If you or someone you care for has been injured as the result of a pedestrian/motor vehicle collision, read on for how a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Raleigh, NC can help.
Unfortunately, the number of North Carolina pedestrians killed in accidents has been on the rise since 2009. In 2019 via the DOT:
- 231 pedestrians were killed in North Carolina.
- There were 193 crashes involving a pedestrian, 15 fatalities and 210 injured pedestrians in Raleigh.
Also read Raleigh Car Accident Statistics & Twenty Ways to Avoid Raleigh Car Accidents
In North Carolina, if you are even 1% at fault for your injury (contributory negligence), the injured pedestrian is barred from recovering compensation for injuries and damages. For example, if you are walking down the street at midnight, while inebriated, and while wearing dark clothing and a car hits you, you may not be able to recover from your injuries. But see The Last Clear Chance Doctrine.
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 as the result of a pedestrian/motor vehicle collision, read on to learn more about how an accident attorney can help.
Also read What not to do after a Raleigh Car Accident.
What if you are a 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 without affect at first, but can lead to long-term emotional distress and physical injury.
Also read Twenty Steps to Take After a Raleigh Car Accident
How Can a Pedestrian Accident Law Firm Help?
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 will likely not be able to live life as you did before. The question becomes: what can you recover from the at-fault driver?
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, future medical treatment that you may require 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 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
It is obvious that 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 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.
The above mentioned are a few of the types of recovery that 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?
Types of Pedestrian Injuries
Nearly every time a pedestrian is struck in an auto accident, even in low speed scenarios like being hit in a parking lot, they sustain injuries. Our law firm has successfully represented pedestrians who have sustained some of the following types of injuries:
If your pedestrian injury is not listed above, that does mean we cannot represent you. Our attorneys can still help you or your loved one from the injuries sustained due to the pedestrian accident.
Also read Raleigh Car Accident Injuries & Raleigh Car Accident Reports
Contact a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Raleigh, NC 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 evaluations, (919) 615-3095.
