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Tampa Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, there is nothing to absorb the impact. No airbags, no crumple zones, no seat belt. The human body takes the full force of the collision, and the injuries that follow are often permanent.
At Mickey Keenan, P.A., our Tampa pedestrian accident lawyers represent victims who were hit at crosswalks, along commercial corridors, and in parking lots throughout the area. We handle every element of your claim so you can concentrate on recovery.
Your situation will not be treated like just another case. When an insurance company tries to minimize what happened to you, we are prepared to push back. Our team brings more than 20 years of experience and the insider perspective of attorneys who once worked for the other side.
Speak With a Tampa Pedestrian Accident Attorney Today
The consultation is free and there are no fees unless we win. Call our Tampa team and speak directly with an attorney who knows how the insurance industry operates from the inside.
Call Mickey Keenan, P.A. at (813) 871-1300.
What Florida Laws Govern Your Pedestrian Accident Claim?
Florida’s key pedestrian accident laws include the 14-day rule for PIP coverage, a two-year deadline for filing personal injury lawsuits, driver duties to yield at crosswalks, and modified comparative negligence rules that limit recovery when fault is shared. Florida law includes several provisions that directly affect Tampa pedestrian accident claims. The most important:
- Seek medical care within 14 days of the accident to protect your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance benefits under Florida’s no-fault law
- Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule, effective 2023, allows recovery as long as you are no more than 50 percent at fault for the accident
- Florida Statute § 316.130 requires drivers to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks; a driver who fails to yield bears significant liability for resulting injuries
- The personal injury statute of limitations in Florida (the legal deadline to file a lawsuit) is two years from the date of the accident under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a)
Acting quickly after a pedestrian accident protects all of these rights.
Does Florida’s no-fault insurance cover pedestrian accident victims?
Yes. Under Fla. Stat. § 627.736, Florida pedestrians who carry their own auto insurance may access their Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits after being struck by a vehicle. PIP pays a portion of medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who caused the accident. Pedestrians without their own auto insurance may be covered under the at-fault driver’s PIP policy.
To use those benefits, you must seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident. Missing that window forfeits the coverage entirely.
Pedestrian rights and driver duties under Florida law
Florida Statute § 316.130 requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and at unmarked intersections. The same statute places responsibilities on pedestrians to comply with traffic signals and to use available crosswalks. A driver who was distracted, speeding, or failed to yield at the moment of a collision is likely to bear the greater share of liability for resulting injuries.
What happens if you were partially at fault as a pedestrian?
You may still recover compensation. Florida’s modified comparative negligence standard reduces a victim’s recovery in proportion to their share of fault. If you were 20 percent at fault, your compensation is reduced by 20 percent. If you were more than 50 percent at fault, you cannot recover. Insurance companies routinely argue that pedestrians contributed to their own accidents, which is why that argument needs to be challenged with evidence.
Florida’s two-year filing deadline for pedestrian accident claims
Florida law gives injury victims two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Once that deadline passes, courts will almost always refuse to hear the case regardless of how strong the underlying claim may be. Acting before the deadline, and ideally as soon as possible, preserves every legal option available to you.
What Causes Most Pedestrian Accidents in Tampa?
Distracted driving, failure to yield at crosswalks, and speeding cause the majority of pedestrian accidents in Tampa. The Florida Department of Transportation records some of the highest pedestrian fatality rates in the country, with Tampa Bay corridors including Dale Mabry Highway, Hillsborough Avenue, and US-19 among the most frequently cited locations in crash data.
Cause |
How It Leads to Pedestrian Accidents |
| Distracted driving | Drivers using phones, eating, or otherwise not watching the road fail to notice pedestrians in or near the roadway |
| Failure to yield | Drivers who do not stop at crosswalks or intersections strike pedestrians who have the legal right of way |
| Speeding | Higher speeds reduce reaction time and dramatically increase injury severity on impact |
| Impaired driving | Alcohol and drug use slow reaction time and impair judgment, contributing significantly to fatal pedestrian collisions |
| Poor visibility | Inadequate lighting at crosswalks and intersections, particularly after dark, leads to preventable crashes |
| Backing vehicles | Drivers reversing in parking lots and driveways may not check for pedestrians behind their vehicle |
| Left-turn collisions | Drivers focused on oncoming traffic during a left turn fail to check for pedestrians crossing in the crosswalk |
Identifying the specific cause of your accident is one of the most important steps in establishing driver negligence and building a strong claim.
Mickey Keenan, P.A. — call (813) 871-1300 — free consultation, no fees unless we win.
What Injuries Are Common in Tampa Pedestrian Accidents?
Pedestrian accident victims frequently suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and severe fractures that require surgery and extended rehabilitation. Without a vehicle’s structural protections, the human body absorbs the full force of the impact. Even relatively low-speed collisions can produce catastrophic results.
Traumatic brain injuries and head trauma
Head injuries are among the most serious and most common outcomes in pedestrian accidents. An impact against the pavement, curb, or striking vehicle can cause TBI, skull fractures, and concussions.
TBI symptoms are not always immediately apparent and can worsen rapidly without prompt medical intervention. Cognitive impairment, memory loss, and chronic headaches may persist long after the accident.
