What Are the Most Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?
Pedestrian accidents can leave victims with lasting physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial strain. A single event can mean weeks of hospital visits, months of physical therapy, and lost income while you recover. For many pedestrian accident victims, the effects reach far beyond the initial injury and continue to affect daily life for years. Because of this, having strong legal representation matters. An experienced attorney can help you seek justice and pursue a fair settlement for your injuries and losses.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in an accident involving pedestrians, Taylor Serbin Injury Lawyers can help. Our team knows how to deal with insurance companies that try to minimize your claim, and we work to hold the responsible party accountable. We handle the legal process so you can focus on healing. Schedule a free consultation today to discuss your pedestrian injury claim with our team.
Are Pedestrian Accidents Common in North Carolina?
Pedestrian accidents happen with troubling frequency in North Carolina. According to the most recent NCDOT Traffic Crash Facts report, North Carolina recorded 281 pedestrian deaths in 2024, a 12 percent increase from the prior year. Statewide, more than 284,000 reportable traffic accidents occurred that same year, and the state continues to rank among the highest in the nation for pedestrian fatalities. Many pedestrian accidents also result in non-fatal but serious injuries, including broken bones, head trauma, and spinal cord injuries that require extensive medical treatment. These numbers show that pedestrian safety remains a significant concern across the state, particularly in busy cities and along roads without adequate sidewalks or crosswalks.
Taylor Serbin Injury Lawyers has represented pedestrian accident victims throughout North Carolina and understands how local roadway conditions contribute to these crashes.
What Are Some Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?
Pedestrian accidents happen for many reasons, but most trace back to driver error, poor road design, or a failure to follow traffic laws. Understanding the causes of pedestrian accidents can help victims and their attorneys establish fault. Below are some of the most common causes:
- Distracted driving. Distracted drivers who text, eat, adjust navigation systems, or take their eyes off the road for even a few seconds may not see a pedestrian crossing the street.
- Speeding. Drivers who exceed posted speed limits have less time to stop and cause more severe injuries when a collision occurs.
- Failure to yield at crosswalks. Motorists are required to yield to pedestrians in designated crosswalks, but many fail to stop or slow down.
- Ignoring traffic signals. Running red lights or stop signs is a leading cause of accidents at busy intersections.
- Driving under the influence. Alcohol and drug impairment slow reaction time and judgment, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Poor visibility accidents. Nighttime driving, fog, heavy rain, and poorly lit streets make it harder for drivers to see pedestrians, especially outside of designated crosswalks.
- Backing up without checking surroundings. Drivers backing out of driveways or parking spaces often fail to look for pedestrians behind them.
- Unsafe left or right turns. Drivers making turns at intersections may focus on oncoming traffic and overlook pedestrians in the crosswalk.
While driver negligence causes many pedestrian accidents, some crashes result from a combination of factors, including poor infrastructure or pedestrians who fail to follow traffic laws themselves.
Taylor Serbin Injury Lawyers investigates every pedestrian accident claim to determine exactly what caused the crash and who should be held responsible.
What Are Some Common Types of Pedestrian Accident Injuries?
Because pedestrians have no protection against a moving vehicle, pedestrian injuries are often severe. Common types of pedestrian accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal cord injuries, which can result in partial or full paralysis
- Broken and fractured bones
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Deep lacerations and road rash
- Torn ligaments and soft tissue damage
- Severe injuries requiring surgery or long-term rehabilitation
- Wrongful death in the most tragic cases
These injuries frequently lead to significant medical expenses, lost wages, and long recovery periods. Some victims are left with permanent disabilities that affect their ability to work or care for themselves.
Taylor Serbin Injury Lawyers understands the physical and financial toll of serious injury and fights to recover compensation that reflects the full extent of your losses.
What Should I Do After a Pedestrian Accident?
The steps you take after a pedestrian accident can affect your health and your ability to recover compensation later. If you are able to, consider the following:
- Call 911. Get medical attention right away, even if your injuries seem minor at first.
- Report the accident. A police report creates an official record of what happened.
- Document the scene. Take photos of the vehicle, the road, traffic signals, and your visible injuries.
- Get witness information. Names and contact details from anyone who saw the accident can support your claim. Do not rely on the police to do this.
