Being struck by a car while walking changes everything about the days and weeks that follow. Our Palmetto pedestrian accident lawyers handle the fight with drivers, insurance companies, and other responsible parties so you can focus on healing.
Shapiro | Delgado represents pedestrians and their families across Manatee County who were hurt or lost a loved one in a crash caused by someone else’s negligence. Free consultations are available in English and Spanish, and no fees apply unless we recover for you.
Call (941) 954-4000 to speak with a Palmetto pedestrian accident attorney today.
Pedestrians in Palmetto walk without the protection of steel, airbags, or seat belts. Even a low-speed crash may cause broken bones, brain injuries, and internal harm. Higher-speed impacts on US-41 or busy intersections often produce catastrophic or fatal injuries. That severity shapes every part of the legal case that follows.
Pedestrian accidents in Manatee County rarely trace back to a single random moment. Most involve a driver failing to do something the law required. The following causes drive most pedestrian crashes across Palmetto and surrounding communities:
Any of these behaviors may support a claim against the driver and, in some cases, additional parties. Documenting the scene, witnesses, and traffic control devices often makes the difference between a strong case and a disputed one.
Pedestrians struck by vehicles frequently suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, and internal injuries. Many require emergency care at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton or Manatee Memorial in Palmetto, followed by weeks or months of rehabilitation. Serious cases often meet Florida’s serious injury threshold for full tort recovery.
A Palmetto pedestrian accident claim may target more than the driver behind the wheel. Florida law focuses on every party whose actions or failures contributed to the crash. Multiple parties often carry separate insurance policies that may respond to a claim.
Most pedestrian claims center on the driver who caused the crash. Florida law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, exercise due care to avoid a collision, and give warning by sounding the horn when necessary under Florida Statute §316.130. Violations of these duties often form the core of a negligence claim.
Delivery vans, box trucks, and commercial vehicles carry their own set of federal safety rules and higher insurance limits. A crash involving a commercial driver may bring the employer into the case through negligent hiring, poor training, or unrealistic delivery schedules.
Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies carry separate insurance policies that respond based on the driver’s status at the time of the crash. If the driver was logged in and available to accept a ride, or actively transporting a passenger, the rideshare company’s commercial coverage may apply on top of the driver’s personal policy.
Poorly maintained sidewalks, missing crosswalk paint, broken pedestrian signals, and overgrown landscaping that blocks visibility may all support claims against property owners or the responsible local government. Claims against government entities follow shorter notice requirements under Florida Statute §768.28.
Pedestrian accident cases often involve severe injuries, multiple parties, and insurance carriers with substantial resources. Shapiro | Delgado brings more than 100 years of combined trial experience, a track record of over $300 million recovered for injured clients, and a family-first approach that treats every case with the care we give our own.* Our team knows the intersections, the local hospitals, and the courts across Manatee County.
David Shapiro is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer with more than 30 years of experience and a perfect 10.0 AVVO rating. Jim Delgado also holds a perfect 10.0 AVVO rating and is a familiar name throughout Manatee County. Adam Shapiro holds Rising Star recognition. Fred Melin brings more than 40 years of trial experience and a U.S. Air Force veteran background.
Our Palmetto office at 437 10th Avenue West sits in the heart of Manatee County, minutes from the courthouse and the neighborhoods our clients call home. We have represented pedestrians and their families across Palmetto, Bradenton, Ellenton, and Parrish for decades. That familiarity with the local roads, judges, and jury pool guides how we build each case.
Families dealing with pedestrian injuries face enough burden already. Our firm handles Palmetto pedestrian accident cases on a contingency basis, meaning no fees apply unless we recover for you. Free consultations are available in both English and Spanish.
Shapiro | Delgado holds recognitions that reflect years of results:
These marks reflect a firm built for serious cases, not case volume. When you call us, an attorney knows your name and your file.
Ready to talk about your Palmetto pedestrian accident case? Call (941) 954-4000 for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Florida law affects almost every part of a pedestrian accident case, from what insurance covers your initial medical care to the deadline for filing a lawsuit. Two changes from House Bill 837 in 2023 tightened the timeline and adjusted how fault is divided. These changes apply to injuries after March 24, 2023.
The statute of limitations for most negligence claims in Florida is two years under Florida Statute §95.11(4)(a). Wrongful death claims from a pedestrian crash also run on a two-year clock. Missing the deadline generally ends the case.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is Florida’s no-fault insurance layer that covers initial medical bills and lost wages, regardless of who caused the crash. Pedestrians hit by vehicles in Florida often draw PIP benefits from their own auto policy first, even though they were on foot when injured. Which policy applies depends on the pedestrian’s own coverage and household.
The table below summarizes how PIP coverage typically applies to a pedestrian hit by a vehicle in Florida:
| Injured Pedestrian’s Situation | Which PIP Coverage Typically Applies First |
| Owns a Florida auto insurance policy | The pedestrian’s own PIP applies |
| Does not own auto insurance but lives with a relative who does | The resident relative’s auto PIP may apply |
| Does not own auto insurance and has no insured resident relative | The striking driver’s PIP applies |
| Struck by a commercial vehicle | The commercial policy may apply above the standard PIP layer |
Understanding which policy responds first often shapes the early weeks of medical care and out-of-pocket costs. A personal injury attorney may review coverage across all applicable policies to help injured pedestrians avoid unnecessary bills.
Auto crash victims in Florida must meet a serious injury threshold to pursue non-economic damages beyond PIP. Under Florida Statute §627.737, that threshold includes permanent loss of an important bodily function, permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death. Most pedestrian crashes with hospital-level injuries meet this threshold.
Florida moved from pure to modified comparative negligence under Florida Statute §768.81(6). An injured pedestrian found more than 50 percent at fault may not recover pedestrian accident damages. A finding of 50 percent or less reduces the recovery by that percentage.
Fault allocation often becomes a central issue in pedestrian cases, particularly when the crash occurred outside a marked crosswalk. Solid evidence, including surveillance footage, witness statements, and traffic control records, helps establish clear liability.
Certain records often make the difference between a strong pedestrian accident claim and a lost one. Preserving these items promptly supports every stage of the case:
An attorney may send preservation letters within days of the crash to lock in surveillance footage and other time-sensitive evidence. That single step often changes what a case looks like months later.
Serious injuries from a preventable pedestrian crash may qualify for a full claim under Florida law. Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, internal injuries, and severe scarring. Prompt medical documentation strengthens the connection between the crash and the injury.
Yes. Florida’s Wrongful Death Act allows surviving family members to pursue claims for medical expenses, funeral costs, lost financial support, loss of companionship, and other losses. Wrongful death claims run on a two-year deadline from the date of death and follow specific procedural rules.
Cases involving children require careful attention to visibility, driver attention, and school zone speed limits. Additional parties may share responsibility, including the driver, the school district, or property owners near the crash site. Children’s cases often involve future medical and educational costs that a life care plan may project.
As soon as your medical care is stable, reaching out to a Palmetto pedestrian accident attorney protects your options. Surveillance footage may be erased within days, and Florida’s two-year filing deadline runs from the date of the injury. Prompt legal action helps preserve time-sensitive evidence.
A pedestrian crash changes the shape of daily life for the injured person and every family member close to them. Recovery, medical bills, and insurance calls all pile up while you are trying to heal. You do not have to face any of it alone.
Our Palmetto office at 437 10th Avenue West sits close to home for families across Manatee County. Free consultations are available in English and Spanish, and no fees apply unless we recover for you.
Call (941) 954-4000 whenever you are ready to talk. We treat every case as if it were our own family, and our team is honored to help you fight for fair compensation.
