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Fort Walton Beach Pedestrian Accident Attorney — Board Certified Lawyers Fighting for Walkers

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    Hear from Fort Walton Beach Clients We Have Helped

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    Fort Walton Beach Pedestrian Injury? Get Justice with Our Legal Team.

    When a motor vehicle strikes you while walking in Fort Walton Beach, you face traumatic brain injuries, overwhelming medical expenses, lost wages, and an uncertain recovery. Insurance companies immediately work to minimize their liability and offer inadequate settlements.

    At Michles & Booth, our Fort Walton Beach pedestrian accident attorney team has fought for injured walkers throughout Okaloosa County for over 25 years, combining local roots with the investigative resources and Board Certified trial experience necessary to pursue the fair compensation you deserve.

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    Recognized for Excellence in Personal Injury Law

    What Causes Pedestrian Accidents in Fort Walton Beach

    According to NHTSA 2023 data, Florida recorded 800 pedestrian fatalities, representing 18.6% of all traffic fatalities in the state, demonstrating the tragic frequency with which pedestrians suffer wrongful death or catastrophic injuries on our roads. Our Fort Walton Beach pedestrian accident lawyer team investigates every potential cause:

    Failure to Yield at Marked Pedestrian Crossings

    Under Florida Statutes §316.130, drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and at intersections. When motorists roll through red lights or fail to check before turning, vulnerable pedestrians absorb the full force of impact.

    Texting and Distracted Driving

    Drivers focused on smartphones, navigation systems, or conversations rather than the road ahead fail to notice pedestrians until a collision occurs, turning routine walks through parking lots into life-altering accidents.

    Speeding Through Pedestrian Zones

    Florida law establishes reduced speed limits near schools and residential areas specifically to protect walkers. Drivers who ignore these limits dramatically increase the force of collisions and reduce their ability to stop in time.

    Intoxicated and Impaired Motorists

    Impaired drivers exhibit reduced reaction times and poor judgment, which prevent them from seeing pedestrians in their path. Under Florida law, drunk driving that causes injury may support claims for punitive damages designed to deter similar behavior.

    Dangerous Road Conditions and Poor Lighting

    Some pedestrian accidents result from property owners or municipalities failing to maintain adequate street lighting, clear sightlines, or functional traffic signals, rather than solely from driver negligence.

    Our Fort Walton Beach pedestrian accident attorney team conducts thorough investigations to identify all responsible parties, including negligent drivers, establishments that overserved intoxicated patrons, and government entities responsible for road maintenance.

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    (850) 438-4848

    The Medical Consequences of Being Hit by a Motor Vehicle

    The human body offers no protection against multi-ton vehicles. Our personal injury lawyer team has represented Fort Walton Beach pedestrians suffering from:

    • Traumatic brain injuries:Impact with pavement or a car/truck can cause concussions and severe TBIs, leading to cognitive impairment, memory loss, and an inability to work.
    • Spinal cord injuries:Trauma to the back or neck can cause paralysis, requiring lifetime care, adaptive equipment, and home modifications.
    • Orthopedic trauma:Complex fractures to the legs, hips, or shoulders often require surgery and result in permanent mobility limitations or chronic pain.
    • Internal organ damage:Blunt force trauma can cause internal bleeding and organ injuries, requiring emergency surgery and ongoing care.
    • Wrongful death:Our legal team helps families pursue wrongful death claims for lost financial support, companionship, and emotional distress.
    • Severe abrasions and soft-tissue damage:Minor pedestrian accidents can cause painful injuries, requiring wound care and skin grafts, and leaving permanent scarring.

    This medical testimony strengthens personal injury claims by documenting the full scope of medical expenses, future medical care, lost wages, emotional distress, and suffering you have endured and will continue to face.

    Our Record of Success Speaks for Itself

    Jury Awarded Plaintiff
    $26.2 Million & $11.55 Million

    Liberty, Mo. – a Clay County Circuit Court jury award $26.2 million to the plaintiffs in a Rezulin trial when the parties settled for an undisclosed amount (Shirley Griggs, et al. v. Warner-Lambert Company, No. CV100 3957 CC, Mo. Cir., Clay Co.). The Jury foreman said the jury had, by a 9-3 vote, decided on awards of $3.2 million in compensatory damages and $23 million in punitive damages when Judge James Welsh told them the parties had settled.

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    $5 Million

    The Birmingham News
    March 26, 2002

    A Jefferson County jury has awarded $5 million in punitive damages to a Florida woman for the wrongful death of her husband, and against two Birmingham physicians and the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation.

    $750,000

    A Pensacola teenager who  received unnecessary gynecologic surgery that led to complications was awarded $750,000 by a jury . The Escambia Circuit Court jury found Dr. Lornetta Epps, a gynecologist, negligent in her care of the client, who was 14 at the time of the surgery. The same five-woman, one-man panel exonerated Dr. James Boyd, the surgeon who repaired the complications.