- Avoid discussing fault. Do not apologize or speculate about what caused the crash at the scene.
- Follow up with medical care. Attend all follow-up appointments and keep records of your treatment.
- Contact pedestrian accident lawyers. Speak with an attorney before providing a statement to the driver’s insurance company. A lawyer can prepare you, limit the questions & answers, and guide you through the process.
Taking these steps helps protect your health and strengthens your pedestrian accident claim if you decide to pursue legal action.
Taylor Serbin Injury Lawyers is available to guide you through each of these steps and answer your questions after an accident.
Can I Sue To Recover Compensation For a Pedestrian Accident?
If you were hurt in an accident involving pedestrians, you may have the right to file a lawsuit against the driver or another responsible party. A successful claim can help cover medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. Several legal factors affect whether and how you can recover compensation.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
Liability often falls on the driver who caused the crash, but other parties may share responsibility. Depending on the facts, a vehicle owner, an employer if the driver was working, or a government entity responsible for road design or maintenance could also be liable.
Statutes of Limitations in North Carolina and South Carolina
Both states place a time limit on filing a lawsuit. In North Carolina, injury victims generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a claim. South Carolina also applies a three-year statute of limitations for most personal injury cases. A number of factors may reduce or lengthen the time you have, so understanding the statute of limitations in your particular case is critical and should be one of the first things you discuss with an injury lawyer. Missing these deadlines can prevent you from recovering compensation, so it is important to act promptly.
How To Prove Fault
To win a pedestrian accident case, you must show that the responsible party acted negligently and that this negligence caused your injuries. This typically involves police reports, witness statements, traffic camera footage, and medical records connecting your injuries to the crash.
Contributory and Comparative Negligence
North Carolina follows a contributory negligence rule, meaning a pedestrian found even slightly at fault for their injuries may be barred from recovering compensation. South Carolina instead uses a comparative negligence system, which reduces your compensation based on your percentage of fault but does not automatically bar recovery. This difference makes it especially important to understand which state’s laws apply to your case and to obey traffic laws and follow traffic laws yourself whenever possible to avoid disputes over fault.
Because these rules vary between states and can significantly affect your outcome, it helps to have an attorney evaluate your pedestrian accident case early. It is especially helpful to have a firm that has lawyers licensed in both states.
Taylor Serbin Injury Lawyers can review the details of your accident and explain your legal options under North or South Carolina law, as most of the lawyers at Taylor Serbin Injury Lawyers are licensed in both states.
Should I Hire a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?
Pedestrian accident cases often involve serious injury, disputed fault, and insurance companies looking to limit their payout. Hiring an experienced attorney can make a meaningful difference in the outcome of your claim. Here is how a lawyer can help:
Investigating the Accident
An attorney can gather police reports, witness statements, and available video footage to build a clear picture of how the crash occurred.
Handling Insurance Companies
Insurance adjusters often try to deny claims or settle claims quickly and for less than they are worth. A lawyer negotiates on your behalf and fights to make sure the claim is accepted as compensable and pushes back against lowball offers.
Calculating the Full Value of Your Claim
An attorney accounts for current and future medical expenses, lost wages, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering, so you are not left covering costs the responsible party should pay.
Meeting Legal Deadlines
Missing a filing deadline can end your case before it starts. A lawyer keeps track of statutes of limitations and other important dates.
Representing You in Court
If a fair settlement cannot be reached, an attorney can file a lawsuit and represent you at trial.
Why Should I Choose Taylor Serbin Injury Lawyers?
Taylor Serbin Injury Lawyers has built a reputation for helping pedestrian accident victims throughout North and South Carolina recover the compensation they deserve. Our attorneys bring years of combined experience handling motor vehicle crashes, including complex pedestrian accident cases involving severe injuries and disputed liability. We have been recognized by respected legal organizations for our trial skills and commitment to client advocacy, and we have secured meaningful results for clients facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Our firm takes the time to understand each client’s situation, investigate the facts thoroughly, and pursue full compensation from every liable party. We do not back down when insurance companies try to minimize a claim, and we are prepared to take a case to trial when necessary.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact Taylor Serbin Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation. Let our team help you pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.
