Coral Springs Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
When a driver’s negligence leaves you injured, Florida law gives you a direct path to hold the responsible driver accountable. But the clock is already ticking—there are strict deadlines and rules that govern your claim. For instance, you generally must seek medical care within 14 days to use your own auto insurance benefits. And, due to a recent change in the law, you now have only two years to file a lawsuit for your injuries.
At the Law Firm of Cindy Goldstein, we lift this legal burden from your shoulders. For over two decades, we have handled only personal injury claims in South Florida, giving us a deep understanding of how to protect your recovery. We are here to provide clear answers and determined representation.
For a no-cost, no-pressure discussion about your situation, call us at (954) 346-5420.
Why Choose the Law Firm of Cindy Goldstein?
When you become our client, you work directly with attorney Cindy Goldstein. You get a direct line to the person managing your claim, ensuring your questions are answered by someone who knows you and the details of your case.
Our practice has been dedicated exclusively to helping injured individuals in South Florida for over 20 years. This focus gives us detailed knowledge of the local courts, insurance tactics, and legal strategies that define claims in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties. We don’t handle any other area of law; our entire commitment is to personal injury recovery.
Our promise to you is built on your peace of mind:
- A No-Cost Case Review: We will listen to your story, review the facts, and explain your legal options in simple, clear language. This initial conversation costs you nothing.
- A No-Win, No-Fee Promise: We operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay us no fees unless and until we secure compensation for you. Our payment depends on your success.
- A Local Presence: Our office is at 10100 W Sample Rd, Ste 200, right here in Coral Springs. We are part of this community—not some faceless firm on the other side of the country—and are ready to help our neighbors when they need it most.
What Does Full Compensation Look Like After a Pedestrian Accident?
The purpose of a personal injury claim is to secure compensation that addresses every loss the accident has forced upon you. It’s about rebuilding your financial stability so you can dedicate your energy to your physical and emotional healing. This compensation is generally broken into three distinct categories.
Economic Damages: The Paper Trail of the Accident
These are the black-and-white costs of the collision—the expenses with a clear price tag that we can document with bills, receipts, and income statements.
- Medical Bills: This includes everything from the ambulance ride and emergency room care to future surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, and any necessary medical devices.
- Lost Wages: Compensation for the income you could not earn while recovering.
- Diminished Earning Capacity: If the injury is severe enough to prevent you from returning to your former job or earning the same income in the future, this accounts for that long-term financial shortfall.
- Rehabilitation Costs: This covers any occupational, physical, or vocational therapy required to help you regain skills, independence, and the ability to work.
Non-Economic Damages: The Human Cost of the Harm
These damages compensate for the ways the accident has rewritten your daily life.
- Pain and Suffering: For the physical pain and emotional distress your injuries have caused, both in the moment of the accident and the pain that lingers.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: For being unable to take part in hobbies, family events, or the simple daily activities you enjoyed before you were hurt.
- Mental Anguish: For the anxiety, fear, or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that arises after being struck by a vehicle.
- Scarring and Disfigurement: For the permanent physical reminders of the collision that can change your appearance and affect your self-confidence.
Punitive Damages: A Penalty for Extreme Recklessness
In rare instances where a driver’s conduct was shockingly irresponsible—such as in some DUI cases or extreme speeding situations—Florida law allows for punitive damages. These are not designed to cover your losses. Instead, their purpose is to punish the at-fault party for gross negligence and to discourage others from similar behavior.
Proving entitlement to these damages requires meeting a high legal standard, but we always investigate whether the driver’s actions were so horrible that they justify this extra measure of accountability.
Understanding Pedestrian Risks in Coral Springs and Broward County
A pedestrian can be hit by a car anywhere, but certain local roads present a higher risk. Heavy traffic, high speeds, and sprawling intersections create conditions where a moment of driver distraction can lead to disaster.
Dangerous Roads and Intersections in the Coral Springs Area
Based on our experience, we see accidents concentrate at or near major roads where vehicles and people on foot converge:
- Sample Road, particularly at intersections with University Drive, Coral Springs Drive, and Riverside Drive.
