info@carolinalaw.com
info@carolinalaw.com
Being hit by a vehicle as a pedestrian can turn your life upside down in an instant. Pedestrians have no shield against the immense force of a car, truck, or motorcycle, leaving them vulnerable to severe injuries, overwhelming medical bills, and deep emotional distress. These crashes take a heavy toll on victims and their families—lost income, prolonged recovery, and a struggle to regain a sense of normalcy.
If you or someone you love has suffered an injury in a pedestrian accident, you can take legal action to secure your future. At Maginnis Howard, our pedestrian accident attorneys can stand by your side by supporting you in pursuing justice and your rightful compensation. With over ten years of handling cases throughout North Carolina, we thoroughly understand the proper process for personal injury cases. Contact us today to help ease your burden and fight for a resolution that supports your recovery and future well-being.
When you’re healing from a pedestrian accident, selecting the right law firm can make all the difference. At Maginnis Howard, we’ve built a reputation for securing substantial compensation for injured pedestrians through diligent work and a client-focused approach. Our pedestrian accident attorneys have earned recognition, including selections to the Super Lawyers list and a 10.0 Superb rating on Avvo, which both reflect our dedication to achieving favorable outcomes.
What truly distinguishes us is our personalized approach to legal representation. We know every pedestrian accident carries its own story, right from your injuries, losses, and needs. That’s why we listen closely, so we can align our legal strategy to fit your circumstances.
Also, we operate on a contingency fee arrangement, where you pay no fees unless we win your case. This allows you to prioritize healing without financial worry. We do everything needed, from gathering evidence to negotiations and trials. We take on the burden so you can focus on your recovery because that matters most.
Our North Carolina presence is marked by our several offices in the state. In Raleigh, we are located just steps from Nash Square and Cary, near Crossroads Plaza. In Charlotte, we’re located at 6842 Carnegie Blvd, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28211, in a sleek, modern area near South Park. Then there’s our Fayetteville location at 2850 Village Dr, Suite 206, Fayetteville, NC 28304. Each office is designed to take the hassle out of meeting with us, no matter where you’re coming from. If you’d like to stop by or need directions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
The amount you receive depends on several factors surrounding the case. Our pedestrian accident attorneys dive deep into your case, evaluating every fact to ensure no stone is left unturned. Here are some factors that influence your compensation amount:
Serious injuries naturally result in higher compensation. A broken arm from a low-speed collision may heal within months, but catastrophic injuries like traumatic brain damage may require lifelong medical care. These severe cases warrant significantly larger settlements because they impact your ability to work, independence, and overall well-being.
Some injuries associated with pedestrian accidents never fully heal. If your accident left you with permanent limitations, such as chronic pain, you deserve compensation that accounts for decades of future challenges. It includes ongoing medical treatments and the loss of life’s simple pleasures. Something as fundamental as playing with your children or returning to a beloved hobby may now be impossible, and the law recognizes these losses.
This is where many victims unknowingly jeopardize their claims. North Carolina is one of the few states with pure contributory negligence laws. If the insurance company can argue you were even 1 percent at fault, maybe you stepped off the curb a second too early, they can deny your entire claim. This is why strong evidence proving the driver’s full responsibility is key to safeguarding your right to compensation.
A successful claim depends on irrefutable proof. For example, police reports establish the official record. Surveillance footage from traffic cameras or nearby businesses can be pivotal. Witness statements provide unbiased accounts when memories fade. Your medical records tell the story of your suffering in black and white. Without proper evidence, you might lose out on your compensation.
While insurance companies have a duty to compensate for your injuries, their interests always conflict with yours. Their first offer is almost always far less than your case is worth. Additionally, they may claim your injuries aren’t that serious or argue you were partially at fault. Some drag out negotiations, hoping desperate victims will accept low settlements. Without a pedestrian accident lawyer who knows every trick in their playbook, you can be forced to take what is available.
Pedestrian accidents strike across North Carolina, but some areas stand out due to traffic patterns, infrastructure issues, or driver behavior. Data from the North Carolina Department of Transportation highlights Raleigh, Charlotte, and Greensboro as some of the cities that experience a high prevalence of pedestrian crashes.
In Raleigh, intersections like Hillsborough Street and Oberlin Road see frequent incidents driven by heavy traffic and complex layouts. Charlotte’s Tryon Street, a bustling downtown artery, reports collisions tied to speeding or distracted drivers. In Greensboro, Battleground Avenue is notorious, with pedestrians at risk from high volumes of vehicles and insufficient crosswalk protections.
