Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Walking should be safe, but pedestrian accidents remain a serious concern across our communities. At The Law Offices of John M. McCabe, we understand the devastating impact these accidents have on victims and their families. Our dedicated pedestrian accident lawyers work tirelessly to protect the rights of those injured while walking, jogging, or simply crossing the street. Contact us today for a FREE consultation.
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Financial Compensation You May Be Entitled To After an Injury After a Pedestrian Accident
At The Law Offices of John M. McCabe, we understand that pedestrian accident victims face significant financial burdens during their recovery. Our pedestrian accident lawyers work diligently to help clients pursue every type of compensation they may be entitled to receive. Here are the primary categories of compensation available in pedestrian accident cases:
- Medical Expenses: Coverage for all accident-related healthcare costs, including emergency treatment, surgeries, hospital stays, medications, and ongoing care with documentation from healthcare providers.
- Future Medical Care: Compensation for anticipated medical treatments, rehabilitation services, and long-term care needs based on professional medical assessments and projected costs.
- Lost Income: Reimbursement for wages, salary, bonuses, and other earnings lost while recovering from pedestrian accident injuries, including documentation of time missed from work.
- Diminished Earning Capacity: Compensation for reduced ability to earn income in the future due to permanent injuries or disabilities sustained in the pedestrian accident.
- Pain and Suffering: Monetary compensation for physical pain, discomfort, and emotional distress experienced as a result of the pedestrian accident injuries.
- Mental Anguish: Compensation for psychological impacts like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other emotional trauma stemming from the pedestrian accident.
- Physical Therapy: Coverage for rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other treatments needed to regain function and mobility.
- Adaptive Equipment: Compensation for mobility devices, home modifications, or specialized equipment needed to accommodate accident-related disabilities.
- Property Damage: Reimbursement for personal items damaged during the pedestrian accident, such as phones, watches, glasses, or other belongings.
- Loss of Life Quality: Compensation for diminished ability to enjoy daily activities, hobbies, exercise, or social interactions due to accident injuries.
- Permanent Disability: Additional compensation for lasting impairments that affect your ability to perform normal daily activities or work duties.
- Scarring and Disfigurement: Compensation for visible injuries that result in permanent scarring or alterations to physical appearance.
- Loss of Consortium: Damages awarded for impact on relationships with spouse or family members due to pedestrian accident injuries.
- Punitive Damages: In cases involving extreme negligence or intentional harm, additional compensation may be awarded to punish wrongful conduct.
Our pedestrian accident lawyers at The Law Offices of John M. McCabe carefully document and pursue all applicable forms of compensation for our clients. We work with medical professionals, economic experts, and life care planners to accurately calculate both current and future damages.
How a Raleigh Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Help
At The Law Offices of John M. McCabe, our pedestrian accident lawyers understand the challenges you face after being injured in a pedestrian accident in Raleigh. Our legal team provides comprehensive support to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve. Here's how our pedestrian accident attorneys can assist with your case:
- Immediate Case Evaluation: Our pedestrian accident lawyers conduct a thorough assessment of your case, examining police reports, witness statements, and available evidence to determine liability and potential compensation.
- Evidence Collection: Our premises liability lawyers gather and preserve crucial evidence, including surveillance footage, accident scene photos, traffic camera recordings, and witness contact information before it becomes unavailable or deteriorates.
- Medical Documentation: Our team works with your healthcare providers to obtain detailed medical records, treatment plans, and expert opinions that establish the full extent of your pedestrian accident injuries.
- Insurance Communication: We handle all interactions with insurance companies, protecting you from potentially damaging statements while negotiating for fair compensation on your behalf.
- Accident Investigation: Our pedestrian accident lawyers work with accident reconstruction specialists to analyze collision dynamics, road conditions, and contributing factors that led to your injuries.
- Liability Determination: We identify all potentially responsible parties, including drivers, vehicle owners, government entities responsible for road maintenance, or others who may share liability for your injuries.
- Damage Calculation: Our personal injury lawyer team carefully calculates all current and future losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
- Settlement Negotiations: We leverage our experience to negotiate aggressively with insurance companies, working to secure a fair settlement that fully addresses your needs after a pedestrian accident.
- Legal Documentation: Our pedestrian accident attorneys handle all necessary paperwork, ensuring proper filing within North Carolina's statute of limitations and other legal deadlines.
- Court Representation: If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we prepare your case for trial and provide strong representation in court, presenting compelling evidence to support your claim.
- Medical Bill Management: We work with medical providers to manage your bills and negotiate reductions when possible, maximizing your final compensation.