- University Drive, at intersections with Royal Palm Boulevard and Atlantic Boulevard.
- Wiles Road, especially where it crosses University Drive and Coral Ridge Drive.
- Atlantic Boulevard, a high-volume corridor for both local and commuter traffic.
A Look at the Statistics in Our Area
Broward County is consistently one of the most dangerous places for pedestrians in Florida and the nation.
- The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach metro area is repeatedly ranked among the most hazardous for pedestrians in the entire country.
- In one recent year, Broward County recorded over 1,000 pedestrian crashes, which led to dozens of tragic deaths.
- Many of these accidents occur away from intersections as a driver turns without properly checking for people already in the street.
- Time of day is a major factor. Reduced visibility during dusk and nighttime hours contributes to a higher risk, playing a part in many serious and fatal accidents.
The Anatomy of a Florida Pedestrian Accident Claim
While every case has its own story, they are all built on proving a driver’s negligence directly caused your injuries. This requires a detailed investigation into the crash, a full accounting of the harm you’ve suffered, and a clear-eyed understanding of the state laws that control your right to recovery.
Common Causes We See in Pedestrian Cases
Most pedestrian collisions are not true “accidents” but the predictable result of a driver’s poor choices. The most common causes include:
- Distracted Driving: A driver who is texting, on the phone, or otherwise not focused on the road.
- Failure to Yield the Right-of-Way: Drivers who ignore their legal duty to stop for pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks.
- Speeding: A driver moving too fast for the conditions, especially in residential areas or zones with lower speed limits.
- Impaired Driving: A driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which destroys judgment, coordination, and reaction time.
- Turning Without Looking: Drivers making turns at intersections who fail to see a person already crossing the street.
Injuries That Can Rewrite Your Future
A person on foot has no defense against the force of a two-ton vehicle. The resulting injuries are severe and can carry lifelong consequences.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): These might range from a concussion with lingering symptoms like headaches and confusion to severe brain damage causing permanent cognitive and physical impairments.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord easily results in partial or complete paralysis, fundamentally altering a person’s mobility and independence.
- Multiple Bone Fractures: The legs, hips, pelvis, and arms are frequently broken in these accidents, often demanding surgery and months of rehabilitation.
- Internal Organ Damage: These injuries may not be obvious at first but can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated quickly.
- Significant Scarring and Disfigurement: Deep cuts and road rash can leave permanent scars that serve as a constant, painful reminder of the trauma.
Key Florida Laws That Will Shape Your Claim
Several Florida statutes directly impact how a pedestrian accident claim unfolds.
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Florida is a “no-fault” state, which means your own PIP insurance provides the first layer of coverage for your medical bills, paying up to $10,000. Think of it as emergency financial first aid. However, for this coverage to apply, you must seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident.
- The Serious Injury Threshold: To step outside the no-fault system and make a claim against the at-fault driver for non-economic damages like pain and suffering, your injury must meet a specific legal standard. Under Florida Statute 627.737, this means proving the injury is permanent, involves significant and permanent scarring, or results in the significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function.
- Modified Comparative Negligence: Florida law recognizes that fault can sometimes be shared. Following a recent change to the law, if you are found partially at fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For instance, if you were found 10% at fault, your final award is cut by 10%. However, if a jury decides you were more than 50% at fault, you are blocked from recovering any compensation at all.
- The Statute of Limitations: The law imposes a strict deadline for filing a lawsuit. For most negligence claims in Florida, you now have only two years from the date of the accident to file your case. If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to seek compensation forever.
A Word on the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Company
Soon after the accident, you will likely get a call from the other driver’s insurance adjuster. It is important to understand their role.
A Fundamental Conflict of Interest
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses. Every dollar they pay in a claim is a dollar less in profit. This creates a direct conflict between their goal—to pay as little as possible—and your need for full and fair compensation. We’re here to hold them accountable and make sure they are fair.
