In recent years, South Carolina has emerged as one of the most difficult states for pedestrian safety, ranking fourth nationally in fatal pedestrian accidents. This statistic has shocked many residents, some of whom had anticipated an even higher ranking.
South Carolina’s pedestrian fatality rate is significantly higher than most of the country, trailing only behind New Mexico, Florida, and Delaware. Our state’s death rate is approximately 65% above the national average and more than double the national median.
This alarming trend points to a critical issue with our infrastructure. Many experts believe that our roads and bridges were not designed initially with pedestrian safety in mind.
Furthermore, the poor condition of our roadways contributes to the problem. Potholes and debris often force drivers to swerve unexpectedly, sometimes resulting in tragic pedestrian accidents.
You might be eligible for financial compensation if injured in a pedestrian accident. At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, our Greenville pedestrian accident attorneys have extensive experience advocating for accident victims.
We’re here to help you understand your rights and explore your legal options. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you.
Why Should You Consult With Our Greenville Pedestrian Accident Attorneys?
The aftermath of a pedestrian accident often involves significant medical costs, lost income, and other damages. These are compensations you are entitled to pursue.
However, the legal process can be challenging and stressful, especially when your primary focus should be on healing. Our Greenville pedestrian accident attorney can manage the complicated aspects of your case, allowing you to concentrate on your recovery.
The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm is dedicated to ensuring a favorable outcome for you by:
- Thoroughly investigating the details of your accident
- Filing a personal injury claim on your behalf
- Negotiating diligently with the insurance company
- Advocating for a just settlement or proceeding to trial if necessary
Proving fault is important in securing compensation and rests upon you and your legal team. Our attorney will gather key evidence, such as police reports, medical records, and witness testimonials, to build a solid case.
This lets us negotiate effectively with the insurance company to achieve your best settlement.
How Can Our Greenville Pedestrian Accident Law Firm Help?
Greenville, a town in South Carolina County, has a population of 70,838 and is located in South Carolina County. Although it is recognized as one of the best places to live in South Carolina, Greenville unfortunately experiences many pedestrian accidents.
These incidents often result in severe injuries that can have lasting effects on the victims’ lives.
Our skilled pedestrian accident law firm in Greenville can be instrumental in helping victims handle the consequences of such incidents. Our Greenville personal injury lawyers specialize in securing compensation for medical expenses, lost income, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, and property damage.
The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm guarantees that you will only be charged if we resolve your pedestrian accident case successfully. We offer our legal services on a contingency fee basis and provide a complimentary case review for potential new clients.
The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm is committed to handling negotiations with insurance companies to ensure you receive the necessary compensation. By contacting us immediately after an accident, you can receive expert guidance from the onset, allowing you to concentrate fully on your recovery.
How Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen?
Pedestrian accidents can occur due to various factors, often involving negligence, environmental challenges, and human errors. Here’s a closer look at the common causes of these accidents. If you or someone you know has been involved in such an incident, consider contacting the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm for all your legal assistance.
- Distracted Driving: Engaging with mobile phones, adjusting the car’s controls, or other distractions can divert a driver’s attention, making it harder to notice pedestrians.
- Failure to Yield: Accidents often happen when drivers do not give way to pedestrians at crosswalks, intersections, or other designated walking areas.
- Speeding: Driving over the speed limit can significantly decrease a driver’s ability to react quickly enough to stop before hitting a pedestrian.
- Impaired Driving: Alcohol or drugs impair cognitive and motor functions, reducing a driver’s reaction time and judgment and increasing the risk of accidents.
- Poor Visibility: Conditions such as dim lighting, fog, or rain, as well as visual obstructions like parked cars or overgrown vegetation, can prevent drivers from seeing pedestrians.
Remember, safety is a shared responsibility. If you’re seeking legal advice after a pedestrian accident, the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm is here to help!
What Should You Do After a Pedestrian Accident?
After a pedestrian accident, the first and foremost step is to prioritize your health by seeking immediate medical attention. This ensures your well-being and provides crucial documentation that can be vital for any subsequent legal actions.
Here are essential steps to follow after a pedestrian accident to safeguard your health and legal rights:
- Call 911 and Get Medical Help: Promptly contact emergency services and follow the advice of first responders. If injured, seek medical treatment immediately.
- Gather Witness Information: Speak with anyone who witnessed the accident and collect their contact details. Witnesses can provide valuable insights that support your account of the incident.
- Document the Scene and Injuries: Use your phone to take pictures of the accident scene, including any vehicle damage, road conditions, skid marks, and traffic signs. Also, photograph your injuries to have a visual record.
- Cooperate with Law Enforcement: Provide a clear and truthful account to the police without speculating or admitting fault. Remember that your statements can impact future legal proceedings.
- Refrain from Speaking with Insurance Companies: Avoid giving any recorded statements to insurance representatives before consulting with a lawyer. Insurance companies may use your words against you to minimize or deny your claim.
- Consult a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer: Speak with a lawyer specializing in pedestrian accidents. They can guide you through your legal options and help you pursue compensation for your injuries.
Additionally, avoid apologizing or admitting any fault at the scene. Insurance companies may use such admissions against you. If the accident details are unclear, it’s especially important not to make official statements to insurers before obtaining legal advice.
For further guidance and to explore your legal options, consider contacting a pedestrian accident attorney.
What Are Common Injuries From Pedestrian Accidents?