- Future Care Planning: Our team consults with medical experts to establish your long-term care needs and ensure any settlement or verdict accounts for future medical expenses.
- Government Claims: When accidents involve government vehicles or occur on public property, we navigate the specific procedures and shortened deadlines required for claims against government entities.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution: We represent your interests in mediation or arbitration when these methods offer a more efficient path to resolution of your pedestrian accident claim.
If you've been injured as a pedestrian in Raleigh, don't face the legal system alone. Contact The Law Offices of John M. McCabe today for a free consultation with our pedestrian accident lawyers. Our experienced legal team will guide you through every step of the claims process while you focus on recovery. Remember, time limits apply to filing pedestrian accident claims in North Carolina, so don't delay in seeking the legal representation you need to protect your rights.
Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Raleigh
At The Law Offices of John M. McCabe, our pedestrian accident lawyers regularly handle cases involving various types of accidents throughout Raleigh. Understanding the common causes helps our pedestrian accident attorneys build stronger cases and pursue maximum compensation for our clients. Here are the primary factors that contribute to pedestrian accidents in our area:
- Distracted Driving: Drivers using mobile phones, adjusting navigation systems, or engaging in other distracting behaviors often fail to notice pedestrians crossing streets or walking along roadways in Raleigh neighborhoods.
- Failure to Yield: Many pedestrian accidents occur when drivers ignore crosswalk signals or fail to yield right-of-way to pedestrians at intersections, particularly in busy downtown Raleigh areas.
- Speeding: Excessive speed reduces a driver's reaction time and increases the severity of injuries when pedestrian accidents occur, especially in residential areas and school zones.
- Impaired Driving: Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs demonstrate impaired judgment and delayed reactions, leading to serious pedestrian accidents during both day and night hours.
- Poor Visibility: Inadequate street lighting, adverse weather conditions, or poorly maintained traffic signals contribute to pedestrian accidents, particularly during Raleigh's early morning and evening rush hours.
- Right Turn Violations: Drivers making right turns often focus on oncoming traffic and fail to check for pedestrians crossing with the walk signal, a common issue at busy Raleigh intersections.
- Left Turn Conflicts: Pedestrians crossing with signals are frequently struck by drivers making left turns who fail to verify the crosswalk is clear before proceeding.
- Backing Accidents: Drivers backing out of driveways or parking spaces often fail to adequately check for pedestrians, particularly in shopping centers and residential areas.
- Road Design Issues: Poorly designed intersections, lack of proper sidewalks, or insufficient crossing signals contribute to pedestrian accidents throughout Raleigh's expanding neighborhoods.
- Traffic Signal Violations: Drivers running red lights or failing to stop completely at stop signs create dangerous conditions for pedestrians legally crossing at intersections.
- School Zone Violations: Failure to observe reduced speed limits and heightened pedestrian activity in school zones leads to accidents involving children and crossing guards.
- Parking Lot Accidents: Congested parking lots at shopping centers and business complexes create hazardous conditions when drivers focus on finding spaces rather than watching for pedestrians.
- Construction Zone Hazards: Improper signage, unclear pedestrian pathways, or inadequate barriers in construction areas increase accident risks for people walking through work zones.
- Multiple Vehicle Confusion: Complex traffic situations involving multiple vehicles can create confusion about right-of-way, leading to pedestrian accidents at busy Raleigh intersections.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident in Raleigh, contact The Law Offices of John M. McCabe for a free consultation. Our pedestrian accident lawyers will thoroughly investigate the cause of your accident and work diligently to hold negligent parties accountable.
Common Injuries Caused By Pedestrian Accidents
At The Law Offices of John M. McCabe, our pedestrian accident lawyers understand the devastating impact of injuries sustained when pedestrians are struck by vehicles. Through our experience representing pedestrian accident victims, we've helped clients with a wide range of serious injuries. Here are the most common injuries our pedestrian accident attorneys encounter in these cases:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries: Ranging from mild concussions to severe trauma, these injuries often occur when pedestrians strike their heads during the initial impact or subsequent fall, potentially leading to long-term cognitive and physical impairments.
- Spinal Cord Damage: Direct trauma to the spine during pedestrian accidents can result in partial or complete paralysis, requiring lifetime medical care and significant lifestyle adjustments.
- Multiple Fractures: The force of vehicle impact frequently causes multiple broken bones, particularly in the legs, hips, and pelvis, often requiring surgical intervention and extended rehabilitation.
- Internal Organ Injuries: Blunt force trauma during pedestrian accidents can cause serious damage to vital organs, leading to internal bleeding and requiring emergency medical intervention.
