Cowen Edwards can guide you through the legal process when you’re injured in an accident in Fort Lauderdale. You’re never more vulnerable to injuries than when you’re a pedestrian, and in a place like Fort Lauderdale, that’s a very real possibility. Our team can give you the support you need to get better. Set up a free consultation today to learn more.
Should You Get a Lawyer?
If you’ve ever walked along Las Olas Boulevard, crossed Sunrise near the Galleria, or strolled down A1A by the beach, getting hit by a car is probably the last thing on your mind. But in a busy city like Fort Lauderdale—where cars, scooters, bikes, and pedestrians all share the same space—accidents happen fast.
When a pedestrian is struck, the outcome can be devastating. With no protection from the impact, injuries are often severe, and the road to recovery can be long. Beyond the physical and emotional toll, there’s also the legal process—which most people have never had to navigate before.
While Florida law doesn’t require you to get a lawyer for a pedestrian accident claim, having one can make a huge difference. Our team can and will:
- Listen to your story and explain your legal options in plain language.
- Investigate the accident, gather the evidence, and handle the insurance company for you.
- Stand up for your rights, challenge low settlement offers, and work to get you the support you need to recover.
The bottom line is our approach is simple–you focus on getting better and we handle the legal side from start to finish.
What Usually Causes Pedestrian Accidents in Fort Lauderdale?
In Fort Lauderdale (like a lot of other cities), accidents tend to happen more often in busy areas. But as it relates to Fort Lauderdale specifically, they happen where vehicle traffic, tourists, and locals on foot all converge—like Las Olas Boulevard, A1A near the beachfront, Sunrise Boulevard, and Federal Highway. But no matter where they happen, many of them share the same root causes, especially when someone isn’t following the rules or paying attention:
- Distracted driving – Whether it’s texting, scrolling through social media, adjusting GPS, or even sightseeing, distracted drivers can easily miss a person in a crosswalk.
- Failure to yield – Florida law requires drivers to stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks and most intersections, but some don’t. This is especially risky when turning right on red.
- Speeding – Higher speeds mean less reaction time and a greater impact force. Federal Highway and Sunrise Boulevard are common speeding corridors.
- Poor visibility – Heavy rain, nighttime driving, and dimly lit crossings—common on side streets near the beach—make it harder for drivers to spot pedestrians.
- Impaired driving – Alcohol or drugs slow reaction times and impair judgment, a problem that spikes during weekends and events.
- Unsafe road design – Missing sidewalks, faded crosswalks, and short pedestrian signal times can make certain intersections inherently risky.
No matter what caused the accident, your actions afterward are critical. Once you’re safe and stable, you can start thinking about your next steps–and that usually means filing a claim.
Who’s Liable When There’s a Pedestrian Accident?
One of the first things people want to know after a pedestrian accident is who’s going to pay for this? In legal terms, that question comes down to liability—and figuring it out is a crucial step in your case.
Most of the time, liability is based on negligence, meaning someone didn’t act with the care needed to keep you (and others) safe. In Fort Lauderdale, this responsibility can fall on:
- The driver who hit you – This is the most common scenario, especially if the driver was distracted, speeding, or ran a light.
- Another driver who set off a chain-reaction collision – Even if their car didn’t hit you directly, they could still be responsible.
- A bicyclist or motorcyclist – Collisions between cyclists or motorcyclists and pedestrians happen more often in busy beach areas and along Las Olas Boulevard.
- Another pedestrian – Rare, but possible if someone’s careless actions caused you to stumble or step into traffic.
- A construction company – If a work site left sidewalks blocked or unmarked, they could be on the hook.
- The city or county – Poor lighting, broken sidewalks, or missing crosswalk signs in high-foot-traffic spots like Sunrise Boulevard or A1A can contribute to accidents.
- A vehicle or parts manufacturer – If brake failure, steering issues, or other defects caused the collision.
Sometimes, your own actions can play a role—like jaywalking on Federal Highway or crossing outside a marked crosswalk. Florida follows pure comparative negligence, meaning you can still recover damages even if you were mostly at fault, but your payout will be reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
What Legal Options Do I Have After a Pedestrian Accident?
Once you know who’s responsible, the next step is deciding how to get the financial support you need. Generally, you have two main options for doing so:
- Filing an insurance claim – This happens outside of court and usually wraps up faster—but it’s also entirely controlled by the insurance company. Their main goal is to minimize payouts, meaning they may try to undervalue your claim.
- Filing a lawsuit – This option takes more time and requires going through the court system, but it also gives you a more neutral, judge-supervised process. Lawsuits can be particularly effective if the insurance company is refusing to offer a fair settlement.