Outside cities, suburban and rural roads pose dangers, too. Poorly lit highways, missing sidewalks, and high-speed limits contribute to accidents. Parking lots and shopping centers also see incidents, especially backover collisions, where drivers miss pedestrians in blind spots. Whether you were hit in an urban hotspot or a quiet lot, our team can investigate, review traffic footage, analyze road conditions, and collect witness accounts to build a winning case.
Pedestrian accidents may happen in diverse settings and situations. Each type comes with its own set of legal and evidentiary challenges and can greatly affect the outcome of your case. Here are some of the most frequent scenarios we handle:
Crosswalk Collisions
Pedestrians legally crossing at a designated crosswalk are among the most vulnerable. Despite clear right-of-way laws, many drivers fail to yield due to distractions, speeding, or outright negligence. A typical case might involve a driver accelerating through a yellow light, unaware or indifferent to the pedestrian crossing with the signal. These cases hinge on proving that the pedestrian had the legal right-of-way and that the driver’s actions were reckless or inattentive.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
When a driver speeds off the scene after striking a pedestrian, the situation becomes even more complex. Victims are left not only with injuries but also with uncertainty about how to pursue justice. In these cases, our injury attorneys work quickly to secure traffic camera footage, witness statements, and other evidence to identify the at-fault party. Uninsured motorist coverage may also be available, and we help clients understand all their compensation options.
Backover Accidents
These incidents typically occur in parking lots, driveways, or residential areas where drivers are reversing and fail to see a pedestrian behind them. Children, elderly individuals, and people using mobility aids are especially at risk. Though these cases may appear straightforward, proving driver negligence requires a detailed investigation into visibility, vehicle blind spots, and driver behavior.
Distracted Driving Accidents
Modern distractions like smartphones, GPS systems, and in-car infotainment screens lead to countless preventable accidents. A driver who takes their eyes off the road, even for a few seconds, can miss a pedestrian entirely. These cases may require phone records and expert testimony to demonstrate that the driver was not paying proper attention at the time of the crash.
When a vehicle strikes a person, the results can be catastrophic. These injuries are usually long-lasting and deeply disruptive to a victim’s quality of life. A North Carolina pedestrian accident lawyer will evaluate your injuries and their scope to determine the appropriate compensation to push for. Some of the injuries associated with crashes involving pedestrians include:
Broken Bones and Fractures
Pedestrians frequently suffer fractures to the legs, arms, ribs, or pelvis. These injuries may require surgeries, physical therapy, and many weeks or months away from work. In some cases, full mobility may never return, affecting a person’s independence and earning ability.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Even when pedestrians don’t strike their heads directly, the impact force can cause the brain to move within the skull. It can lead to concussions, memory loss, chronic headaches, or more severe cognitive deficits. TBIs require long-term neurological care and rehabilitation.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal injuries can range from herniated discs to complete paralysis. Victims may face the prospect of using a wheelchair, modifying their home, and relying on round-the-clock care. These are life-altering injuries that demand significant compensation to cover ongoing needs.
Internal Bleeding and Organ Damage
These injuries are not always immediately visible, but they can be deadly without timely medical intervention. Internal trauma may result in loss of organ function and extensive surgeries, creating a medical burden that requires aggressive legal representation to address.
Following a pedestrian crash in North Carolina, you need to understand what to do—and what not to do. This is because what you do after a pedestrian accident can strengthen your legal case. Here is what the personal injury team at Maginnis Howard recommends:
Our personal injury team emphasizes the importance of following the right steps and procedures when handling injury claims. Therefore, make sure to bring your evidence of claims and any other documents that can help build your claim. This will make it easy to build a compelling narrative to secure adequate compensation for your losses.
At Maginnis Howard, we’ve spent several years helping pedestrians like you recover from life-shattering accidents. We know how to calculate the true lifetime cost of your injuries, not just the obvious bills. We’ve battled every major insurance company and won millions for clients who thought they had no options. Most importantly, we give you the space to heal while we handle the legal fight.
If you’re struggling with injuries from a pedestrian crash, don’t let the insurer take advantage of you. Contact us today at (919) 526-0450 for a no-pressure consultation, and we’ll help you make the best decision for your future.
