Pedestrian Accident

Pedestrian walking across the crosswalk

South Carolina Pedestrian Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one have suffered an injury in a South Carolina pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. For over 125 years, Willcox, Buyck & Williams, PA has skillfully represented South Carolina clients. Our legal team understands how emotionally and financially draining it is to recover from a pedestrian accident injury. If another person’s negligence resulted in the pedestrian accident that caused your injuries, we will fight aggressively for the compensation you deserve. 

Common Injuries Caused by Pedestrian Accidents

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the rate of pedestrian deaths in South Carolina is 44 percent higher than the national average. Pedestrians do not have the protection of a motor vehicle when they are in an accident. Common pedestrian injuries include:

Recovering from a pedestrian accident can take a significant length of time, especially for severe accidents. Spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries can require an injured person to receive lifetime medical care. The expenses for in-home care, therapy, surgeries, and medication can easily cost over a million dollars a year for severely injured pedestrians. 

Representation for Pedestrians Hit By a Car While Walking

To recover compensation for your injuries, you will first need to determine who is at fault for the pedestrian accident. At Buyck & Williams, PA, we will evaluate the facts of your case and help you decide who is at fault for your injuries. Typically, when a pedestrian suffers an injury from a car striking him or her, the driver is at fault. Drivers owe other drivers and pedestrians a duty of reasonable care. When drivers negligently hit a pedestrian, they are liable for the resulting injuries. 

Negligent, reckless, and intentionally harmful driving is often the cause of pedestrian injuries and deaths. Distracted driving is a common cause of pedestrian accidents. Between cell phones, GPS systems, and other electronic devices, many drivers do not resist the temptation to shift their focus away from the road. It only takes seconds of distracted driving to cause a driver to hit a pedestrian. Some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents include the following:

  • Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Speeding
  • Distracted driving
  • Failure to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks
  • Failure to signal while turning
  • Ignoring posted traffic signs and traffic signals
  • Operating a motor vehicle in an unsafe way due to inclement weather 
  • Operating a motor vehicle in an unsafe way near construction zones

When a driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the pedestrian accident happened, the court will likely presume that the driver is responsible. At Willcox, Buyck & Williams, PA, our lawyers have the experience needed to investigate a pedestrian accident thoroughly. 

Compensation Available for Those Injured in Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrians who suffer injuries from pedestrian accidents often suffer substantial financial hardship. Pedestrian accidents can be financially, emotionally, and physically exhausting. Serious personal injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, often require costly long-term medical care. Seriously injured people often are unable to return to work and cannot maintain their households. The impact of a loss of ability to work can create significant hardship for years to come. 

When a driver’s negligence causes a pedestrian’s injuries, the victim has a right to file a personal injury lawsuit in South Carolina to recover damages, such as:

  • Medical expenses (current and future)
  • Lost wages (present and future)
  • Funeral expenses in a wrongful death lawsuit
  • Loss of consortium
  • Damages for pain and suffering
  • Punitive damages in some cases

Wrongful Death Lawsuits for Pedestrians Killed By Negligent Drivers

Fatal car accidents involving pedestrians happen every day in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a motor vehicle strikes and kills a pedestrian every 1.5 hours in the United States. Approximately 20 percent of all deaths of pedestrians in 2016 belonged to pedestrians aged 65 and older. Sadly, one out of every five children under age 15 who died in traffic accidents were pedestrians. Most pedestrian accidents that result in death happen at night, in non-intersectional locations, and in urban areas. 

If your loved one died in a pedestrian accident, you might be entitled to damages. In a wrongful death lawsuit, it is necessary to prove that the driver’s negligence or recklessness caused the pedestrian accident that resulted in the death. Successful plaintiffs are entitled to reimbursement for their loved ones’ medical expenses before their death, funeral expenses, and compensation for grief and mental anguish. 

Contact Our Experienced South Carolina Personal Injury Lawyers

Pedestrian accidents can be complicated and require a knowledgeable and experienced personal injury lawyer. At Willcox, Buyck & Williams, PA, our lawyers know how to work hard to secure the compensation you deserve for your serious injuries. We take our clients’ cases exceptionally seriously because we understand how difficult it is to recover physically and financially from a serious injury. Contact our South Carolina personal injury law firm as soon as possible to schedule your initial consultation.

From law offices in Florence and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Willcox, Buyck & Williams, P.A. serves Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Garden City, the Grand Strand, and other communities throughout Florence County, Marion County, Horry County, Darlington County, and Georgetown County.