St. Petersburg Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in St. Petersburg
Pedestrian accidents in St. Petersburg can almost always be traced back to driver behavior. When a driver's attention slips or speeding compounds the danger of momentary mistakes, the person on foot often has no protection.
Our St. Petersburg pedestrian accident lawyers see the same causes come up in case after case. They include:
- Distracted driving due to phones, navigation apps, and infotainment systems
- Impaired driving involving alcohol or drugs
- Drowsy driving after long shifts or overnight travel
- Failure to yield at crosswalks and stop signs
- Speeding through residential streets and downtown corridors
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Turning through crosswalks without checking for walkers
- Backing out of driveways and parking spots without looking
- Poor visibility from unlit streets, tinted windows, or blocked sight lines
Road defects, malfunctioning traffic signals, and missing crosswalk markings can also play a role in pedestrian accidents. When a public entity fails to fix a known hazard, it may share responsibility for any resulting mishaps.
St. Petersburg Pedestrian Accident Cases We Take On
Not every pedestrian collision looks the same. The point of impact, the driver's actions, and the location can all change the character of the case. We routinely handle claims arising from the following scenarios:
- Crosswalk collisions at both signalized and unsignalized intersections
- Left-turn and right-turn impacts as drivers cut across a walker's path
- Rear-end crashes when pedestrians are pushed into travel lanes
- Backover incidents in parking lots and driveways
- Multiple-vehicle wrecks involving a secondary impact
- Hit-and-run collisions
- Sidewalk strikes when a driver leaves the roadway
- School zone and bus stop crashes
- Rideshare and delivery vehicle collisions with pedestrians
- Fatal pedestrian accidents leading to wrongful death claims
Injuries Victims Suffer in Pedestrian Accidents
A person traveling on foot absorbs the full force of an impact, with no crumple zone, airbag, or seat belt to soften the blow. Even a low-speed hit from a passenger vehicle can cause catastrophic damage. Common pedestrian accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and concussions
- Skull fractures
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Broken bones in the legs, arms, ribs, and pelvis
- Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
- Deep lacerations and severe road rash
- Burns from friction or vehicle contact
- Amputations and crush injuries
- Soft tissue damage in the neck, back, and joints
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Life-threatening and fatal injuries
Serious pedestrian crashes can also leave survivors with lasting mental harm, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Pedestrian Accident in St. Petersburg?
The liability for a pedestrian accident often extends beyond the negligent actor behind the wheel. Depending on the facts of the case, more than one party may share responsibility.
The most common defendant in these cases is an individual driver who committed negligent, distracted, impaired, or reckless actions behind the wheel.
If the driver was on the clock working for a delivery service, rideshare service, trucking company, or other employer at the time of the accident, the employer may share liability under the principle of vicarious liability.
If the at-fault driver was operating someone else's vehicle with permission, the vehicle owner's personal insurance may apply.
Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and similar companies carry extensive commercial coverage that may apply if the driver involved in the accident was logged into the app at the time.
The City of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, or the Florida Department of Transportation may share liability if a broken signal, faded crosswalk, missing piece of signage, or dangerous road design played a role in the wreck. Government claims come with shorter notice deadlines and different procedures.
When faulty brakes, tires, or backup cameras contribute to preventable accidents, product liability claims can help injury victims obtain crucial financial support.
Identifying every liable party is pivotal, as it opens up more potential sources of compensation for your claim.
Florida Laws That May Affect Your Claim
Florida law sets the basic rules that govern pedestrian accident claims. Here are some of the statutes that may apply in your case.
Florida assigns clear responsibilities to both drivers and pedestrians. More specifically, pedestrians have the right-of-way in marked crosswalks and at intersections, must obey traffic signals, and must use sidewalks where available. A pedestrian who violates one of these rules can be assigned some share of fault, but a violation doesn’t automatically bar recovery.
Under the state’s modified comparative negligence rule, an injury victim’s damages can be reduced by their percentage of liability, and they’ll be disqualified from seeking compensation entirely when they’re more than 50% at fault. Insurance carriers sometimes cite this rule to shift the blame to injured walkers. Our lawyers can make sure this doesn’t happen to you.
Most personal injury lawsuits arising from pedestrian collisions must be filed within two years of the incident in Florida. Wrongful death cases also have a two-year window, although the clock starts running on the date of death.
Since Florida is a no-fault state, an injured pedestrian who carries an active auto policy can receive personal injury protection benefits that cover up to 80% of their medical expenses and up to 60% of their lost wages. If their injuries meet the state’s threshold for qualifying as “serious,” they have the right to pursue the at-fault driver for the rest.
When a government entity bears liability for an accident, the victim must serve a formal pre-suit notice on the agency, and strict damage caps apply. These cases move on a different track than standard injury claims, which makes it important to seek qualified legal assistance.
Steps to Take After a Pedestrian Accident in St. Petersburg
A few simple steps can help you prioritize your well-being and safeguard your right to pursue a claim for compensation. Here’s what to focus on:
- Call 911: The police report will create an official record of the crash and kick off a full investigation. Make sure to ask the responding officer for the report number.
