Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Palm Beach County — Representing Victims of Florida's Most Dangerous Roads
Florida is the most dangerous state in the country for pedestrians. It has led the nation in pedestrian fatalities for years — and Palm Beach County, with its heavy traffic on US-1, Federal Highway, Okeechobee Boulevard, and Southern Boulevard, is among Florida’s most hazardous areas for people on foot. If you or a family member was struck by a vehicle while walking, crossing a street, or otherwise on foot, you have the right to pursue full compensation from the at-fault driver.
At Hughes and Barnard Law Firm, PA, our attorneys have spent more than 75 years combined representing personal injury victims throughout Palm Beach County, Martin County, and St. Lucie County. We have recovered over $150 million for our clients. Pedestrian accident cases typically involve the most serious injuries of any personal injury category — our firm has the experience, resources, and tenacity to pursue the full value of your claim.
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Why Pedestrian Accidents Cause the Most Severe Injuries
A pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle has no protection whatsoever. No seatbelt, no airbag, no steel frame. The entire force of the collision is absorbed by the human body. This is why pedestrian accidents consistently produce the most catastrophic injuries in personal injury law:
- Traumatic brain injuries — the impact of being thrown to the pavement or against a vehicle can cause severe TBIs, including skull fractures, cerebral hemorrhage, and diffuse axonal injury
- Spinal cord injuries — including partial or complete paralysis resulting from the impact or the secondary fall
- Fractures — pelvis, femur, tibia, hip, wrist, and skull fractures are common in pedestrian collisions
- Internal injuries — organ damage, internal bleeding, and chest trauma
- Soft tissue damage — severe road rash, muscle and tendon tears, and ligament damage
- Death — Florida's pedestrian fatality rate is the highest in the nation; wrongful death claims are tragically common in this practice area
Florida Pedestrian Laws and Driver Duties
Florida law imposes clear duties on drivers with respect to pedestrians. When those duties are violated, the driver is liable for the resulting harm. The most important provisions:
- Drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and at intersections with pedestrian signals — Florida Statute 316.130
- Drivers must use due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian and must sound the horn when necessary — this duty applies even where pedestrians are jaywalking
- Drivers must exercise caution when children or elderly pedestrians are present
- No-turn-on-red violations and failure to yield at crosswalks are leading causes of pedestrian fatality in Florida
Importantly, even if a pedestrian was not in a marked crosswalk at the time of the accident, Florida law still requires drivers to exercise reasonable care to avoid hitting pedestrians in the roadway. A pedestrian who jaywalks may still recover damages if the driver was primarily at fault.
Dangerous Roads for Pedestrians in Palm Beach County and St. Lucie County
Our firm’s attorneys are familiar with the specific road corridors in our service area that produce the highest rate of pedestrian accidents:
- US-1 / Federal Highway through Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Delray Beach, and Boca Raton — multi-lane, high-speed arterial with numerous mid-block crossing attempts
- Okeechobee Boulevard (SR-704) — a designated high injury network road in Palm Beach County
- Southern Boulevard — high pedestrian injury concentration near commercial districts and transit stops
- Lake Worth Road through Lake Worth Beach — significant pedestrian activity on a high-speed corridor
- US-1 in Port St. Lucie, Stuart, and Fort Pierce — Martin and St. Lucie County pedestrian accident hot spots
- SR-80 / Southern Boulevard — rural and suburban stretches with inadequate pedestrian infrastructure and high posted speeds
Pedestrian Accident Claims — What You Can Recover
- Emergency medical care, hospitalization, surgery, and rehabilitation costs
- Future medical expenses — including long-term care, assistive devices, home modification, and ongoing therapy
- Lost wages and future earning capacity if the injury affects your ability to work
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress — pedestrian injuries often involve prolonged, painful recoveries
- Loss of consortium for a spouse whose partner was seriously injured
- Wrongful death damages for families who lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident
Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accidents in Florida
Hit-and-run accidents involving pedestrians are disturbingly common in Florida. When the driver flees, victims may feel they have no recourse — but there are several avenues for compensation even when the at-fault driver cannot be identified. Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your auto insurance policy may provide compensation to pedestrians struck by unidentified or uninsured drivers. Additionally, if the accident occurred because of a defective road condition (missing crosswalk markings, broken traffic signals, inadequate lighting), there may be a claim against the government entity responsible for road maintenance. Hughes and Barnard investigates all possible sources of recovery after a hit-and-run pedestrian accident.
Serving Palm Beach County, Martin County, and St. Lucie County
Hughes and Barnard Law Firm, PA represents pedestrian accident victims throughout Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Greenacres, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Hobe Sound, Stuart, Port St. Lucie, and all of Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie Counties. Contact us at (561) 296-9400 for a free, confidential consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions: Pedestrian Accidents in Florida
What if the pedestrian accident was partly my fault?
Florida’s modified comparative negligence law (effective March 2023) allows you to recover damages as long as you were not more than 50% at fault. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If a driver ran a red light and struck you in a crosswalk, there is typically very little room for a comparative fault argument against you.
The insurance company already offered me a settlement — should I accept?
Do not accept any settlement offer from an insurance company without first consulting an attorney. Insurance companies routinely make early, lowball offers to pedestrian accident victims before the full extent of injuries is known. Accepting a settlement releases all future claims — meaning if your injuries prove more serious than initially apparent, you cannot go back for additional compensation. Hughes and Barnard can review any offer you’ve received at no cost.
How long does a pedestrian accident case take to resolve?
Timeline varies significantly based on injury severity, liability clarity, and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Many pedestrian accident claims settle within 6–18 months. Cases involving catastrophic injuries or disputed liability may take longer to maximize the recovery. We keep clients informed throughout the process and never pressure you to accept a settlement that doesn’t reflect the full value of your case.
Injured as a pedestrian in Florida? You deserve full compensation.
Call (561) 296-9400 for a free consultation, no fee unless we win.