Traveling on foot is common in Hilton Head, especially in beach towns and tourist areas. All drivers, including cyclists, must obey crosswalk and pedestrian signs while operating their vehicles.
Disobeying these laws can result in criminal and civil liability. Pedestrians are more likely to suffer fatal injuries in accidents than other involved parties.
If you or a loved one has been injured or suffered a fatality due to a pedestrian accident, it is crucial to seek proper recourse. You deserve justice and fair compensation for your expenses and suffering.
The Hilton Head pedestrian accident lawyers at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm are here to help you obtain the justice you seek. We will guide you through this stressful and complicated process.
If you have any questions, please call us today; we will gladly assist you.
How Can Our Hilton Head Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Support You After an Accident?
After a serious pedestrian accident, you shouldn’t have to worry about battling insurance companies and their aggressive legal teams alone. Your focus should be on healing while our skilled personal injury lawyers at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm fight for your rights.
Our dedicated pedestrian accident lawyers will:
- Challenge Insurance Companies: Insurance adjusters and lawyers are skilled at minimizing your claims and shifting blame. They often offer lowball settlements or unfairly blame you for reducing their payout. We understand their tactics and know how to build a strong strategy to counter them.
- Identify All Sources of Compensation: Not all pedestrian accidents are the fault of a single driver. If you were hit by a taxi, bus, or other work-related vehicle, we can pursue claims against both the driver and their employer. If a defective vehicle part contributed to the accident, we can file a claim against the manufacturer. We will also review your insurance policies to uncover any potential coverage.
- Assess Maximum Compensation: Your injuries may require ongoing treatment, such as physical therapy, vocational training, and psychological counseling. Additionally, you may have lost wages and endured significant pain and suffering. We will thoroughly evaluate your case to determine the maximum compensation you deserve.
- Build a Wrongful Death Case: If the worst has happened and you have lost a loved one, our experienced wrongful death attorneys will handle your claim with compassion and sensitivity. We will manage the legal aspects so you can focus on grieving and healing.
Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today to learn how we can help you and your family fight for the justice you deserve after a tragic pedestrian accident. Call us or fill out our online form to get started.
Why Should You Reach Our Hilton Head Pedestrian Accident Law Firm After a Mishap?
Walking down Hilton Head streets, you have little protection if an accident occurs. As a result, pedestrians often mourn excruciating and debilitating injuries that require comprehensive and costly medical therapy.
Recovery requires weeks or even months, and some individuals may never fully recover, facing lifelong disabilities due to being hit by a car.
If someone else’s carelessness caused your injuries, they should be held accountable for their negligence. While you may be entitled to compensation, obtaining it can be challenging. Insurance companies often fight to minimize your claim’s value or deny it altogether.
Those responsible for your injuries may try to shift some or all of the blame onto you.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer can level the playing field. The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm team can provide the edge you need to secure the compensation you deserve.
As your Hilton Head personal injury law firm, we will be your strongest advocate and ally by:
- Standing up to insurance companies to ensure they take your injury claim seriously
- Thoroughly investigating your accident to determine the cause and identify who is at fault
- Seeking compensation from all liable parties
- Protecting you from those who try to blame you for your injuries
- Consulting with leading Hilton Head pedestrian injury experts to accurately determine your case’s value
Our assertive approach has secured meaningful compensation for injured South Carolina pedestrians for many years. We’re here to help you when you need it most. Call us today to get the support and representation you need.
What To Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Hilton Head?
Whether you are crossing the street, navigating a parking lot, walking across a driveway, or even standing on the sidewalk, a pedestrian accident is shocking and life-changing. In the worst cases, you could suffer fatal or catastrophic injuries that leave you disabled and permanently impaired; in the best cases, you might suffer minor injuries and psychological trauma.
Regardless of the circumstances, being hit by a car is a traumatic experience. If you are involved in a pedestrian accident in Hilton Head, here is an overview of what to do next:
Seek Medical Care
It is crucial to seek medical care immediately after a pedestrian accident, even if injuries seem minor. Some injuries, such as concussions, soft tissue damage, or internal bleeding, might not be immediately apparent.
A medical evaluation ensures that all injuries are documented and treated promptly. This step is essential for your health and can impact your ability to file a successful claim for damages.
Without a medical record, insurance companies may deny your claim. Prioritize your health and well-being by seeing a medical professional to thoroughly assess and document your injuries.
File a Report With the Police
No matter the accident’s severity, you must file a report with the police if a car strikes you. Call 911 and wait at the scene until authorities arrive.
While waiting, document the incident details, including the other driver’s information, such as their insurance, name, vehicle model, registration, and driver’s license number.
A police report is critical for legal and insurance purposes, providing an official accident account. This report will be vital evidence when seeking compensation for your injuries and other damages.
Talk to Witnesses
Witnesses can be essential in supporting your claim after a pedestrian accident. If bystanders saw the incident, speak with them and record their statements.
Obtain their contact information for future reference. Witness testimonies can provide an unbiased account of the accident, helping to establish fault and strengthen your case.
Their observations might corroborate your version of events, making it more likely for you to receive a fair settlement. Don’t hesitate to ask witnesses to describe what they saw and record their responses accurately.