- Get medical treatment on the scene: Let first responders assess you, and go to the emergency room if they recommend it, even if you don’t think you’re seriously hurt.
- Document everything you can: Take photos of the accident scene, the vehicle, the point of impact, any skid marks, crosswalk markings, traffic signals, and your injuries.
- Gather witness contact information: Write down names, phone numbers, and short descriptions of what each person saw. Their account could prove instrumental.
- Don’t admit fault: When talking to the police or the driver, stick to the facts and avoid speculating about details like speed, distance, or who was in the wrong.
- Follow through on medical care: Attend every check-up, physical therapy session, and specialist appointment to make sure there are no problematic gaps in treatment.
- Preserve all relevant documents: Hold onto discharge paperwork, medical bills, prescription receipts, and any letters or messages you get from insurance providers.
- Refuse to give recorded statements to insurers: Notify your own carrier of the accident as your policy requires, but don’t say anything to the at-fault party’s company.
- Hire a pedestrian accident lawyer: Contact Zervos & Calta PLLC as soon as you can. We’ll preserve key evidence and use it as leverage to negotiate a fair settlement.
Compensation Available in Pedestrian Accident Cases
The consequences of a pedestrian accident reach far beyond the emergency room. Recoverable losses generally fall into two main categories.
Economic damages provide compensation for the measurable financial impact of the crash.
This may include primary medical treatment, projected future care (such as surgeries, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and long-term nursing needs), wages lost during recovery, reduced earning capacity, and out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions, mobility devices, and transportation to and from appointments.
Non-economic damages address intangible losses tied to the victim’s injuries. You might stand to recover damages for physical pain, permanent scarring and disfigurement, mobility restrictions, loss of the ability to take part in hobbies and daily activities, emotional distress, anxiety, and PTSD.
When a pedestrian accident victim loses their life, their surviving family members may pursue wrongful death damages for lost companionship, guidance, and support. In rare instances, punitive damages may also be available if the responsible party’s conduct was grossly negligent or intentional, such as drunk driving or a hit-and-run.
The value of your case depends on many factors, including attribution of fault, medical evidence, how long your treatment lasts, and how much the crash has altered your daily life.
The Attorneys Who Will
Handle Your Case from Day One
"Insurance companies have teams of lawyers. You deserve an attorney who knows your name and fights just as hard for you."Angela Zervos
With 20+ years of undefeated litigation experience, Angela delivers aggressive advocacy and genuine care for every client.
"Our clients aren't case numbers. They're our neighbors who need someone who genuinely cares about their recovery."Lauren Calta
With 30 years of courtroom experience, Lauren blends fierce representation with compassion and clear communication.
Why St. Petersburg Injury Victims Choose Zervos & Calta PLLC
Proven Trial Experience
Founding attorneys Angela Zervos and Lauren Calta have nearly six decades of combined litigation experience in Florida courts, with an undefeated trial record spanning more than 20 years.
Direct Attorney Involvement
Angela or Lauren will personally handle your pedestrian accident case from intake through resolution. You’ll never be handed off to an associate or paralegal.
24/7 Access
You can call our firm at any hour and reach the attorneys managing your case, who will always be there to address your questions and concerns.
Transparent Fee Structure
We don’t charge any retainers or other upfront fees. We only get paid if we win for you.
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Serving St. Petersburg and Nearby Pinellas County Communities
From our St. Petersburg office, we proudly serve injured pedestrians throughout Pinellas County, including Clearwater, Largo, Palm Harbor, Pinellas Park, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Seminole, Oldsmar, and Tarpon Springs.
Hold the Person Who Injured You Accountable
A pedestrian accident can turn a simple walk into weeks of painful recovery, mounting bills, and unanswered questions. Fortunately, you don't have to face what comes next on your own.
Reach out to the dedicated St. Petersburg pedestrian accident lawyers at Zervos & Calta PLLC for a free case review. We’ll examine the facts of your case, inform you of your rights, and lay out what the path forward could look like.
FAQs
Nothing up front. At Zervos & Calta PLLC, we accept pedestrian accident cases on a contingency basis. This means our fee comes from the recovery obtained through settlement or verdict. If we don’t get compensation for you, you’ll owe us nothing.
Yes, in most cases. Florida's modified comparative negligence rule allows pedestrians to seek compensation for their injuries as long as their share of fault doesn’t exceed 50%. We’ll collect and present the evidence needed to show that the other party was primarily responsible.
Recovery may still be on the table in a hit-and-run case. It’s possible that the police will identify the at-fault party later on. And if not, your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage might help cover some or or all of your losses.
It depends on several factors. Simple cases can often be resolved in a few months after the victim’s treatment ends. Serious injury cases and those involving liability disputes may take a year or longer. We’ll give you a better idea of what to expect during your initial consultation.
Most pedestrian cases settle without a trial. That said, insurers typically pay out more when they know that the injury victim’s legal representatives are ready to try the case. With Angela's undefeated trial record and Lauren’s 30 years of courtroom experience, we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial and aren’t afraid to litigate when a fair settlement isn’t on the table.