Pedestrian Motor Vehicle Accident Personal injury lawyer in South Carolina

Pedestrian accidents are all too common. When they happen, a pedestrian can be catastrophically injured or even killed. It may be that a motor vehicle driver failed to respect your rights, or it may be that an organization such as a city has failed to adequately protect you and your safety on the road. No matter how you were injured, it’s important to get the legal help and support that your claim needs.

At Wilson & Luginbill, our dedicated attorneys have over 40 years of combined experience representing clients throughout South Carolina. We know what you’re going through as you recover and we can pursue the compensation that you and your family need. When you’re involved in a pedestrian accident, the seasoned attorneys at Wilson & Luginbill are here to help.

Contact us today for a free consultation. Call us or use our online contact options to find out more about your legal options.

How We Help After Pedestrian Accidents

If you’re involved in an accident as a pedestrian, you can be left with serious injuries and many questions about your future. Insurance companies and those responsible for your injuries may refuse to compensate you for your injuries, or they may try to give you a lowball offer that is far less than you deserve. Our experienced attorneys know how to build your claim, how to negotiate with insurance companies, and how to fight for the compensation you need.

Our attorneys have handled accident claims throughout South Carolina, and we have years of experience helping pedestrian accident victims secure compensation for their injuries. A pedestrian accident claim is built on careful investigation and a robust record of what happened. We are prepared to investigate the accident, work with authorities, and gather all the documents and records that your claim needs.

Once we’ve gathered the documents your claim needs, we’ll negotiate with insurance companies so seek a fair settlement. Negotiations with insurance companies can be challenging, technical events where it’s easy to make mistakes. Insurers are involved with these types of negotiations all the time, and they’re very good at fighting back against claims for compensation. Our experienced attorneys know how insurance companies operate and we will fight for you and your interests at the negotiating table.

If those responsible for your accident won’t offer you a fair settlement, or won’t take responsibility, our experienced pedestrian accident attorneys can represent you in at court. We’ll draft a legal strategy, prepare and file the necessary court filings, and advocate for you in legal proceedings. At every step during a court trial, we’ll fight for you and your compensation.

What If the Driver Who Hit You Fled the Scene?

After a pedestrian accident, it’s important to act quickly to protect yourself, especially when the person responsible for the accident flees the scene. If you’re injured, the following tips can help you protect yourself and those you love after an accident:

• If possible, get the license plate of the person leaving the scene. This is one of the easiest and most important ways to identify who caused the accident. After an accident, you may be in pain and struggling to make sense of what happened. However, try to get the license plate number if possible. If you’re unable to get the number, see if a witness nearby got it.
• Report the accident to the police and give them any information you have about the vehicle that struck you. This includes the make and model of the vehicle as well as any information you can remember about the driver and passengers. Police should be on the scene shortly, and when they arrive, you can give them a full report.
• Gather contact information from witnesses to the accident. Witnesses to a pedestrian accident often leave the scene and assume that someone else will handle things. Witnesses are important in an accident, but especially important when the responsible parties flee. If you’ve been injured and the driver fled the scene, quickly gather accident witnesses and see if they noted the license plate or any other important details about the vehicle and its occupants.
• When police arrive, give them all the information you have. Fleeing the scene of an accident is a criminal offense in South Carolina, and the police will work to apprehend the person who fled. Their report could be an essential piece of your claim and may give investigators clues about how to find the person who caused your accident.
• Contact a pedestrian accident attorney. After an accident, you may be overwhelmed by the moving pieces of an accident investigation. It’s hard enough on its own, but it’s especially difficult when you’re trying to recover from injuries too. A pedestrian accident attorney can coordinate with authorities, work with investigators, handle any paperwork, and work to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.

Even if the at-fault driver is never found, you may still have a route to compensation. If you carry auto insurance with uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, you may be entitled to pursue a claim even though you were on foot at the time of the crash. Our attorneys will review the facts of your situation to pursue all sources of compensation that may be available to you.

Compensation for a Pedestrian Accident

A pedestrian accident can leave you with serious injuries. Compensation can help you pay your bills, cover living costs, and give you the resources you need to move forward. Compensation in a pedestrian accident claim may include:

