What should you do if you are struck as a pedestrian?
1.
CALL 9-1-1
If you are able to do so, immediately call 9-1-1, or indicate to either the negligent party or others that they need to do so. The vast majority of pedestrian accidents result in serious injuries. Even if you feel you are able to get up and walk away, it is important that you have experienced medical personnel examine you immediately. Ask the police officer to create an accident report for the incident.
2.
COLLECT INFORMATION
Once you have been evaluated by on-scene medical personnel, make sure you collect the information from the other negligent drivers including their name, phone number, insurance information, and their license plate number. If possible, use your phone to take pictures of the scene including the location of the collision, damage to the vehicles and any injuries you have.
3.
CALL OUR LAW FIRM BEFORE YOU TALK TO INSURERS
It is important to remember that the driver’s insurance company and their insurance adjusters are not working in your interest – no matter how concerned they seem over the phone. Their goal is to limit their liability and thereby limit your compensation so they will investigate the accident looking for factors that may limit the responsibility of their liable parties. We always recommend that you call a skilled local personal injury attorney for a no obligation consultation. With our experience we can deal with the driver’s insurance company with a goal towards getting you maximum compensation.
PEDESTRIAN INJURY STATISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES
According to the NHTSA, in 2018 approximately 6,283 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents. This was an increase of 3.4 percent from 2017 and equates to a pedestrian fatality taking place less than every eighty-eight minutes in the United States, and a pedestrian injury every eight minutes.
WHAT EVIDENCE MIGHT HELP MY PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT LAWSUIT?
Every pedestrian accident case is unique. Evidence that may be important for one claim might not be for another claim. Therefore, it is vitally important to seek the counsel of a local Charleston pedestrian accident attorney for guidance about the best way to investigate and handle the particular facts of your case.
At Marin and Barrett, Inc., we tailor our legal strategy to the individual nature of each South Carolina pedestrian accident claim. Using our experience we will be able to conduct an investigation to obtain time-sensitive evidence and bring in necessary expert testimony and file motions and subpoenas to compel disclosure of evidence that is being withheld.
HOW MUCH MONEY CAN A PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT ATTORNEY RECOVER IN A PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUIT?
As we will explain in more detail below, you are more likely to suffer serious injuries when you are a pedestrian. Recovery from those injuries can seem overwhelming and difficult. Treatment may require extensive medical care and lengthy rehabilitation. This can often result in medical expenses totaling tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Injuries, treatment, and rehabilitation may limit your ability to continue working. With no income, the total financial costs of pedestrian motor vehicle accidents can be daunting. At Marin and Barrett, Inc., we stand ready to help you recover the financial compensation to which you are entitled. Due to the high financial costs of a pedestrian accident, it is vitally important that you recover the money you deserve after an accident. At Marin and Barrett, Inc., with the help of a skilled Charleston personal injury lawyer you can make sure you are fully and fairly compensated for all of the different types of damages to which you are entitled.
COMPENSATION FOR PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT INJURIES
- Medical Bills
- Permanent Injury or Disability
- Physical Therapy
- Nursing Care
- Property Damage
- Lost Wages and Loss of Career Earning Potential
- Reduced Earning Capacity
- Disability
- Pain and Suffering
- Anxiety and Depression
- Emotional Distress
- Scarring and Disfigurement
- Loss of a Limb
- Loss of Consortium, and
- Wrongful Death
WHAT ARE COMMON PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT INJURIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA?
Unlike passengers in large vehicles who get the benefit of the steel structure, pedestrians have little protections from serious injury in the event of an accident. This lack of protection from serious injury is why pedestrians involved in a car crash are 1.5 times more likely to be killed than passenger vehicle occupants.
Fortunately, most pedestrian accidents are not fatal accidents. Some of the most commonly reported pedestrian accident injuries include the following:
- Broken Bones
- Soft Tissue Injury
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Spinal Cord Injuries and Neck Injuries
- Thoracic Injury
- Herniated Disc
- Eye Injury
- Amputation
- Paralysis
- Death
Contact Charleston Pedestrian Accident Attorney Matthew Marin at Marin and Barrett, Inc. if you have suffered injuries after an accident in South Carolina. We can help you recover the compensation you are entitled to.
TYPES OF PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS OUR SOUTH CAROLINA PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS HANDLE
The South Carolina roadways are only safe if all involved obey the traffic laws and walk signals. They become dangerous when individuals break the rules, fail to pay proper attention to the road, or fail to properly yield the right-of-way. Far and away the number one cause of serious pedestrian accidents in South Carolina is negligence. The most common causes of these accidents include:
- Distracted driving accidents involving pedestrians
- Accidents involving drivers who were speeding
- Injuries to pedestrians who were jaywalking
- Parking lot accidents involving pedestrians
- Injuries to child pedestrians
- Aggressive drivers injuring pedestrians
- Alcohol-related pedestrian accidents
- Failure to yield the right-of-way accidents
- Pedestrian accidents involving 18-wheelers, scooters, and government vehicles
- Pedestrian accidents resulting in catastrophic Injury
- Pedestrian accident wrongful death claims
- Poorly designed intersections resulting in pedestrian accidents
- Large cars and SUV pedestrian accidents
A skilled South Carolina personal injury lawyer can provide you with legal advice as well as investigate your pedestrian accident and find out its probable cause and identify the at-fault party or parties. That is why it is important to speak with a local injury lawyer who is familiar with downtown Charleston, West Ashley, North Charleston and Mount Pleasant and can investigate the site of your accident to gather more information vital to your claim.
