The impact of a car, truck, or bus striking a pedestrian can lead to catastrophic and tragic results. At The Downer Law Firm, we represent injured individuals and family members who have lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident. We take a personalized approach to cases rife with emotion and fight to maximize compensation from the responsible party.

If you have suffered serious injuries or are grieving the tragic death of a loved one following a pedestrian accident, contact our Charlotte pedestrian accident lawyers for help today. As your hometown legal team, our personal injury attorneys know what it takes to get the justice you deserve.

What Are the Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?

Many pedestrian-vehicle collisions result from a driver’s breach of their duty of care. If a driver violates their legal duty of care and injures a pedestrian, they can be held liable for negligence and compensation. Common negligent causes of pedestrian accidents include:

  • Distracted driving: Engaging in activities like texting, adjusting the GPS, or eating
  • Failure to yield: Failing to yield the right-of-way at both marked and unmarked crosswalks, particularly when making left-hand turns or right turns on red
  • Speeding: Exceeding posted limits or driving too fast for conditions (like rain or fog) reduces reaction time and increases the severity of impact
  • Impairment: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs severely impacts a driver’s judgment and coordination
  • Reckless or aggressive driving: This includes running red lights, rolling through stop signs, or impatient maneuvers around other vehicles stopped for pedestrians

Negligence may lie with local governments for infrastructure shortcomings that contribute to a pedestrian accident, such as poorly timed walk signals, a lack of sidewalks, or inadequate street lighting in high-traffic areas. A company may also be held negligent if its employee (e.g., a delivery driver) strikes a pedestrian while on the job.

Our Charlotte pedestrian accident attorneys can thoroughly investigate the cause of your accident to determine who is at fault and what sources of compensation may be available. We can take prompt legal action to protect your rights and help you get the compensation you need to move on from the accident.

What Compensation Can Injured Pedestrians Recover?

Compensation for pedestrian accident injuries can fall into a few different categories. Our pedestrian crash attorneys can help you seek recovery for the measurable financial costs of your accident in Charlotte. These could include the cost of your current and future bills for hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, and medications, as well as lost wages.

You may also be entitled to non-economic damages to address the personal impact of the accident. This could include compensation for your mental anguish, lost quality of life, disfigurement, and pain and suffering.

North Carolina is one of the few states where, if a pedestrian is found even 1% at fault for the accident (e.g., slightly outside a crosswalk), they are completely barred from recovering any compensation.  Because of the contributory negligence rule, insurers in North Carolina often aggressively look for any evidence of pedestrian fault to deny claims entirely. Our attorneys will fight back against unfair assertions of liability and work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve.

Contact Our Pedestrian Injury Attorneys in Charlotte For an Aggressive and Compassionate Advocate

The physics of an accident involving a motor vehicle and a pedestrian cannot be ignored. The collision will leave the pedestrian suffering serious and oftentimes fatal injuries. Regardless of whether a crosswalk is marked or unmarked, an individual crossing the street properly has the right of way. Drivers of cars and trucks must be attentive and aware of any and all pedestrians.

At The Downer Law Firm, we handle many pedestrian cases that have become wrongful death claims. The cases are rife with emotion and require an experienced and knowledgeable Charlotte pedestrian accident attorney to get to the facts. No amount of money can bring back a primary wage earner or restore health to a permanently impaired individual. However, the responsible party must be held accountable for negligent acts that forever changed lives.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with an experienced lawyer regarding a pedestrian struck by a car or motorcycle, please contact us for a free consultation today.