If you were hurt in a pedestrian accident, you deserve compensation from the driver who injured you. Contact McCravy, Newlon, Sturkie, & Clardy today. We are a team of dedicated Laurens pedestrian accident lawyers with decades of combined experience. Let’s talk about your accident, learn more about your injuries, and analyze who you can sue. We offer free case evaluations, so there is no risk if you reach out to our office as soon as possible.
Most Common Pedestrian Injuries
Any collision with a moving vehicle can result in injuries, no matter how slow the vehicle was moving. Some common injuries include:
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Fractures
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Herniated discs
- Spinal column injuries
- Abrasions and road rash
- Crush injuries
- Amputations
- Paralysis
Remember to hold onto your medical bills and copies of medical records to show to your attorney.
This information is useful in a case when it comes time to analyze how much your claim is worth.
When is a Driver Liable for Your Accident?
Motorists must use reasonable care when driving. Unfortunately, too many of them will crash into pedestrians due to:
- Speeding: Speeding motorists might even run a red light and hit a pedestrian at excessive speed.
- Failure to yield: South Carolina law requires that drivers yield to pedestrians who are already in the crosswalk. Unfortunately, some drivers are in a rush and try to squeak past, only to clip the pedestrian and cause injury.
- Illegal turns: A driver might crash into a pedestrian while performing an illegal left-on-red turn or when failing to check that the way is clear before making a right-hand turn.
- Distraction: Many distractions take motorists’ eyes off the road. Cell phones are a huge source of distraction, with some drivers scrolling through text messages as they drive down the street.
- Fatigue: The risk of driver error increases when a motorist is tired. Their coordination can be impaired, and they might even fall asleep with their foot on the gas pedal.
- Intoxication or drug use: An impaired motorist cannot take defensive measures in time to avoid a crash. Drunk driving remains a huge problem in South Carolina.
These are some of the most common reasons for pedestrian crashes. Please call our firm to discuss what happened with a Laurens pedestrian accident attorney.
Piecing Together What Happened
In many cases, the driver will blame the pedestrian for jumping into traffic without looking.
Conversely, our clients will argue they were crossing the street when instructed by a light when the motorist crashed into them.
We need to prove that you are not mostly to blame for the crash, and we can use different pieces of evidence:
- Your memories of the accident, including what you did right before the crash.
- Any statements made by the driver, including an apology for not driving safely.
- Testimony from third-party witnesses who saw a driver crash into you.
- Nearby surveillance or security video that captured the accident.
- Photographs of the accident scene, including the vehicles involved.
Some pedestrians are flat on their backs after a collision, so taking photos or talking to witnesses is out of the question. That’s okay. You need to prioritize your health. But if you can move around safely, then try to document the scene.
What is the Average Pedestrian Accident Settlement?
A reckless or negligent driver must pay compensation to an injured victim. But how much?
A settlement should provide financial compensation for:
- Property loss or damage: You might have been carrying something when a car ran you over, in which case the defendant should pay to replace the item.
- Bodily pain and suffering: Injuries reduce a person’s quality of life and make it impossible to enjoy time with family and friends. This type of non-economic loss deserves compensation, but insurance companies often try to underpay for pain.
- Medical bills, pain medication, and rehabilitation expenses: Medical care is expensive, and many victims incur huge bills after getting clipped by a car. We can seek compensation for all your medical care.
- Lost wages or income: Our clients often rest at home for months at a time because they are too disabled to head back into work. Even self-employed people can seek compensation for lost income.
Each case is unique, so there is no reason to discuss an “average settlement.” The average probably tells us nothing about what you can receive. Reach out to a Laurens pedestrian accident attorney to discuss your case.
Why You Need to Hire McCravy, Newlon, Sturkie, & Clardy
Accident victims can receive an immediate lift to their case by hiring one of our Laurens pedestrian accident lawyers. We can:
- Investigate and collect evidence to piece together what happened. You are probably in too much pain to leave the house and do this yourself.
- Filter out phone calls and complete paperwork. We will handle all the insurance claim forms and make sure claims adjusters don’t bother you.
- Calculate the value of your injuries. We seek fair compensation for all damages, including hard-to-calculate losses like pain and emotional distress. Only a lawyer knows what’s reasonable to request in a settlement.
- Negotiate with the defendant and their insurance company. Negotiation is an art form, and we work diligently to obtain fair compensation for our clients.
- File a lawsuit before the expiration of the statute of limitations. South Carolina allows victims three years to file a lawsuit. (S.C. Code § 15-3-530.) Even if we are negotiating a settlement, it’s still critical to have a suit filed before this deadline expires.
Our firm will do anything necessary to protect you. Our advocacy even includes participating in mediation or litigating in court.
Our Consultations Are Free
McCravy, Newlon, Sturkie, & Clardy opened because of our belief that injured people in Laurens deserve high-quality legal representation. Call us if you were hurt in a collision while walking. Our Laurens pedestrian accident lawyer can meet for a free consultation to review your case. Based on what you hear, you can go ahead and hire us so we can get started on your case.