- Soft Tissue Damage: Severe sprains, strains, and tears to muscles, ligaments, and tendons often occur during pedestrian accidents, requiring extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation.
- Facial Injuries: Impact with vehicles or pavement can cause severe facial trauma, including broken bones, dental injuries, and disfiguring lacerations that may require reconstructive surgery.
- Knee Injuries: Direct impact to the lower extremities frequently results in complex knee injuries, including torn ligaments and damaged cartilage, often requiring multiple surgeries.
- Shoulder Injuries: The force of impact or bracing for falls during pedestrian accidents commonly results in rotator cuff tears, dislocations, and other shoulder trauma.
- Psychological Trauma: Many pedestrian accident victims develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression following their accidents, requiring ongoing mental health treatment.
- Road Rash: Severe skin abrasions occur when pedestrians are dragged or slide across pavement, potentially leading to infection and permanent scarring.
- Lower Extremity Injuries: Damage to feet, ankles, and legs is particularly common in pedestrian accidents, often resulting in chronic pain and mobility issues.
- Back Injuries: Herniated discs, vertebrae fractures, and other back injuries frequently occur during pedestrian accidents, potentially causing chronic pain and limited mobility.
- Head and Neck Trauma: Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries to the neck often accompany head injuries, leading to chronic pain and reduced range of motion.
- Crush Injuries: When pedestrians become trapped under vehicles, severe crush injuries can occur, potentially leading to amputation or permanent disability.
If you or a loved one has suffered any of these injuries in a pedestrian accident, contact The Law Offices of John M. McCabe immediately. Our pedestrian accident lawyers understand the complex medical issues involved in these cases and work diligently to secure compensation that covers both immediate and long-term medical needs.
Who May Be Liable for My Pedestrian Accident Injuries?
At The Law Offices of John M. McCabe, our pedestrian accident lawyers conduct thorough investigations to identify all parties who may be responsible for our clients' injuries. Understanding potential liability helps our pedestrian accident attorneys pursue maximum compensation from every available source. Here are the parties who may be held liable in pedestrian accident cases:
- Vehicle Drivers: Motorists who violate traffic laws, drive distracted, speed, or fail to yield to pedestrians can be held liable for injuries caused by their negligent actions while operating their vehicles.
- Commercial Vehicle Companies: When pedestrian accidents involve delivery trucks, buses, or other commercial vehicles, the companies that own and operate these vehicles may share liability for their drivers' negligent actions.
- Rideshare Companies: Pedestrian accidents involving Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare vehicles may involve liability from both the driver and the rideshare company's commercial insurance policies.
- Government Entities: Cities, counties, or state agencies may be liable when pedestrian accidents result from poorly maintained roads, malfunctioning traffic signals, or inadequate crosswalk design.
- Property Owners: Private property owners may be responsible when pedestrian accidents occur due to dangerous conditions in parking lots, driveways, or private walkways under their control.
- Construction Companies: Contractors who fail to provide safe pedestrian pathways or proper warning signs around construction zones may be liable for resulting pedestrian accidents.
- Vehicle Manufacturers: If vehicle defects, such as faulty brakes or steering systems, contribute to pedestrian accidents, manufacturers may bear responsibility for resulting injuries.
- Multiple Drivers: When accidents involve multiple vehicles, several drivers may share liability for pedestrian injuries based on their respective contributions to the accident.
- Vehicle Owners: Even if they weren't driving, vehicle owners may be liable under negligent entrustment laws if they allowed an unqualified or impaired person to operate their vehicle.
- Maintenance Companies: Organizations responsible for maintaining traffic signals, streetlights, or road conditions may be liable if poor maintenance contributed to the accident.
- School Districts: When pedestrian accidents occur in school zones, school districts may share liability for inadequate crossing guard protection or unsafe student drop-off procedures.
- Insurance Companies: Various insurance policies, including the driver's auto insurance, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and umbrella policies may provide compensation.
What To Do After Being Injured in a Pedestrian Accident
At The Law Offices of John M. McCabe, our pedestrian accident lawyers know that the actions you take immediately following an accident can significantly impact your ability to recover fair compensation. Our pedestrian accident attorneys recommend these crucial steps to protect your health and legal rights:
- Seek Medical Attention: Call 911 or have someone call for immediate medical care, even if you feel your injuries are minor, as some serious injuries may not show symptoms immediately after a pedestrian accident.
- Report the Accident: Ensure police are called to the scene to create an official accident report, which our pedestrian accident lawyers can use as valuable evidence when pursuing your claim.