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    $480,000

    The News Herald
    Panama City Florida

    Catherine McNaught The News Herald

    Six Bay County jurors awarded almost half a million dollars to a local woman who lost the use of her right eye after cataract surgery.

    $460,000

    A jury awarded $330,000 to our client and another $130,000 to his wife for injuries and damages sustained in an auto accident. The wife received damages for the loss of her husband’s “comfort, support and services,” according to their attorney, Marcus Michles.

    $410,633.99

    Michles & Booth attorneys Adrian Bridges & Kel Murphy won a $410,633.99 jury verdict for a car crash victim in Escambia County. We fight for the compensation you deserve.

    $320,219

    An Okaloosa county man was recently awarded a $320,219 verdict after he sued an. insurance company following an injury he a suffered in a traffic accident.

    $160.000

    Daily News

    By Casey Logan

    The jury awarded a Mossy Head man $160,000 in damages after finding a surgeon at White-Wilson Medical Center negligent. The physician left a 2.5-inch metal irrigation needle in the client’s neck during an emergency surgery at the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.

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    What Sets Our Fort Walton Beach Law Firm Apart

    Pursuing fair compensation after a pedestrian accident requires proven trial skills, substantial investigative resources, and unwavering commitment to your recovery:

    • Fort Walton Beach community roots: Our local office ensures direct meetings with your personal injury lawyer, not paralegals, as we are deeply invested in the Fort Walton Beach community.
    • Florida Bar Board Certification in civil trial law: Marcus Michles and Adrian Bridges hold Florida’s highest credential, demonstrating advanced knowledge and trial experience, signaling our readiness for litigation.
    • In-house medical professional: Dr. Timothy Brooks, M.D., reviews medical records and provides compelling testimony on the true impact of your trauma, offering leverage that most firms lack.
    • Immediate investigation and evidence preservation: Our investigators act quickly to preserve evidence, interview witnesses, and secure footage, ensuring critical details are not lost before insurance companies challenge liability.
    • Comprehensive case development resources: We offer accident reconstruction, biomechanical testimony, life care planning, and economic analysis to support your case and document lost earning capacity.
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    Meet Our Experienced Fort Walton Beach Personal Injury Lawyers

    • A smiling man in a blue suit and patterned tie stands in a bright, blurred indoor setting. The mood is professional and approachable.
      Marcus J. Michles II
      Managing Partner, Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist
      Marcus J. Michles II obtained his undergraduate degree from Furman University and his Law Degree from Stetson University College of Law where he was chairman of the Moot Court Board.
    • A smiling man in a suit and tie stands indoors against a blurred backdrop of a window with green foliage. The image conveys professionalism and warmth.
      Rainey C. Booth
      Managing Partner, Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist
      The son of successful Florida attorney Edgar Booth and Judge Anne Booth, Rainey C. Booth received his B.A. degree with honors from Washington & Lee University in 1981 and his J.D. degree from the University of Florida in 1984.
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    faq

    Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accidents in Fort Walton Beach

    • What if the driver says I walked out in front of them without warning?

      Insurance companies routinely blame pedestrians to reduce payouts, but under Florida Statutes §316.130, drivers are responsible for exercising due care regardless of the crosswalk location. Our Fort Walton Beach pedestrian accident lawyer team uses evidence to prove what actually happened.

    • How much compensation can I recover after being hit as a pedestrian?

      Personal injury claims typically include compensation for medical bills, future medical attention, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, physical pain, and emotional distress. When reckless driving caused your injuries, Florida law allows punitive damages to deter similar conduct beyond compensating losses.

    • What if I were not in a crosswalk when the accident happened?

      While crossing at marked locations is safest, Florida law does not eliminate your rights if a collision occurs mid-block. Drivers still owe a duty to watch for and avoid striking pedestrians, regardless of the exact location where the impact occurs.

    • How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida?

      Under Florida Statutes §95.11, you generally have two years from the accident date to file claims. However, contact our Fort Walton Beach pedestrian accident attorney team immediately because evidence disappears quickly, and insurance companies use delays against you.

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    Get the Justice and Compensation You Deserve

    The driver who struck you and their insurance company are already building their defense strategy, looking for ways to blame you or minimize your injuries. Do not let them control the narrative or pressure you into accepting settlements that fail to cover your actual losses.

    Our Fort Walton Beach pedestrian accident attorney team stands ready to fight for you throughout Okaloosa County and Northwest Florida. Beyond pedestrian accidents, we handle comprehensive personal injury litigation. Contact Michles & Booth today for a free consultation where we listen to your story, explain your legal rights, and immediately begin protecting your path to maximum compensation.
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