Spinal cord injuries and orthopedic fractures
Spinal cord injuries, herniated discs, pelvic fractures, and lower extremity breaks are frequently documented in pedestrian collision cases. These injuries often require multiple surgeries, extended physical therapy, and in the most severe cases result in permanent disability.
The long-term medical costs associated with spinal cord damage are typically among the largest components of a pedestrian accident claim.
The long-term financial impact of a pedestrian accident injury
Serious pedestrian injuries disrupt a victim’s ability to work and generate medical costs that extend well beyond the initial hospitalization.
A comprehensive claim accounts for current and projected future medical treatment, lost income during recovery, reduced long-term earning capacity, necessary modifications to home and daily life, and the lasting personal impact on quality of life.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Tampa Pedestrian Accident?
Tampa pedestrian accident victims may recover economic damages for documented financial losses and non-economic damages for the personal impact of their injuries. Florida law does not cap non-economic damages in most pedestrian accident cases.
Damage Type |
Examples |
|---|---|
| Emergency and ongoing medical care | ER treatment, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, future treatment costs |
| Lost wages and earning capacity | Income lost during recovery, long-term reduction in ability to work |
| Property damage | Personal belongings damaged or destroyed in the collision |
| Pain and suffering | Chronic physical pain and discomfort resulting from injuries |
| Emotional distress | Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression linked to the accident |
| Loss of enjoyment of life | Inability to participate in activities, relationships, or daily life previously enjoyed |
| Wrongful death damages | Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship for surviving family members |
How are economic damages calculated in pedestrian accident cases?
Economic damages are calculated using documentation such as medical billing records, employer wage statements, expert projections of future care costs, and vocational assessments of lost earning capacity. The more thoroughly these losses are documented from the outset, the stronger the case for full economic recovery.
Non-economic damages in pedestrian accident cases
Non-economic damages address the personal toll that no invoice can fully capture: chronic pain, emotional trauma, the loss of relationships and activities, and the overall reduction in quality of life. Their value depends heavily on how well they are documented and presented throughout the claims process.
Why Choose Mickey Keenan, P.A. as Your Tampa Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Mickey Keenan, P.A. offers Tampa pedestrian accident victims something most firms cannot: an attorney who spent years defending insurance companies before dedicating his practice to fighting for injury victims.
With over 20 years of experience, membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and 314 five-star Google reviews, our team sets a standard of representation that high-volume settlement firms do not.
How does Mickey Keenan’s insurance background benefit your claim?
Mickey Keenan is a former insurance defense lawyer. He knows the exact tactics insurers use to reduce pedestrian claim values: disputed crossing locations, arguments about pedestrian distraction, and minor-impact arguments designed to downplay serious injuries. That inside knowledge shapes every negotiation strategy and every document our team prepares on your behalf.
Direct attorney access throughout your case
At Mickey Keenan, P.A., you work directly with your attorney from the first call. Clients receive Mickey’s personal cell phone number at the start of representation. When your medical situation changes, or you have a question, you reach the person actually handling your case, not a paralegal or case manager.
Fully prepared to take your case to trial
Mickey Keenan, P.A., is not a high-volume settlement firm. When an insurance company refuses to fairly compensate a pedestrian accident victim, we are prepared to take the case before a judge and jury. Insurers know that about our firm, and it changes how they negotiate.
No fees unless we win
Our firm handles pedestrian accident cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront legal costs, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf. If we do not win, you owe nothing for our work.
FAQ for Tampa Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
What should I do immediately after a pedestrian accident in Tampa?
Call 911 and seek medical attention right away, even if you do not feel seriously injured. If you are able, photograph the scene, the vehicle, and your injuries before anything is moved. Collect the driver’s insurance information and contact details for any witnesses. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster before speaking with an attorney.
Can I file a claim if I was crossing outside a crosswalk?
Possibly. Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule means fault is proportional, not absolute. If you were jaywalking but the driver was speeding, distracted, or otherwise negligent, shared fault does not automatically eliminate your claim.
It may reduce the amount you can recover based on your percentage of fault. An attorney can assess how the specific circumstances of your crossing affect your case.
How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident claim in Tampa?
Florida law gives pedestrian accident victims two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a). Evidence also becomes harder to preserve the longer you wait. The sooner you contact an attorney, the more options remain available.
Does the 14-day PIP rule apply to pedestrian accidents in Florida?
Yes. If you carry a Florida auto insurance policy, you must seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident to access your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. Missing that window forfeits those benefits entirely. Seeking care immediately after a pedestrian accident protects both your physical recovery and your available insurance coverage.
We Are Ready to Fight for You: Call Mickey Keenan, P.A. Today
After a pedestrian accident, the insurance company assigned to your claim is already building a case to pay you as little as possible. You do not have to face that process alone.
At Mickey Keenan, P.A., your fight is our fight. Our Tampa pedestrian accident attorneys are ready to step in, take on the legal work, and push back hard until a fair outcome is within reach. The consultation is free.
Call Mickey Keenan, P.A. at (813) 871-1300.
Mickey Keenan, P.A. 2011 W. Cleveland Street Tampa, FL 33606 (813) 871-1300