Who Is Liable for Injuries in North Carolina in a Pedestrian Accident?

Despite having a good framework of laws and the infrastructure needed to ensure maximum road safety, the United States has one of the highest pedestrian accident death counts in the world. Most pedestrian accidents occur due to reckless driving, pedestrian negligence, or both. According to the official statistics, one pedestrian death occurs every 75 minutes, reflecting a fatal outcome of 11 percent for all such accidents. On average, one pedestrian gets injured in a car crash every ten minutes. These alarming numbers suggest a severe lapse in traffic safety in the country, with North Carolina being a major contributor.

If you or your loved one suffered physical injury in a pedestrian accident due to no fault of your own, you might be able to seek legal action against the negligent party. An experienced pedestrian accident lawyer at Riddle & Brantley in North Carolina can help you establish a strong personal injury claim against the driver at fault and obtain fair compensation for your physical and financial losses.

Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Pedestrian accidents are a common cause of severe physical injury and death in the United States due to the nature of the collision between a high-speed vehicle and an unsuspecting individual on foot. A fast-moving car has significant momentum and can inflict severe physical harm upon a pedestrian who does not have a similar level of protection as the driver.  As a result of pedestrian accidents, individuals can get multiple life-threatening injuries, including bone fractures, contusions, lacerations, skull fractures, traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury, internal organ damage, joint dislocations and sprains, paralysis, and death. Even if an individual survives such an accident, returning to normal function could take years and might not even be possible.

Who is Liable?

Determining liability in pedestrian accidents can be highly challenging, and the victim almost always must fight an uphill battle against multiple entities that try to minimize their claim and avoid payment, the most egregious offender being insurance companies. However, having a skilled legal team on your side can help you obtain justice for your incident in the form of financial compensation. 

Most pedestrian accidents result from the negligence of drivers who fail to exercise their owed duty of care to the pedestrians on the road. According to the law, each driver is responsible for ensuring the safety of people walking on the road by forfeiting the right of way and warning via horn when needed. If a driver fails to follow these rules, they might be liable for a subsequent accident. On the other hand, pedestrians should follow the rules regarding the right of way on the road and marked crosswalks. If a pedestrian gets hit by a car while crossing the road on a ‘Don’t Walk’ sign or jaywalking, they might be held responsible for the incident. Like drivers, pedestrians should ensure safe walking and yield the right of way according to traffic regulations.

Conclusion

If you or your loved one got hit by a car while walking on the road, you might be able to pursue legal action against the offending driver. Contacting a skilled lawyer for legal representation is one of the best ways to ensure that your rights remain protected in any legal proceedings resulting from the incident. Make to reach out to a trusted legal practitioner as soon as possible. That way your case can get sorted out and you can receive your financial compensation in a timely manner.