• Medical bills and physical therapy costs. After an accident, pedestrians may be left with severe injuries. Pedestrians are at the mercy of large, heavy vehicles and usually have no protection. Shattered bones, traumatic brain injuries, back injuries, internal bleeding, and other serious injuries are common. When you’re injured, your injuries may take years of treatment and therapy. A pedestrian accident claim may include the costs of treating your injuries immediately after the accident and the cost of treating your injuries in the future.
• Property damage including clothing, jewelry, and electronics. Pedestrian accidents often include damage or destruction of your property. The cost of any property you own that was involved in the accident is recoverable.
• Lost income. A pedestrian accident can put you out of work for weeks, months, or even the rest of your life. A pedestrian accident claim may include compensation for any work you miss due to your injuries, and any future wages your injuries may cost you. If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident, a pedestrian accident attorney can help you document your losses and pursue the compensation you may lose down the line.
• Pain and suffering. The physical and psychological trauma of a pedestrian accident can severely impact a victim’s life. Chronic pain can disrupt a victim’s life and leave them struggling to earn a living and do the activities they used to enjoy. An accident can also cause severe emotional anguish that may leave a victim with depression, anxiety, and many other problems that can reduce the quality of their life. If you’ve been involved in a pedestrian accident, make sure that you speak with an attorney about recovering compensation for your pain and suffering.
• Punitive damages. Though uncommon, these may be available some cases. In South Carolina, punitive damages are used to punish those who cause accidents while engaging in malicious or dangerous behavior. Our pedestrian accident lawyers can review your circumstances and advise you on whether punitive damages may be available in your case.

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim for a Pedestrian Accident in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, injured pedestrians have three years from the date of the accident to file a claim for their losses. It’s important to note though that if a pedestrian suffers injuries in an accident and later passes away, the survivors may file a wrongful death action within three years of the victim’s death.

After a pedestrian accident, you may be grappling with serious injuries that are taking all of your energy and your focus. A claim for compensation may seem like too much work at the time. However, it’s important to start your claim as soon as you can. The longer you wait after an accident, the more challenging it becomes to investigate your claim and seek compensation.

Pedestrian accidents are confusing and complex accidents that may take investigators a while to unravel. If you, or someone you love, have been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact an attorney and start work on your claim as soon as you can.

Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrians have no protection against the force of a motor vehicle. Injuries are common in pedestrian accidents, and they’re often more severe than injuries in other types of accidents. Pedestrian accident injuries may include:

• Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). When pedestrians are hit, it’s easy for them to be thrown and to suffer major head injuries. Pedestrians don’t even have the helmets of motorcycle and bicycle riders to protect them. After a pedestrian accident, head injuries and traumatic brain injuries can permanently reduce a pedestrian’s quality of life.
• Broken bones and internal injuries. Pedestrians have no defense against a motor vehicle. When they’re hit, they may suffer broken bones and internal injuries. Broken bones may take time to heal, and even after they have, they may still cause pain and reduced mobility. Internal injuries such as bleeding and ruptured organs can be life-threatening and cause problems for years after an accident.
• Disfigurement. Pedestrian accidents may result in injuries that even the best medicine can’t cure. When a pedestrian is involved in an accident and suffers permanent scarring and disfigurement, their quality of life may be permanently reduced.
• Spinal cord damage and paralysis. After a pedestrian accident, a victim may be left with spinal cord damage. Paralysis, impaired function, and life-threatening complications are all possible after a spinal cord injury.
• Pain and suffering. Physical and emotional pain are common after pedestrian accidents. Serious injuries may cause lasting physical pain, and the accident may result in lingering emotional harm. A victim’s pain and suffering can prevent them from doing the activities they love, and it may significantly impact their future well-being.

Wrongful Death in a Pedestrian Crash

If a victim is killed in a pedestrian accident or passes away later as a result of their injuries, their estate’s administrator may be able to bring a wrongful death claim. This claim can pursue compensation for the victim’s family.

A wrongful death claim may include compensation for:

• Medical bills and treatment prior to your loved one’s passing.
• Compensation for the lost wages and lost income your loved one would have provided.
• Loss of consortium including the care and support that your loved one provided.
• Pain and suffering experienced by the surviving family members.
• Punitive damages where the responsible party’s conduct intentionally harmful or reckless.
• Final expenses for funeral and burial or cremation.

When you lose a loved one in an accident, it can be an overwhelming and painful time. You may have questions about your legal options and what you should do next. If a loved one was killed in a pedestrian accident or passed away later due to their injuries, our attorneys can advise you on your next steps.

Helping Pedestrian Accident Victims Throughout South Carolina

Pedestrians face unique challenges and dangers on the road. Distracted drivers, aggressive drivers, drunk drivers, and many other risks can threaten your health and your safety when walking. If you were injured in a pedestrian accident, get the experienced legal representation that you deserve. At Wilson & Luginbill, we’ve helped injury victims throughout the state pursue compensation for their injuries. Let us help you.

If you have questions about your accident and your recovery, contact the dedicated Pedestrian Motor Vehicle Accident Personal injury lawyer in South Carolina at Wilson & Luginbill for a free consultation. Call us or use our online contact options now.