The roads can be dangerous places for pedestrians. According to the CDC, there was an average of approximately one death every 75 minutes in the United States in 2020. The first thing to do in the immediate aftermath of a pedestrian accident is to seek medical attention. The second thing to do is contact a pedestrian accident lawyer.
While recovering financially might be the last thing on your mind during this traumatic time, there are several things you can do to protect your ability to seek compensation for your injuries or those of a loved one:
A pedestrian injury attorney will use this evidence to piece together the scene and make a case. From there, your legal team will negotiate with the driver’s insurance company on your behalf in pursuit of compensation to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other relevant costs.
Every personal injury claim is different, but some or all of the following compensation may be recovered:
Accidents can happen at any time. You can be as careful as you can be, but you can never predict the action of others out on the road. When this happens, you need someone to speak on your behalf to fight for your rights. Speaks Law Firm is here for you.
Sadly, the root cause of many accidents is negligent or reckless behavior, where a driver fails to be a good steward or act reasonably to ensure public safety. The majority of common situations that cause pedestrian accidents include:
North Carolina is one of a handful of states with a contributory negligence rule. This standard means that if you are partially at fault for the accident, it bars any financial recovery. This rule is widely considered unfair because it prevents victims who were only partially at fault from being eligible for monetary compensation.
In an effort to avoid paying pedestrian accident victims, insurance companies are quick to look for any opportunity to assign even the slightest sliver of fault. For this reason, it is imperative to have a pedestrian accident attorney on your side to negotiate with an insurance adjuster or persuade a judge or jury of the merits of your case.
Before giving an insurance company a chance to deny your claim, contact Speaks Law Firm for a free case review.
Every state, including North Carolina, has a statute of limitations that specifies how long a victim has to file a personal injury lawsuit after an accident. In North Carolina, a personal injury claim must be filed within three years, and a wrongful death claim must be filed within two years.
However, a claim with the driver’s insurance company should be filed promptly following the accident. Most claims are usually reported and filed within a few days of the accident. An experienced North Carolina pedestrian accident attorney can effectively file your case with the driver’s insurance company shortly following an accident.
Delays in contacting the insurance company can hurt your case, but be aware that these companies are also motivated to minimize your claim. You should seek the guidance of an experienced North Carolina pedestrian injury lawyer when interacting with the insurance company. Your attorney may then manage such communications on your behalf to avoid missteps that could compromise your case.
Beating the statute of limitations isn’t the only time-related issue in a pedestrian accident case. Delaying filing a claim can cause lost opportunities to collect evidence and secure witness testimony.
Some pedestrian accident claims are relatively straightforward, but more often than not, unexpected complexities arise that make these personal injury claims difficult to resolve without an attorney.
Our actions speak louder than words, so contact Speaks Law Firm today for a free case review with our legal team in Wilmington, NC so we can assess the details surrounding your accident and help you determine your next steps.
