Pasco County Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Recovering after a pedestrian crash means getting the medical care, income replacement, and accountability that a collision with a vehicle demands, and doing it while a two-year clock and a new fault rule are working against you. King Law Group is a Florida firm that handles only criminal defense, and a pedestrian crash is where our work most often meets yours. We serve people throughout Pasco County and the surrounding Tampa Bay area, and we are available around the clock.

We want to be direct about the scope of what we do. If you are looking for a Pasco County pedestrian accident lawyer to file and litigate a civil injury claim against a driver’s insurer, that is a different kind of practice than ours. Where we can help is on the criminal side of these crashes: a driver charged after hitting someone on foot, a pedestrian who was cited or accused of something at the scene, or a person who is being questioned by police about a collision. Those situations carry consequences that a civil claim never touches, including jail, license revocation, and a permanent record.

Pedestrian collisions in Pasco County tend to concentrate along the heavy commercial corridors in the western part of the county, where U.S. 19 and State Road 54 mix retail traffic, bus stops, and crossings without much protection. Evening and nighttime crashes are common when visibility drops. What happens in the first days after one of these crashes, particularly what anyone says to a detective, often determines whether a criminal case is filed and how strong it will be.

Why Choose King Law Group When a Pedestrian Crash Turns Criminal

King Law Group is a criminal defense firm serving Pasco County, Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, and the wider Tampa Bay area. We take no other kind of case, so the attorney handling your matter works inside criminal law every day. Our founder, Cameron King, is a Tampa Bay native and a former Florida state prosecutor. He earned his law degree at Florida State University, where he concentrated his studies in criminal law, and as a prosecutor he handled cases ranging from murder to DUI. He then spent years as a defense attorney at a prominent litigation firm before building a practice devoted entirely to defense. Clients describe him as honest, straightforward, effective, and a tireless advocate, and several note that he explained every step and returned calls quickly.

That background matters in pedestrian cases because the charging decisions are made by prosecutors, and crash investigations are built by officers whose habits Cameron King knows from both sides of the table. When a pedestrian is seriously hurt or killed, the state looks at whether the driver was impaired, careless, or reckless, and the difference between a traffic citation and a felony can come down to how the evidence is read. We spend the time to learn the facts and the person behind them, and we pursue plea negotiations, reduced charges, or dismissal depending on what the evidence supports. Consultations are free, and our team answers calls at any hour.

Criminal Charges That Follow a Pedestrian Collision

• DUI Causing Injury or Property Damage: A driver who hits a pedestrian while impaired and causes damage to a person or property can face a first-degree misdemeanor under the DUI statute, which carries up to one year in jail. A first DUI that results in bodily injury also brings a license revocation of at least three years under the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles rules.
• DUI Manslaughter: If a pedestrian dies and the driver was committing DUI, the charge is a second-degree felony with a mandatory minimum prison term of four years. Conviction also means permanent revocation of the driver’s license.
• Vehicular Homicide: Prosecutors can charge a death caused by reckless driving even without impairment. A recent change made vehicular homicide a first-degree felony for a driver with a prior conviction for DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, or a similar offense, so prior history is now central to charging decisions.
• Leaving the Scene: Drivers who panic and drive away from a crash involving injury can face separate charges that often prove harder to defend than the underlying collision. Early legal advice about reporting obligations can prevent a bad situation from getting worse.
• Driving on a Suspended License: Crashes frequently reveal that a driver’s license was suspended or revoked. A knowing violation is a second-degree misdemeanor on a first conviction and a first-degree misdemeanor on later ones, and it can rise to a felony when the suspension traces back to DUI or a traffic offense causing death or serious injury.
• Reckless and Careless Driving Citations: Not every pedestrian crash ends in a felony. Many result in traffic citations that still add points, raise insurance costs, and can be used by the other side in a civil case.
• Citations Issued to the Pedestrian: Officers sometimes cite pedestrians for crossing outside a crosswalk or failing to yield. Those citations matter because fault is later weighed in any injury claim.

What to Do in the Hours and Days After a Pedestrian Crash

The most important instruction is also the simplest: say as little as possible to investigators until you have spoken with a lawyer. Anything you tell a deputy or detective can be used in a criminal case, and statements made while you are shaken, injured, or sleep deprived are the ones most often misremembered or misread. You have the right to remain silent and the right to counsel, and exercising both is not an admission of anything. If officers ask to search your vehicle or your phone, you can decline to consent, though they may have independent grounds if they believe a crime was committed. Do not sign a written statement without an attorney reviewing it.

If you are the driver and officers say a blood draw or breath test is being requested, understand that a refusal and a test result each carry their own consequences, and that an attorney can examine how the stop, the request, and the testing were handled. Preserve what you can: photographs of the scene and crossing, lighting conditions, your vehicle damage, the names of witnesses, and any dashcam or doorbell footage near the location. Surveillance video is often overwritten within days, so identify who holds it right away.