Common Things to Watch For
- The Recorded Statement: They will ask for a recorded statement about what happened. It is always best to politely decline until you have spoken with a lawyer.
- The Low, Early Settlement Offer: Some insurers offer a quick check, sometimes just days after the accident. This offer looks tempting when bills are piling up, but it is almost always a fraction of your claim’s true value. Accepting it requires you to sign away your right to any future compensation, even if your injuries turn out to be worse than you initially thought.
- The Sweeping Medical Authorization Form: They may send you a form asking for broad permission to access your entire medical history. What they’re actually doing is they’re looking for any pre-existing condition, no matter how old or unrelated, to see if your pain isn’t from this accident. We ensure they only get records directly relevant to the injuries from this incident.
What You Should Do Now to Protect Your Claim
While our firm handles the legal strategy, insurance negotiations, and deadlines, there are steps you should take to strengthen your own case.
- Prioritize Your Medical Treatment: Attend every doctor’s appointment and physical therapy session. Follow every treatment plan. Gaps in your medical care are red flags for an insurance company, who will argue it’s “proof” your injuries weren’t that serious.
- Document Your Daily Reality: Keep a simple journal. Each day, note how you felt. What activities were difficult or impossible? This log fills in the human story that medical records miss, describing the pain that flares up on a cold morning or the frustration of not being able to walk your dog.
- Create a Central Folder for Paperwork: Keep every bill, receipt, insurer’s explanation of benefits, and pay stub related to the accident in one place. A strong case is built one piece of paper at a time.
- Go Silent on Social Media: It is best to stop posting about the accident, your recovery, or even your daily activities online. Assume the insurance adjuster is looking at your profiles. A single photo of you at dinner can be twisted to argue you aren’t as injured as you claim.
- Direct All Calls to Our Office: You do not have to speak to any insurance representative. Once we represent you, you can simply tell them, “My attorney is handling all communications,” and give them our number: (954) 346-5420. We’ll take it from there.
Frequently Asked Questions About Coral Springs Pedestrian Accidents
What if the driver who hit me fled the scene or has no insurance?
This is a terrifying situation, but you still have a path to compensation. We first look to your own auto insurance policy for Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. This is optional coverage that acts as the at-fault driver’s insurance when they have none or not enough.
I was crossing the street outside of a crosswalk. Do I still have a case?
Yes. While crossing outside a crosswalk may mean you are assigned a percentage of fault, it doesn’t automatically prevent you from recovering compensation. Drivers have a duty to see what is there to be seen and avoid a collision if possible—it doesn’t matter where.
How long will my pedestrian accident case take to resolve?
There is no fixed timeline. A straightforward case with clear fault and moderate injuries might settle in several months. A case involving severe injuries or a dispute over who was at fault that requires filing a lawsuit could take a year or more. The most significant factors are the severity of your injuries and how willing the insurance company is to offer a fair settlement without a long fight.
What if I was hit by a delivery driver or someone working for a company?
It might open up additional sources for recovery. In these situations, we can often bring a claim against both the negligent driver and their employer’s corporate insurance policy. Generally, companies are responsible for the actions of their employees while they are on the clock.
My child was injured in a pedestrian accident. How are cases involving minors handled?
Cases with injured children require special care. Any settlement for a minor must typically get court approval. This process ensures the settlement is fair and the funds are protected for the child’s future. The money is usually placed in a restricted account that the child can access once they become a legal adult.
Should I use my health insurance to pay medical bills if my PIP runs out?
Yes, absolutely. Your health is the priority, so you should use your health insurance to continue getting all necessary medical care after your PIP benefits are used up. Your personal injury settlement will then include money to reimburse you for any co-pays and deductibles you paid and to repay your health insurer for the bills they covered.
Let Us Clear the Path, So You Can Focus on Healing
Your energy should be for getting better, not for battling an insurance company. Let us manage every deadline, every phone call, and every legal filing.
Contact the Law Firm of Cindy Goldstein for a free, confidential conversation about your rights. Call us today at (954) 346-5420 and let us help.