Detail Your Healing Process
Documenting your healing process is vital for building a strong compensation case. Keep a detailed journal of your medical treatments, emotional state, and daily limitations.
Not every doctor’s visit, therapy session, and medication. Describe your pain levels, emotional struggles, and how the accident has impacted your ability to work and enjoy life.
This comprehensive record will help illustrate the extent of your suffering and the accident’s impact on your life, making your claim for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering more compelling and credible.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Hilton Head, SC
Pedestrian accidents are alarmingly frequent in South Carolina. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, a pedestrian is killed every 2.2 days.
Nationally, a pedestrian suffers serious injuries or dies in an accident every 88 minutes, resulting in approximately 6,000 pedestrian deaths annually.
Most pedestrian fatalities occur in urban areas, at intersections, and during nighttime. These incidents often involve a motor vehicle striking a pedestrian.
Distracted driving—due to texting, daydreaming, alcohol use, and other inattentive behaviors—significantly increases the risk of drivers failing to see pedestrians in time to avoid a collision. Other common causes of pedestrian accidents include:
- Speeding: This reduces a driver’s reaction time and increases stopping distance, making it harder to avoid hitting a pedestrian.
- Reckless Driving: Activities like weaving through traffic, aggressive passing, ignoring safety signs, tailgating, and cutting off other drivers make it difficult to avoid pedestrian collisions.
- Intoxication: Drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs may fail to notice pedestrians or react in time to prevent an accident.
- Blind Spots: Failure to check blind spots can result in drivers not seeing and hitting pedestrians.
- Failure to Yield: Ignoring red lights, crosswalks, or stop signs can lead to drivers striking pedestrians and causing serious injuries.
Available Damages in Pedestrian Accident Cases
The type and compensation you may receive after a pedestrian accident depend on the extent of your damages. Our attorney can evaluate your injuries to help determine the value of your specific case.
While the compensation categories may vary by location, injured pedestrians are generally eligible for the following types of compensation:
- Pain and Suffering: Noneconomic damages for pain and suffering can significantly compensate victims with catastrophic injuries. However, it’s important to note that uninsured motorist insurance often does not cover pain and suffering, potentially limiting eligibility under such coverage.
- Medical Bills: Most pedestrian accident claims include compensation for past and future medical expenses. This can cover hospital stays, ambulance fees, medical devices, doctor appointments, prescriptions, treatments, and lifelong medical care.
- Lost Income: Pedestrian accidents often result in victims being unable to work for an extended period. For example, broken bones may require weeks in a cast and multiple doctor visits. Victims who lose income due to injuries can seek compensation for lost wages.
- Punitive Damages: In extreme negligence, such as road rage, drunk driving, or distracted driving, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the reckless driver. These damages are intended to penalize the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior in the future.
The negotiation skills of your attorney can significantly impact the amount you receive for a pedestrian accident claim. The Hilton Head pedestrian accident lawyers at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm have achieved outstanding results for past clients and can help you pursue maximum compensation.
We will immediately start working on your claim, investigating the cause of the collision, determining insurance coverage, and filing your personal injury claim. Our team will negotiate with insurance companies and, if necessary, go to trial to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
How to Recover Compensation After a Pedestrian Accident
Recovering compensation after a pedestrian accident primarily involves filing an insurance claim and pursuing a personal injury lawsuit. Working with an attorney can be crucial in navigating these processes effectively.
Our attorney can assist you in filing an insurance claim with the at-fault driver’s auto insurance provider and help identify all parties responsible for the accident, as there may be multiple at-fault parties.
For instance, if a delivery company negligently hired a driver with a history of intoxicated driving who then struck you, the company can be held liable for your injuries. Our attorney can develop a comprehensive strategy to maximize your compensation.
Victims of pedestrian accidents can pursue several types of damages, including:
- Current and Future Medical Expenses: This covers all costs of treating your injuries, including hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and follow-up visits.
- Lost Wages: Compensation for the income you lost during your recovery period and any future lost wages if you cannot return to work.
- Loss of Earning Capacity: If your injuries prevent you from working in the same capacity as before, you can seek compensation for the reduction in your earning potential.
- Ongoing Care Expenses: This includes costs for physical therapy, rehabilitation, and any necessary at-home care.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident, as well as other non-economic damages.
Working with our experienced attorney ensures that all aspects of your case are thoroughly examined and you receive the maximum compensation.
Contact Hilton Head Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Today!
If you have been involved in a pedestrian accident, you know how quickly medical bills can accumulate. You may be unable to work and experiencing significant discomfort.
If a loved one was fatally injured in a pedestrian accident, you could be left without essential financial and emotional support. You deserve justice, and an experienced South Carolina pedestrian accident attorney can help you secure the compensation you are entitled to.
Reach out to the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm today to explore your legal options following an accident. Our attorneys are experts, bold litigators committed to defending our clients’ rights.
Give a call to our Hilton Head Pedestrian Accident Lawyer at (864) 664-3865 or schedule your complimentary consultation. We’ll help you explore your legal opportunities.
