Spinal Cord Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents

When a pedestrian is injured in an accident by a motor vehicle, the injuries can often be catastrophic. Doctors grade spinal cord injuries according to their degree of severity. However, even minor spinal cord injuries with temporary symptoms can still have a significant impact on a victim’s life. Pedestrians who have been injured by a negligent motorist have legal rights to compensation for the harm done to them. Miami pedestrian accident attorney Robert Dixon assists victims in seeking the financial compensation they need to deal with their injuries. The Law Offices of Robert Dixon offers compassionate and seasoned legal representation for clients in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, and throughout South Florida. People who have suffered spinal cord injuries in pedestrian accidents and would like to learn more about their legal options should contact our office today to set up a free consultation regarding your possible claims.

When a motor vehicle strikes an unprotected pedestrian, the pedestrian has a high risk of suffering a spinal cord injury, especially if that vehicle was travelling at a high speed. Vertebrae are the bones that make up the spinal column and protect the nerves that transmit messages between the brain and the body. When spinal cord injuries sever these nerves, the brain may lose its pathway for communicating with the rest of the body, which can impact a person’s ability to move or feel certain sensations. An incomplete spinal cord injury may lead to pain, numbness or tingling in the part of the body affected, while complete spinal cord injuries result in paralysis. Quadriplegia refers to paralysis affecting all four limbs, while paraplegia only affects those below the torso. Whether a victim’s spinal cord injury is complete or incomplete, chronic pain as well as the loss of function can have long-lasting effects on the ability to work or participate in activities they once enjoyed before an accident. Those who have negligently caused such injuries need to be held accountable for those losses.

Pedestrian accidents can happen anywhere a person is on foot, from busy roads to parking lots or even sidewalks. Most of these accidents occur because of a motorist’s negligence, which is also the necessary basis for a personal injury suit arising out of these incidents. Negligence exists when a party breaches a duty of reasonable care to another, causing that person’s injury, and resulting in damages. Drivers owe pedestrians the same duty of care that they owe each other as well as anyone using the road - to act as a reasonable and prudent person would when faced with the same or similar circumstances. A breach of this duty could be excessive speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, or other reckless actions that lead to a pedestrian’s spinal cord injury.

A negligent party can be responsible for compensation in the form of past and future medical expenses, loss of income, loss of earning capacity, as well as pain and suffering damages. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Florida is four years from the date of the injury, which may seem like a considerable amount of time. However, as more time passes, evidence may be lost and memories from witnesses may fade. Additionally, investigation into the circumstances surrounding an accident could be a lengthy process. All these factors make it vital that victims of spinal cord injuries in pedestrian accidents seek legal guidance as soon as possible.

Pedestrians who have sustained spinal cord injuries face a long battle of adjusting to decreased mobility, pain, and other issues associated with their accident. It is important that these victims have the financial resources necessary, and from the parties responsible, to cover the costs of such adjustments. Attorney Robert Dixon is dedicated to ensuring his clients’ legal rights are protected and zealously advocated for during all stages of the legal process. If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, please contact the Law Offices of Robert Dixon at 877.499.4878 or online to speak with a lawyer today and to set up a free, no obligation consultation to learn more about our legal services. We represent clients in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.