As a pedestrian in this or any other state, it is very important that you be keenly aware of your surroundings, especially the nearby traffic. Although you may be able to easily observe an oncoming vehicle, don’t assume that the driver of the vehicle will see you also.
With there being so many distractions to vehicle drivers these days (i.e. cell phones, radio, music players, etc.), and further considering you are a small object on or near the roadway, there is a good chance that the driver will not see you as soon as you would expect. This increases the likelihood of an accident occurring.
Pedestrian accidents commonly occur from walking behind a vehicle while it is backing up, or while you are walking in a crosswalk, on a sidewalk or while you are in the process of crossing the street. You should also not assume that just because you are within the crosswalk that the vehicle driver will in fact obey the law and stop.
If you are injured as a pedestrian in Daytona Beach, Florida, you may be entitled to no-fault/personal injury protection benefits. Should you own a motor vehicle that has no-fault insurance, then your PIP claim is processed by your own company. However, if you do not own a motor vehicle, then your no-fault benefits will be paid by the at fault party’s insurance company. In addition, whether or not you have to prove you have a permanent injury in order to receive damages for pain and suffering will usually depend on whether PIP/no-fault benefits apply in your particular case.