Pedestrian injuries in Florida tend to be severe because there is nothing between you and a moving vehicle — no airbag, no metal frame, and no seatbelt to absorb the impact. Injuries from a pedestrian accident can be catastrophic. You may even be hospitalized, worried about who will pay the medical bills and how you will care for yourself.
Coral Springs pedestrian accident lawyers at Cindy Goldstein Law offer a free case review so you know where you stand before you make any decisions. Cindy Goldstein Law can even come to the hospital to review your legal rights with you, at your request. Contact the firm today.
How Cindy Goldstein Law Handles Pedestrian Accident Cases in Coral Springs
Many large firms do not provide direct access to the managing attorney when you call with your potential case. When you contact Cindy Goldstein Law after a pedestrian accident, you are offered a free and prompt consultation with Cindy Goldstein.
Cindy personally walks through the details of your situation during a free consultation, answers your questions, and explains how the claims process works before you commit to anything.
What the Firm Does Differently
Some pedestrian accident firms in South Florida hand cases off to case managers and paralegals, and only involve an attorney once a settlement offer arrives. Cindy Goldstein Law and the firm's attorneys are involved from the inception of your case. The attorneys consult with you regarding your medical treatment, helping you understand how your health care decisions relate to the strength of your claim.
Many personal injury firms do not assist their clients with their property damage claims, simply because the firms are not usually compensated for such work. Cindy Goldstein Law is different. The firm also assists with property damage logistics as the firm understands how necessary it is for you to resolve the same quickly in order to get your life back on track. If your vehicle was damaged in the accident, the team can assist with repairs, set up a rental, and handle communication with the insurance company so you can focus on your recovery.
Multilingual Team for the Coral Springs Community
Aside from English, staff members speak Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole. Translated forms, bilingual email communication, and in-person translation during meetings make the process accessible to the diverse communities across Coral Springs and the surrounding Parkland area.
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Where Pedestrian Accidents Happen in Coral Springs
Coral Springs has wide, high-speed corridors that create real dangers for anyone on foot. The mix of commercial shopping plazas, school zones, residential neighborhoods, and commuter traffic along major roads puts pedestrians at risk throughout the city.
High-Risk Roads and Intersections
Based on the types of cases that pedestrian injury attorneys in the Coral Springs area regularly handle, certain locations stand out as particularly dangerous for people on foot:
- Sample Road at the intersections with University Drive, Coral Springs Drive, and Riverside Drive
- University Drive near Royal Palm Boulevard and Atlantic Boulevard
- Wiles Road where it crosses University Drive and Coral Ridge Drive
- Coral Springs Drive near shopping centers and restaurant clusters between Sample Road and Riverside Drive
- Residential neighborhoods where children are playing
Many of these collisions involve drivers making turns without checking for pedestrians who are already in the crosswalk, or drivers distracted by their phones while moving through busy intersections. The layout of some Coral Springs intersections, with wide turning radii and multiple lanes, makes it difficult for drivers to see a person on foot until it is too late.
Florida Laws That Affect Your Pedestrian Accident Claim
Several Florida statutes directly shape how a pedestrian accident claim unfolds. If you are looking to hire a pedestrian accident attorney in Coral Springs, knowing the legal landscape helps you ask better questions during your consultation.
Driver Duties Under Florida Law
Florida Statute § 316.130 sets out the traffic regulations governing both drivers and pedestrians. Drivers at intersections with traffic signals must stop and remain stopped for pedestrians who have a permitted signal and are in the crosswalk. At crosswalks without signals, drivers must yield to pedestrians who are on the driver's half of the roadway or approaching closely enough to be in danger.
A driver who violates these duties and hits a pedestrian may face both a traffic infraction and a civil negligence claim. The traffic violation itself may serve as evidence of fault in your personal injury case.
The Two-Year Statute of Limitations
Under Florida Statute § 95.11, as amended by HB 837, you now have two years from the date of a pedestrian accident to file a negligence lawsuit. Before 2023, that window was four years. The clock starts on the day the accident occurs and does not pause for insurance negotiations or ongoing medical treatment.
Modified Comparative Negligence
Florida's comparative fault system under Florida Statute § 768.81 allows the insurance company to argue that you share blame for the accident. If a jury assigns you some percentage of fault, your compensation is reduced by that percentage. If your fault exceeds 50%, you recover nothing.
This law matters in pedestrian cases because insurers frequently argue that the pedestrian crossed outside a crosswalk, entered the road without looking, or wore dark clothing at night. A Coral Springs pedestrian accident law firm that has handled these arguments before knows how to counter them with evidence and legal strategy.
PIP Laws
If pedestrians do not own a motor vehicle or do not otherwise have their own PIP source, they are entitled to PIP coverage from the insurance company of the adverse driver. Cindy Goldstein practiced in the area of PIP litigation for over 20 years and is well versed on the PIP laws to protect your legal rights.
Real Outcomes for People We’ve Helped
What Compensation Might Look Like After a Pedestrian Accident
Pedestrian injuries tend to involve longer recovery periods, higher medical bills, and more time away from work than many other types of personal injury claims. The compensation you may pursue depends on the specific facts of your case, but Florida law recognizes several categories of recoverable losses.