- Document the Scene: If you're able, take photos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, your injuries, and surrounding conditions like traffic signals, crosswalks, or weather conditions that may have contributed to the accident.
- Gather Witness Information: Collect names and contact details of any witnesses who saw the pedestrian accident occur, as their statements can provide crucial support for your claim.
- Exchange Information: Obtain the driver's name, contact information, insurance details, and vehicle information, but avoid discussing fault or making statements about your injuries.
- Preserve Evidence: Keep all damaged personal items, clothing, and shoes from the accident, as they may serve as important evidence when our pedestrian accident attorneys build your case.
- Medical Documentation: Follow all medical advice, attend follow-up appointments, and keep detailed records of all treatments, medications, and healthcare provider visits related to your pedestrian accident injuries.
- Avoid Social Media: Refrain from posting about your accident or injuries on social media platforms, as insurance companies may use these posts to dispute or minimize your claim.
- Record Your Experience: Keep a daily journal documenting your pain levels, limitations, and how the injuries affect your daily life after the pedestrian accident.
- Insurance Communication: Direct all insurance company communications to your pedestrian accident lawyer to avoid making statements that could harm your claim.
- Track Financial Impacts: Save all medical bills, receipts, and documentation of lost wages or other expenses related to your pedestrian accident injuries.
- Legal Consultation: Contact a pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible to understand your rights and ensure critical evidence is preserved for your case.
- Follow Treatment Plans: Strictly adhere to all medical treatment plans and rehabilitation protocols, as gaps in treatment can be used to challenge your claim.
- Document Recovery: Keep records of your physical limitations, emotional challenges, and lifestyle changes caused by your pedestrian accident injuries.
If you've been injured in a pedestrian accident, don't wait to take action. Contact The Law Offices of John M. McCabe immediately for a free consultation with our experienced pedestrian accident lawyers.
Get Help from Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Today
When you've been injured as a pedestrian, you need experienced legal representation to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve. At The Law Offices of John M. McCabe, our pedestrian accident lawyers are ready to help. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us put our proven track record to work for you.
Pedestrian Accident Lawyer FAQs
How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident claim in North Carolina?
Under North Carolina law, you generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. However, if a government entity is involved, different deadlines may apply. We recommend contacting our pedestrian accident lawyers as soon as possible to ensure your claim is filed within all applicable deadlines.
What if the driver who hit me was uninsured?
If an uninsured driver strikes you, you may still have options for compensation through your own uninsured motorist coverage. Our pedestrian accident lawyers can also investigate other potential sources of compensation, including your own health insurance or other liable parties who may have contributed to the accident.
How is compensation determined in a pedestrian accident case?
Compensation is based on various factors including medical expenses, lost wages, future medical needs, pain and suffering, and long-term disability. Our pedestrian accident lawyers work with medical professionals and economic experts to calculate the full value of your current and future losses to ensure you receive fair compensation.
What if I was partially at fault for the pedestrian accident?
North Carolina follows contributory negligence rules, meaning you may be barred from recovering compensation if you're found even partially at fault. This makes it crucial to have experienced legal representation to protect your rights and counter any claims of shared fault.
Should I talk to the insurance company after a pedestrian accident?
We recommend directing all insurance company communications to your pedestrian accident lawyer. Insurance adjusters may use your statements to minimize or deny your claim. Let our legal team handle these conversations while protecting your interests.
How much does it cost to hire a pedestrian accident lawyer?
The Law Offices of John M. McCabe works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we secure compensation for your injuries. Initial consultations are free, and we'll explain our fee structure clearly during our first meeting.
Will my pedestrian accident case go to trial?
While most pedestrian accident cases settle out of court, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. This thorough preparation often leads to stronger settlement offers and ensures we're ready if court proceedings become necessary.
What evidence is most important in a pedestrian accident case?
Key evidence includes police reports, medical records, witness statements, surveillance footage, and accident scene photos. Our pedestrian accident lawyers work quickly to preserve and gather all available evidence to support your claim.
How long will it take to resolve my pedestrian accident claim?
Each case is unique, but factors affecting timeline include injury severity, recovery time, insurance company cooperation, and whether trial becomes necessary. Our pedestrian accident lawyers work efficiently while ensuring your case receives the attention needed for optimal results.
What if my loved one died in a pedestrian accident?
In cases of fatal pedestrian accidents, surviving family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim. These cases can provide compensation for funeral expenses, lost financial support, and the family's pain and suffering. Different deadlines apply to wrongful death claims, so prompt legal consultation is essential.