A Raleigh pedestrian accident lawyer at The Bishop Law Firm can help you hold the at-fault driver accountable and seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses.
If you or someone you care for has been injured in a pedestrian-motor vehicle collision, we offer free case reviews and do not get paid unless you win.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
Unfortunately, the number of North Carolina pedestrians injured and killed in accidents has been on the rise. In 2024, per the DOT:
- 281 pedestrians were killed in North Carolina (12% increase from 2023)
- 190 crashes involved pedestrians with 13 fatalities and 184 injuries in Raleigh
- 276 crashes involved pedestrians with 19 deaths and 246 injuries in Wake County
Also read Raleigh Car Accident Statistics & Twenty Ways to Avoid Raleigh Car Accidents
Types of Pedestrian Injuries
Pedestrians struck in an auto accident sustain injuries. The human body cannot win this fight.
Distracted driving is the cause of many severe injuries and fatalities among pedestrians (NIH).
Severe lower extremity, head/face/neck (including traumatic brain injuries), upper extremity, and pelvic injuries are all common injuries suffered by victims.
Older adults are more at risk for severe pedestrian injuries (NIH), while those aged 15-19 years old are in the age group most likely to be injured (CSN).
The most crucial steps for an accident victim are to seek medical treatment as soon as possible and follow all medical advice.
Also read Raleigh Car Accident Injuries & Raleigh Car Accident Reports
What if you are a Raleigh pedestrian hit by a car in a parking lot?
Being hit by a car as a pedestrian, even in low-speed scenarios such as a parking lot, can still entitle you to recover damages from the at-fault driver if you are injured.
These incidents in parking lots may seem insignificant at first, but they can lead to long-term emotional distress and physical injury.
Also read Twenty Steps to Take After a Raleigh Car Accident
North Carolina Personal Injury Law
For Raleigh pedestrian accident victims to recover for their personal injury, the at-fault party must be negligent.
Negligence is a failure to perform an owed duty that results in injury to another.
Obeying traffic laws is required of all drivers and pedestrians.
For example, if a driver runs a red light, collides with another vehicle, and injures the other driver's arm, negligence has occurred because all drivers have a duty to drive as a reasonable person would.
In addition to the at-fault party's negligence, the victim must not be negligent.
In North Carolina, if you are even 1% at fault for your injury (contributory negligence), you are barred from recovering compensation for injuries and damages.
For example, if you are walking down the middle of the street at midnight inebriated, while wearing dark clothing, and a car hits you, you will have a difficult time recovering for your injuries due to your contributory negligence.
Also read Contributory Negligence.
What damages can a victim recover?
A victim can recover medical expenses, lost wages, and pain & suffering for the present and the future (if warranted) in a pedestrian accident claim.
Punitive damages are available but require egregious conduct (which is more than normal negligence - think drunk drivers who injure others).
Medical Expenses
You should be compensated for all injury-related medical expenses, including your medications, braces, injections, surgery, as well as any therapy (speech, occupational, physical, or psychiatric, to name a few) that you may need.
In addition, the cost of future medical treatment (prescribed by a physician) will need to be factored into your settlement.
When determining future medical expenses, it is best to consult with your treating physician to determine if you need a long-term plan of care for your injuries.
If you do not calculate the total cost of all medical care that you will need to recover, you may find yourself without a way to pay for necessary medical care later on.
Also, read NC Car Accident Injuries & Compensation.
Lost Wages
Your time missed from work due to the Raleigh pedestrian injury and your recovery should be considered when settling as well.
Documenting all wages lost and obtaining a statement from your employer will help give an accurate picture of your losses.
Also, read our post on Lost Wages and Earning Capacity.
Pain and Suffering
You will suffer physical pain at the time of the crash, throughout your recovery, and possibly indefinitely in the future.
Another unfortunate fact is that you will likely endure mental anguish (emotional trauma) as a result of the wreck and your injuries.
Mental anguish can come in the form of nightmares, flashbacks, and obsessive thoughts about the crash itself; anxiety, isolation, and hopelessness when facing the challenges of recovery; and all of these symptoms can continue for the rest of your life, depending upon each person’s own personal experiences.
While it can be difficult to quantify your pain and suffering, the North Carolina pedestrian accident case law provides factors to help a jury determine how much compensation is enough for these damages.
How Can a Pedestrian Accident Law Firm Help?
The above are a few types of recovery you can obtain from the insurance company.
Gathering necessary documentation, figuring out how much pain & suffering is adequate, obtaining your medical records/future medical needs from your physician, establishing and paying for liens, as well as negotiating with the driver's insurance company are all tasks that a pedestrian accident lawyer in Raleigh.NC can help you with.
Also read What does a Raleigh Car Accident Lawyer do?
If you have been injured due to no fault of your own as a pedestrian, you may be facing serious injuries that will take substantial time to heal.
During your recovery, you may incur medical bills, miss time at work, and lose income, and you will likely not be able to live life as you did before.
Pedestrian accident attorneys can protect your and your family's best interests while you focus on recovery.
It is in an injured pedestrian's best interest to seek fair compensation, not simply the insurance adjuster's first offer.
Contact a Raleigh Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one has been injured as a pedestrian in a traffic accident, we wish a full and speedy recovery.
The Bishop Law Firm represents personal injury car crash accident victims in Raleigh, NC, and we do not get paid unless you win.
We also offer free case reviews by phone (919) 615-3095, or you can start online now.