Pedestrian accidents can result in severe injuries or, tragically, even death. According to the Greenville witnessed 65 pedestrian fatalities in 2019, ranking it as the 12th deadliest state for pedestrians in the U.S.
Many survivors of pedestrian accidents face significant challenges in their daily lives due to the serious injuries sustained. Here are some common injuries associated with pedestrian accidents in Greenville:
- Head and Brain Injuries: Including concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
- Broken Bones and Torn Ligaments: Such injuries can occur in any part of the body but are particularly common in the legs, arms, and ribs.
- Neck and Spinal Injuries: These can range from whiplash to more severe spinal cord damage.
- Severe Road Rash: Abrasive injuries occur when the skin comes into rough contact with the road.
- Lacerations, Cuts, and Burns: These can vary in severity but often require medical treatment.
- Internal Injuries: Such as internal bleeding or bruised or damaged organs.
Beyond physical injuries, pedestrian accidents can also have long-lasting psychological effects, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias of roads or vehicles, depression, and anxiety.
Dealing with the consequences of a pedestrian accident is overwhelming, and no one should have to guide this difficult time alone. At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, our personal injury attorneys treat each client like family and advocate for the full and fair compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for a complimentary consultation and to discuss your legal options.
What Could You Recover Compensation for in a Pedestrian Accident Case?
After a pedestrian accident, you may be eligible to receive compensation from the party at fault, usually the driver involved in the incident. Occasionally, other parties, like government entities or vehicle manufacturers, could be liable if their actions contributed to the accident.
This process of claiming compensation is known as “recovering damages.”
Here’s a breakdown of the types of damages you might pursue:
Economic Damages:
These are the tangible financial costs resulting from the accident. They are usually quantifiable and based on specific expenses incurred.
Our law firm can assist in recovering economic damages such as:
- Medical expenses
- Legal fees
- Lost earnings due to time off work
- Property damage, including damage to personal belongings
Non-Economic Damages:
These damages cover the intangible effects of an accident, which are harder to quantify in monetary terms but significantly impact your quality of life. Examples include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Reduced ability to engage in usual activities
- Damage to reputation or emotional health
Assessing and calculating the compensation you deserve can be complex and requires expert legal guidance. At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, our skilled legal team is dedicated to reviewing your case thoroughly to ensure you receive the full compensation you are entitled to.
Deadline for Pedestrian Accident Case
In South Carolina, pedestrian accident cases fall under personal injury claims. This means that the same deadlines applicable to general personal injury cases also apply to claims for compensation following a pedestrian accident.
Specifically, according to S.C. Code § 15-3-530(6), you have a three-year window from the accident date to file a claim documenting your losses and requesting compensation.
It is important to note that you do not need to wait three years to initiate your case. With the assistance of a pedestrian accident attorney in South Carolina, you can begin the process and file the necessary paperwork within months of the incident.
However, when submitted to the county clerk, your claim must be detailed and comprehensive. If the deadline is causing you stress or making you feel pressured by the timeline, inform our team.
We can manage the investigation and ensure your claim is filed accurately and timely, meeting all legal requirements.
How Do Pedestrian Accident Case Work?
Pedestrian accident cases can be intricate, with liability frequently contested by insurance companies or defense attorneys. Engaging an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer who can thoroughly investigate the accident and establish liability is essential.
In South Carolina, contributory negligence applies, meaning if a plaintiff is found even 1% at fault, they could be completely barred from recovering compensation. To effectively counter this, it’s essential to construct a solid legal case that demonstrates the driver’s fault in the accident.
A skilled South Carolina pedestrian accident lawyer can strengthen your case by undertaking various strategic actions, including:
- Conducting a detailed accident investigation
- Preserving critical evidence
- Securing the official police accident report
- Interviewing witnesses
- Acquiring any available dashcam or surveillance footage
- Preparing you for any recorded statements with insurance companies
- Coordinating with law enforcement and other related parties
- Engaging experts such as accident reconstruction specialists
- Estimating the full extent of your damages
- Negotiating assertively with insurance adjusters and defense lawyers
- Managing depositions and other pre-trial procedures
- Filing a lawsuit if negotiations do not result in a satisfactory settlement
At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, our team includes expert investigators, many of whom are retired law enforcement professionals who excel in pinpointing fault in complex cases. We also collaborate with external experts like accident reconstructionists to substantiate our clients’ claims strongly.
Get Your Deal Done With Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Greenville!
If you’ve been involved in a pedestrian accident in Greenville, getting the right legal support is essential. Our team of dedicated pedestrian accident lawyers at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm is ready to help you solve the complexity of your case and work toward a positive resolution.
Call us at (864) 664-3865 today to set up a consultation. By choosing our firm, you’re not just hiring an attorney – you’re partnering with a team of compassionate advocates committed to fighting for your rights and helping you move forward after an accident.
FAQs:
- How can a Greenville pedestrian accident lawyer help me with my case?
A pedestrian accident lawyer can help by evaluating your case, gathering evidence, and representing your interests in negotiations with insurance companies or in court. They will aim to secure compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages resulting from the accident.
- What compensation can you recover in a pedestrian accident lawsuit in Greenville?
Compensation in pedestrian accident cases may include medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost income, decreased earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and punitive damages in cases of egregious negligence.
- What if I was partially at fault for the pedestrian accident?
South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover damages if you were partially at fault, as long as your degree of fault does not exceed 50%. However, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of your fault. A pedestrian accident lawyer can help assess fault and handle these complexities.