Types of Damages in a Pedestrian Injury Claim
A pedestrian accident claim in Coral Springs may include the following categories of compensation:
- Medical expenses for emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medication, and future medical care related to the injury
- Lost income from time away from work during recovery, along with reduced earning capacity if the injury limits your ability to perform your job going forward
- Pain and suffering for the physical discomfort and emotional distress tied to the permanent injury and the recovery process
- Out-of-pocket costs for transportation to medical appointments, assistive devices, and home care needs
Every personal injury claim is different. The value of a pedestrian accident claim depends on liability, how severe the injuries are, what medical documentation supports the claim, causation of the injuries to the crash, and what insurance coverage is available.
How Insurance Companies Respond to Pedestrian Accident Claims
The insurance company insuring the adverse driver has one goal: pay as little as possible. The adjuster assigned to your case works for that company, not for you, regardless of how friendly or sympathetic the conversation feels.
Common Insurance Tactics in Pedestrian Cases
Insurance adjusters handling pedestrian claims in Coral Springs and across Broward County tend to follow a familiar playbook:
- Requesting a recorded statement early, before you fully understand the extent of your injuries, hoping you say something that undermines your claim later
- Offering a quick, low settlement before you retain counsel, while your medical bills are still piling up, paired with a release that signs away your right to any future compensation
- Blaming the pedestrian for the accident by arguing you crossed outside a crosswalk, entered the road without looking, or failed to wear visible clothing
- Questioning pre-existing conditions in your medical history to argue that your pain and injuries predate the accident
Each of these tactics is designed to reduce the payout or deny your claim entirely. Pedestrian accident lawyers in Coral Springs who have spent years negotiating against these carriers recognize these moves early and respond with the evidence and documentation needed to push back.
Cindy Goldstein Law litigates pedestrian accidents when insurers refuse to negotiate in good faith, and that willingness to litigate strengthens every case the firm handles.
PIP Coverage and Uninsured Motorist Issues in Pedestrian Cases
Florida's no-fault insurance system applies to pedestrian accidents, but the rules look slightly different than they do in a typical car accident.
How PIP Works for Pedestrians
If you carry auto insurance with PIP coverage, your policy pays up to $10,000 for medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the accident. PIP covers 80% of medical expenses and 60% of lost wages. You must seek medical treatment within 14 days of the pedestrian accident or you risk losing access to the full benefit.
If you do not carry your own auto insurance because you do not own a motor vehicle, Florida law provides that you can obtain PIP benefits through the automobile policy of a household member. If none exists, pedestrians are entitled to PIP coverage from the adverse driver. These rules have nuances, and a pedestrian injury attorney in Coral Springs helps sort through which coverage applies to your situation.
When the Driver Has No Bodily Injury Coverage
Florida does not require drivers to carry bodily injury liability insurance. The driver who struck you might have nothing beyond a basic PIP policy or have no insurance at all. You may also be the victim of a hit-and-run crash as a pedestrian. If that happens, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage becomes the main source of compensation for your bodily injury.
If you do not carry UM/UIM coverage, your options for financial recovery may be limited. This is one of the most common and frustrating surprises for pedestrian accident victims in Coral Springs, and it is another reason why speaking with a pedestrian accident attorney early in the process matters.
FAQs for Coral Springs Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
Do I still have a claim if I crossed the street outside of a crosswalk?
Crossing outside a crosswalk does not automatically prevent you from recovering compensation. Florida's comparative negligence system means you might be assigned a percentage of fault, which reduces your recovery. But the driver still has a duty to watch for pedestrians, and a jury considers both parties' actions when assigning fault.
How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident lawsuit in Coral Springs?
You have two years from the date of the accident to file a negligence lawsuit under Florida Statute § 95.11. This deadline does not pause while you negotiate with the insurance company or complete medical treatment. Missing it means losing the right to file suit.
What if the driver who hit me left the scene?
A hit-and-run accident does not eliminate your path to compensation. Your own auto insurance policy's UM/UIM coverage may apply, and law enforcement may still identify the driver through witness accounts, traffic cameras, or other evidence. Contacting a pedestrian accident attorney in Coral Springs right away gives you the best chance of preserving that evidence.
How much does it cost to hire a pedestrian accident law firm?
Cindy Goldstein Law works on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees or costs unless and until the firm recovers compensation for you. The initial consultation is free, and there is no financial risk in reaching out to discuss your case.
My child was hit by a car while walking. How does the process differ for minors?
Depending on the settlement amount, a settlement for a minor typically requires court approval to confirm that the amount is fair and that the funds are protected for the child's future. The compensation is usually placed in a restricted account until the child reaches legal adulthood. Cindy Goldstein Law handles pedestrian accident cases involving children and families throughout the Coral Springs and Parkland area.
Reach Out to Coral Springs Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Who Take Your Case Personally
The insurance company already has a team working against your claim. You need someone working just as hard on your side. Cindy Goldstein Law has spent more than two decades representing injured clients in Coral Springs and the surrounding community, and the firm brings that experience directly to your case from the first phone call through resolution.
If a negligent driver injured you or someone in your family while walking in Coral Springs, do not wait for the insurance company to tell you what your claim is worth. Contact Cindy Goldstein Law today at (954) 346-5420 for a free consultation.