury policy (PIP) usually still applies.
5. Get Follow-Up Medical Care
If you want to make a full recovery and simultaneously build a strong personal injury case, you must show that you followed the doctor’s orders regarding medical care. Follow your treatment plan carefully and keep notes on how your injuries impact your work and daily life.
6. Keep All Your Receipts
Track all your accident-related expenses by keeping copies of your medical bills, prescriptions and mileage to medical appointments. These bills help document medical expenses and support pain and suffering claims. Also, keep documentation showing lost wages and any out-of-pocket expenses related to your accident to obtain full reimbursement of all costs.
7. Retain a Florida Pedestrian Accident Attorney
When you’re injured in a pedestrian accident caused by someone else, always seek legal advice to determine the best course of action. A knowledgeable Florin|Roebig attorney can explain how Florida’s no-fault system, fault rules and deadlines apply to your case. We can also identify every possible source of coverage and manage communication with insurers so you can focus on recovery.
What Are Pedestrian Accident Claims Worth?
When a pedestrian accident leaves you seriously injured, it is natural to wonder how much compensation you can expect to receive. However, finding information on “average” settlements won’t help you get an accurate estimate of what your personal injury claim is worth.
Many factors can affect your settlement, some of which are out of your control. The outcome of your case is largely dependent on the seriousness of your injuries, the cost of your current and future medical treatment for those injuries, how much work you miss and how much insurance coverage is available.
Having the right pedestrian accident lawyer on your side helps get you the best settlement, and this is something you can control.
The experienced personal injury lawyers at Florin|Roebig have been helping injured pedestrians and other accident victims recover damages since 1985. Our firm has recovered more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients, including significant results in pedestrian cases such as:
- $1.5 million pedestrian injury settlement
- $1.1 million pedestrian injury settlement
- $1.1 million child pedestrian injury settlement
Past results don’t guarantee what any new case will recover, but they show that Florin|Roebig is prepared to fully investigate complex crashes, work with experts and take cases to trial when insurers refuse to offer fair compensation.
We Are Nationally Awarded Lawyers
Contact Our Florida Pedestrian Injury Attorneys Today
Don’t let the insurance adjusters determine what your injuries are worth! The Florida pedestrian accident lawyers at Florin|Roebig can step in to investigate the crash, protect you from aggressive adjusters, and build a strong claim for the full compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for real-time assistance and a free consultation with a detailed case review from any of our Florida personal injury offices. We can also help clients in Minnesota, Texas and Colorado. Florin|Roebig has a team of personal injury attorneys looking forward to helping you get a fair settlement for your pedestrian injury case.
Top personal injury attorneys serving Florida pedestrian accident victims include:
- Wil H. Florin, B.C.S.
- Tommy D. Roebig, B.C.S.
- Shaun M. Cummings
- Neil P. O’Brien, M.B.A.
- Luca G. Esposito
- Chad K. Florin, M.B.A., LL.M.
- John J. Hart
- Parker Y. Florin, LL.M.
- Taylor D. Roebig
- Hal S. Weitzenfeld
- Michael A. Ossi, O.C.
- Lawrence J. Najem, O.C.
- Nollys R. Solarte, O.C.
For more information or to schedule a free consultation:
- Visit florinroebig.com to request more information
- Call our phone number 24/7
- Email us at info@florinroebig.com
If you or someone you love was hit by a car, contact Florin|Roebig today to speak with a knowledgeable Florida pedestrian accident attorney and learn about your options moving forward. Your consultation is free, and we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless our firm recovers damages for you.
