Hit by a Car While Walking in St. Petersburg?
A person on foot has no protection against a two-ton vehicle, and the results are often catastrophic. Florida consistently ranks among the most dangerous states in the country for pedestrians, and the Tampa Bay area is one of the worst metros in the nation for people on foot. If you or someone you love was hit by a car while walking in St. Petersburg, Jorgensen Law, P.A. has fought for injured Floridians for more than 40 years. Our consultations are free, and you pay no attorney fee unless we win.
Why You Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrian cases look simple — a driver hit a person who was just walking — but insurers fight them hard. Their first move is almost always to blame you: that you stepped out suddenly, were not in a crosswalk, or were looking at your phone. Meanwhile, the injuries from a pedestrian crash are usually severe and expensive, which gives the insurer every reason to minimize your claim. An experienced lawyer levels the field: we preserve the evidence, deal with the adjusters, document the true cost of your injuries, and refuse to let the insurance company decide what your case is worth.
Does Insurance Cover a Pedestrian Hit by a Car in Florida?
Yes — and this surprises most people. Even though you were on foot, Florida’s no-fault system still applies. If you own a car, your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) pays the first $10,000 of medical bills and lost wages, no matter who was at fault. If you do not own a vehicle, you may be covered by a household member’s policy. Because pedestrian injuries are usually serious, you can also step outside no-fault and pursue a full claim against the at-fault driver’s bodily-injury coverage — and if the driver fled or had no insurance, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may apply. Sorting out which policies cover you is one of the most important things we do early.
What You Can Recover
When a driver’s negligence caused your injuries, Florida law lets you pursue compensation for far more than your first hospital bill:
| Type of damages | What it may cover |
|---|---|
| Medical expenses | Ambulance and ER care, surgery, hospitalization, follow-up treatment, rehabilitation, and future medical needs |
| Lost income | Wages lost during recovery, plus reduced or lost earning capacity for a disabling injury |
| Pain and suffering | Physical pain, scarring and disfigurement, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life |
| Long-term care | In-home help, assistive devices, and lifetime care for a catastrophic injury |
| Wrongful death losses | Funeral costs, lost support, and loss of companionship if a loved one was killed |
Expect the insurer to argue you share the blame — and in Florida that argument has teeth. Under the 2023 tort reform, the state follows a 51% rule of modified comparative negligence: if you are found more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing; at 50% or less, your award is reduced by your share. But Florida law also requires drivers to use due care and to yield to pedestrians in many situations, and being outside a crosswalk does not automatically make a crash your fault. We gather the evidence — video, witnesses, the police report, the physical scene — to push back on blame-shifting and protect your recovery.
Florida’s Two-Year Deadline
Under Florida’s 2023 tort reform, you generally have just two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit (Fla. Stat. § 95.11). Evidence in pedestrian cases disappears fast — surveillance and traffic-camera video is often erased within days or weeks. The sooner an attorney can send a preservation letter and start investigating, the stronger your case will be.
Where Pedestrian Accidents Happen in St. Petersburg
Pinellas County’s wide, fast roads are especially dangerous for people on foot. We see the most serious pedestrian crashes along corridors like US-19, 34th Street, 4th Street, Gandy Boulevard, and Central Avenue, and at busy intersections and mid-block crossings. The usual causes are drivers who fail to yield, speed, run red lights, turn without looking, drive distracted or impaired, or simply do not expect a pedestrian. Florida’s crash data records thousands of pedestrian injuries across the state every year. When a careless driver hit you, they — not you — should pay for the harm.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
With nothing between them and the vehicle, pedestrians tend to suffer the most serious injuries we handle: traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and paralysis, multiple fractures, internal injuries, and severe road rash and scarring. Many require surgery and long-term rehabilitation, and some are permanent. Tragically, many pedestrian crashes are fatal. If you lost a loved one, our St. Petersburg wrongful death attorneys can help your family pursue justice.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident
What you do after a pedestrian crash protects both your health and your claim:
- Get medical care immediately. Call 911 and be examined — pedestrian injuries are often serious and can worsen, and prompt treatment ties them to the crash.
- Document the scene if you can. Photos of the vehicle, the location, and your injuries; the driver’s information; and the names of any witnesses.
- Get the police report. Make sure officers document the crash.
- Do not admit fault or give a recorded statement to any insurance company.
- Call a lawyer quickly. Video and other evidence can vanish, and a free consultation costs nothing.
How We Build Your Pedestrian Accident Case
These cases are won with evidence and persistence. When you hire Jorgensen Law, we move fast to obtain the crash report and any traffic-camera or business surveillance footage; identify and interview witnesses; document the scene, sightlines, and crosswalks; work with accident-reconstruction and medical experts when needed; and identify every available insurance policy — the driver’s, yours, and a household member’s. In hit-and-run cases, we pursue uninsured-motorist coverage and work to identify the driver. Then we calculate the full lifetime cost of your injuries, take on the insurer, and if they will not pay fairly, we are ready for trial.
Why Injured Pedestrians Choose Jorgensen Law
Jorgensen Law, P.A. is a family firm that has fought for injured Floridians for more than 40 years. We are based right here in St. Petersburg, we keep our caseload personal, and you work directly with an attorney — not a call center. We know the local roads, courts, and insurance tactics, we carry a 4.9-star Google rating, and we take pedestrian accident cases on contingency, so there is never a fee unless we win. We also handle car accident, bicycle accident, wrongful death, and every other kind of personal injury claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my insurance cover me if I was hit by a car while walking?
Usually yes. Florida PIP follows the person, not just the car — so your own auto policy (or a household member’s) typically pays the first $10,000 of medical bills and lost wages even though you were on foot. Serious injuries can also be pursued against the at-fault driver.
What if the driver fled the scene?
You may still recover through your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and we work to identify the driver using video, witnesses, and police investigation. Report a hit-and-run to police right away.
Is it my fault if I was not in a crosswalk?
Not automatically. Drivers have a legal duty to use due care, and fault is decided on the facts. Insurers often exaggerate a pedestrian’s share of blame, which is why early evidence matters under Florida’s 51% rule.
What is the 51% rule in Florida?
It is Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule. If you are more than 50% at fault you cannot recover; at 50% or less your award is reduced by your share of fault.
How much is a pedestrian accident case worth?
There is no flat average. Because pedestrian injuries are often severe, these cases can be substantial — value depends on the injuries, the liability evidence, and available insurance. Only a review of your case gives a realistic range.
How long do I have to file a claim in Florida?
Generally two years from the date of the crash under Florida’s 2023 tort reform. Because evidence disappears quickly, it is best to contact an attorney right away.
How much does a pedestrian accident lawyer cost?
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee — our fee comes from the recovery we obtain, and if we do not win, you owe no attorney fee.
What if a family member was killed?
You may have a wrongful death claim for funeral costs, lost support, and loss of companionship. Our wrongful death attorneys can guide your family through it.
Talk to a St. Petersburg Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
If you or someone you love was hit by a car while walking in St. Petersburg or anywhere in Pinellas County, do not face the insurance company alone. Call Jorgensen Law, P.A. at (727) 347-7733 for a free, no-obligation consultation. There is no fee unless we win — and the sooner we start, the more evidence we can protect.
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