Charges in Pasco County are filed in the Sixth Judicial Circuit. Criminal cases from the western part of the county are handled at the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey, while eastern Pasco cases go to the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City. Felony cases begin with a first appearance where bond is set, and we can argue for release on reasonable bond or without bail money. From there the case moves through arraignment, discovery, depositions, and negotiation, with a trial only if no acceptable resolution emerges. Early on, we review the crash report, the officers’ body camera footage, and any chemical testing before the state commits to a theory.

How Fault and Time Limits Shape Everything Around the Criminal Case

A criminal outcome rarely stays in the criminal courtroom. A conviction or a plea can be used by an injured pedestrian’s side in a civil lawsuit, so decisions made in the criminal case have financial consequences later. That is why we want clients thinking about the whole picture before accepting any plea, and why you should talk with a civil injury attorney about the civil claim itself while we handle the criminal defense.

Two Florida rules sharpen this. Since changes made in March 2023, general negligence claims must be filed within two years rather than four for causes of action arising on or after that date, and wrongful death claims generally run two years as well. Florida also moved away from pure comparative fault: under section 768.81, a person found more than 50 percent at fault for their own harm recovers nothing, and at 50 percent or less their recovery is reduced by their share. For a pedestrian who crossed mid-block or entered a roadway at night, how fault is assigned can decide the entire claim, which is also why a citation issued to a pedestrian at the scene deserves attention rather than a quick payment.

Common Questions About Pedestrian Crashes and Criminal Exposure

Do you handle the injury lawsuit against the driver’s insurance company?

No. King Law Group handles criminal defense only. We can defend a driver or pedestrian facing criminal or traffic charges arising from a crash, and we can coordinate with a civil attorney so that decisions in one case do not undermine the other.

Can a driver be charged even if the pedestrian was not in a crosswalk?

Yes. A pedestrian’s location can reduce the driver’s civil liability, but criminal charges turn on the driver’s own conduct, such as impairment, speed, distraction, or recklessness. Where the pedestrian was standing can still affect how a prosecutor views the strength of the case.

What is the penalty for DUI manslaughter after hitting a pedestrian?

It is a second-degree felony requiring a mandatory minimum of four years in prison, and the driver’s license is permanently revoked on conviction. Because the stakes are so high, the stop, the testing, and the causation evidence deserve close scrutiny.

Do I have to give police a statement after a crash?

No. You may decline to answer questions and ask for a lawyer. Keep any necessary exchange to basic identification and avoid describing what happened or how much you had to drink.

Can I be arrested at the scene of a pedestrian accident?

Yes, if officers develop probable cause, which often happens when there is serious injury or death, signs of impairment, or evidence of leaving the scene. Sometimes charges are filed days or weeks later after the investigation is complete.

What if I was a pedestrian and got a citation?

Do not treat it as a routine ticket. The citation and the officer’s report can be used to argue that you were partly at fault, which matters under Florida’s fault bar. Talk to a lawyer before paying it.

How long does a felony case from a pedestrian crash take in Pasco County?

There is no fixed timeline. Serious cases often take many months because of crash reconstruction, toxicology, and expert review. The pace depends on the evidence and on negotiations with the state attorney’s office.

Can a pedestrian crash charge affect my professional license or job?

It can. A conviction, and sometimes an arrest alone, may need to be reported to a licensing board or employer, and commercial drivers face additional consequences. Discuss this before accepting any plea.

Will a conviction stay on my record permanently?

Adult convictions in Florida cannot be sealed or expunged. Some non-conviction outcomes may be eligible, which is another reason to fight for a dismissal or a result that avoids an adjudication of guilt.

What if my license was suspended when the crash happened?

That adds a separate charge and can change how prosecutors treat the case. Whether it is a misdemeanor or a felony depends on the reason for the suspension and your history, so we review the driving record early.

Can I be deported if I am not a citizen and I am charged after a crash?

Certain convictions carry immigration consequences, even for green card holders. Tell your defense attorney your status before any plea is discussed so the outcome can be structured with that risk in mind.

Serving Pasco County Criminal Defense Clients and the Tampa Bay Area

We represent people across Pasco County, from New Port Richey, Port Richey, and Holiday through Hudson, Bayonet Point, and Trinity. We also serve Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Dade City, San Antonio, St. Leo, and Odessa, along with Shady Hills, Lutz, and the communities along the Gulf coast and the U.S. 19 corridor. Whether a crash happened on a busy western highway or a quieter road in the east county, we handle the criminal side wherever it is prosecuted.

Our practice extends beyond Pasco into neighboring Pinellas County, including Clearwater and St. Petersburg, and into Hillsborough County and Tampa, so a client whose crash crossed county lines or whose case moves between circuits is not left starting over.

Speak With a Pasco County Pedestrian Accident Attorney About Your Criminal Exposure

If a pedestrian crash has put you under investigation or led to charges, the decisions made now will shape the rest of your case. Whether you need a Pasco County pedestrian accident attorney’s perspective on how a criminal charge interacts with a civil claim or a defense team to answer for the charge itself, King Law Group will review your situation honestly. Call us at any hour for a free consultation, and we will explain where you stand and what options are realistic.