If you were the victim of a pedestrian accident in Rock Hill, SC, Ted A. Greve & Associates is here to help. We know how painful and upsetting the aftermath of a serious injury can be, and we’re prepared to do everything we can to help you rebuild your life. We’ll identify the liable parties, calculate your damages, and take the next steps toward seeking the compensation you need for your injuries.
Don’t wait another moment to get the experienced assistance you need during this challenging time. Call Ted A. Greve & Associates today for a free consultation with one of our experienced pedestrian accident lawyers in Rock Hill, SC.
Understanding Pedestrian Accidents in Rock Hill, SC
Pedestrian accidents are frequently caused by driver negligence. Drivers may be distracted, fatigued, or intoxicated, which impairs their ability to drive safely. Or, they could be speeding or engaging in other reckless driving behaviors that make accidents more likely. And in some cases, drivers simply fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing the road.
In most pedestrian accident cases, your first option for seeking compensation will be to file an insurance claim against the at-fault driver’s liability coverage. South Carolina requires all drivers to have the following minimum amounts of coverage:
- $25,000 per person for bodily injury
- $50,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
If the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance or you are a hit-and-run victim, you can file an uninsured motorist claim with your insurance provider. And if you have underinsured motorist coverage, that can be useful if multiple victims are splitting the at-fault driver’s liability coverage.
Why You Need a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Rock Hill
A pedestrian accident lawyer will protect your right to compensation for your injuries. They’ll investigate the incident, initiate your claim, and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf. They’ll seek to maximize your recovery by pushing back against the insurance company’s attempts to blame you for your injuries.
South Carolina uses a modified comparative negligence rule for motor vehicle accidents, which reduces a plaintiff’s damages by a percentage equal to their degree of fault. For example, if you are found to be 20 percent at fault, you can only receive 80 percent of your damages. And if you are more than 50 percent at fault, you cannot recover any damages.
An experienced injury lawyer can reduce the impact modified comparative negligence has on your case, increasing your compensation.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in South Carolina
Understanding the proper steps to take after a pedestrian accident can significantly improve your case, increasing your chances of securing the compensation you need for your medical expenses and lost wages.
Essential Steps to Take Immediately After the Accident
Some of the first steps you should take immediately after being struck by a vehicle in Rock Hill are:
- Seek Medical Attention – Seeking medical treatment can prevent your injuries from worsening and make it harder for the insurance company to claim your injuries aren’t severe.
- Obtain Insurance Information – Always get the name and insurance information of the driver who struck you so you can file a claim against their liability coverage policy.
- Gather Accident Scene Evidence – Collect evidence from the accident scene, including photos, videos, and witness contact information.
- Contact a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer – The best way to protect your rights and maximize your compensation is to hire an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer to handle your case.
How to Gather Evidence for Your Case
You can collect some evidence directly after the accident, including photographs of your visible injuries, the vehicle that struck you, skid marks on the road, and relevant traffic signs and signals. You can also get witness contact information so your lawyer can follow up with them later.
However, obtaining other types of evidence requires a personal injury lawyer’s skill and knowledge. These include traffic and security camera footage depicting the accident, expert testimony from crash reconstruction specialists and other professionals, and data from the onboard computer of the vehicle that struck you.
Importance of Seeking Medical Attention
Seeking medical treatment after a pedestrian accident creates a paper trail of your diagnosis, prognosis, and prescribed treatments. This information will be included in your medical records, which your lawyer will use when fighting to secure the compensation you deserve.
Pursuing Legal Action: What You Need to Know
If the at-fault driver’s insurance company denies your claim, you don’t think their settlement offer is enough, or the policy limit doesn’t cover your damages, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver.
In South Carolina, injury victims have three years to file lawsuits against at-fault parties under most circumstances. Failure to file your lawsuit within this period will result in the courts barring you from seeking compensation. However, this time limit also applies to filing auto insurance claims because the insurance provider has no incentive to accept your claim after the deadline for filing a lawsuit passes.
Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Victims
You can seek compensation for your various losses through your auto insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Some of the most common losses pedestrian accident victims seek compensation for are:
- Medical Expenses – These damages cover your past and future medical treatments, hospital stays, surgeries, medical devices, prescription medications, and physical therapy.
- Lost Wages – You can seek compensation for both the income you’ve lost while you’re recovering and the diminished earning potential your injuries cause you in the future.
- Pain and Suffering – This legal term of art refers to the physical and emotional discomfort that your injuries cause you.
- Permanent Disability – This accounts for the various ways that long-term impairment could affect your life, from the personal limitations caused by lingering disabilities to the home and vehicle modifications that can help you adapt to them.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation
Were you injured in a Rock Hill pedestrian accident? Contact Ted A. Greve & Associates for a free consultation with an experienced South Carolina pedestrian accident attorney about your case. During your initial consultation, our attorneys will review the details of the incident, explain your options for seeking compensation, and answer your questions about the legal process.