Regardless of the route you take, your goal is to recover compensation for damages like:
- Medical bills and ongoing treatment costs
- Lost income or reduced ability to work
- Replacement or repair costs for damaged belongings (like phones or eyeglasses)
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Funeral and burial costs if the accident was fatal
In Florida, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit—and still only two years for filing a claim if the accident is fatal. That might sound like plenty of time, but acting quickly can make a big difference in preserving evidence and witness accounts.
What Information Can Help My Pedestrian Accident Claim?
If you’re hit while walking—whether it’s crossing Las Olas Boulevard, heading toward the sand on A1A, or jogging through Victoria Park—your first priority is your health. Once you’re safe and getting medical care, the next most important thing is collecting information while it’s still fresh. That information can be key later if you need to file a claim. Here’s what to focus on:
- Medical records – Hang on to everything from the ER, urgent care, or your regular doctor. Discharge papers, test results, prescriptions, and follow-up notes help show exactly what injuries you had and when they happened.
- Accident location – Take photos or videos of the scene. Include the street, crosswalks, traffic lights, and any hazards like construction signs, blocked views, or poor lighting. Whether it’s on Broward Boulevard or near Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, the surroundings matter.
- Vehicle details – Record the make, model, color, and license plate of any vehicle involved. If you can, snap photos of dents, scratches, or other visible damage.
- Driver’s information – Get the driver’s name, phone number, and insurance details.
- Witness information – Ask anyone who saw the accident for their name, phone number, and a brief note about what they saw. Even someone standing at a nearby bus stop might have noticed a critical detail.
- Effect on your life – Keep track of missed workdays, changes in your routine, or trouble getting around. Even simple notes—like no longer feeling comfortable crossing certain intersections—can help paint the full picture.
- Damaged property – Take pictures of anything that was broken in the accident, like your phone, glasses, watch, or backpack.
Small details can be surprisingly powerful. Was the “walk” signal not working on Sunrise Boulevard? Did a car roll through a right-on-red without stopping? Write it down. These bits of information can connect the dots later and make it clearer who was responsible.
Where Are Pedestrians More Vulnerable to Accidents in Fort Lauderdale?
Pedestrian accidents can happen on any street in Fort Lauderdale, but certain areas see them more often than others. Whether it’s high traffic, heavy foot activity, or road designs that leave little room for error, these locations have a history of incidents that locals and visitors alike should know about.
- Las Olas Boulevard – Between restaurants, shops, and nightlife, this stretch is almost always busy. Constant traffic, frequent jaywalking, and drivers rushing to make lights create a risky mix.
- A1A near the beachfront – Popular with vacationers and locals alike, this area sees plenty of mid-block crossings by beachgoers, often with distracted drivers circling for parking spots.
- Sunrise Boulevard at NE 9th Avenue – A multi-lane intersection with short light cycles that encourage quick, sometimes risky moves from drivers.
- Broward Boulevard near the courthouse – Crowds of pedestrians, buses pulling in and out, and cars weaving through congestion make this a challenging area to cross.
- Federal Highway (US-1) – Wide lanes, higher speeds, and frequent lane changes increase the danger for anyone on foot.
- NE 3rd Avenue bridge area – Limited visibility and fast-moving traffic combine to make this spot especially hazardous.
Unfortunately, the dangers aren’t just statistics—they play out in real-life moments like:
- Going for an evening walk – When you’re crossing Las Olas Boulevard after dinner, you could be struck by a driver who runs a red light while glancing at a text message.
- Walking to your hotel – If you’re visiting and walking from their hotel to the sand along A1A, you could be hit by a speeding delivery van trying to beat a yellow light.
- Going for a jog – Going for a jog in Victoria Park could lead to you being struck at a faded crosswalk where pooling water forces you closer to traffic lanes.
These examples aren’t hypotheticals. They reflect the kinds of accidents pedestrians in Fort Lauderdale are involved in every year—and they also show why local knowledge matters here. Our team is familiar with these roads and can help you build a strong claim. But you can help yourself too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still file a claim if I wasn’t in a crosswalk?
Yes, but your damages might be reduced if you were partly at fault.
Do I have to pay for a consultation?
No. We offer free consultations, and you don’t pay unless we win your case.
What if the driver left the scene?
We can explore claims under your uninsured motorist coverage and help police track down the hit-and-run driver
Talk to a Fort Lauderdale Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Being hit by a vehicle is traumatic enough—you shouldn’t have to deal with insurance adjusters, medical bills, and legal deadlines on top of that. Our Fort Lauderdale pedestrian accident lawyers know the local roads, the accident patterns, and the strategies insurance companies use to undervalue claims. We’re here to guide you from the first phone call to the final resolution.
If you’ve been injured anywhere in the city—whether crossing near the Galleria, walking along the beach, or navigating downtown traffic—reach out today for a free consultation.