Drunk or Distracted Driver v. Pedestrian Accidents

Drunk and distracted driving wrecks should not happen. No one should get behind the wheel when they are too drunk to drive, and there is no excuse for letting text messages or other mobile phone distractions take precedence over paying attention to the road ahead.

Yet, these accidents happen every day. Distracted driving has become a leading cause of vehicle accidents (including collisions involving pedestrians), and drunk driving remains a persistent issue throughout Central Florida. Sadly, when someone makes the poor decision to drive drunk or distracted, it is usually someone else who pays the price.

At the Babiarz Law Firm, PA, we represent individuals and families who are suffering due to pedestrian accidents caused by drunk and distracted drivers in Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties. We pursue each case with strength and determination, focusing on the long-term physical, financial and emotional effects of our clients’ injuries to ensure that we recover full and fair compensation. The future losses from pedestrian accidents can often exceed the victims’ initial expenses, and we work diligently to ensure that our clients recover for their losses.

The Effects of Drunk and Distracted Driving Are Similar

As the rise in popularity of smartphones and in-car entertainment systems has led to a sharp increase in distracted driving collisions, researchers have begun to learn more about the dangerous effects of these driving distractions. Studies have found that distracted driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving, causing similar impairments at similar levels.

Drunk and distracted driving both cause three types of impairments: visual, cognitive and manual. This means that drunk and distracted drivers are:

• Less likely to see passengers in crosswalks and on the side of the road;
• Less likely to have full control over their vehicles;
• Less likely to stop in time once they see a pedestrian; and,
• More likely to drift out of their lanes and into pedestrian lanes.

Drunk and Distracted Drivers are Negligent and/or Reckless Drivers

The legal standard that applies in pedestrian accident cases is “negligence.” If a driver’s negligence leads to a collision with a pedestrian, then that driver (or, more commonly, his or her insurance company) is legally obligated to provide financial compensation to the victim. Due to the extreme risks involved, there is little question that drunk and distracted driving is negligent and/or reckless, and those who are injured in drunk and distracted driving crashes will often be entitled to significant financial compensation.

In Central Florida, approximately one out of every 10 pedestrian accidents is fatal. If you have lost a senior parent or other loved one in a fatal pedestrian accident, there are unique laws that apply to your family’s tragic situation, and we urge you to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.

Speak With Your Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in The Villages 

For more information about your legal rights after a pedestrian accident involving a drunk or distracted driver, contact us for a free consultation. To speak with attorney Tim Babiarz in confidence, please call (352) 205-7599 or contact the Babiarz Law Firm, PA online today.