Skilled Charlotte Pedestrian Injury Lawyers

Representing injured clients throughout North Carolina since 1992

Pedestrian accidents often happen in places where pedestrians had the right-of-way. A distracted or careless driver failed to see a person on foot in a downtown Charlotte crosswalk or a jogger beside the road in time to prevent a serious collision. If you or a loved one has been struck by a car, the negligent driver may be held accountable.

The personal injury attorneys at Warren & Kallianos, PLLC, focus on helping injured pedestrians in Charlotte and the surrounding areas of North Carolina. We understand the pain, the disruption, anxiety, and financial stress that a serious pedestrian injury can cause a family. We’re ready to fight on your behalf.

Pedestrian Safety in Charlotte

Pedestrians suffer serious injuries and death each year because of preventable car accidents in Charlotte and across North Carolina each year. The NHTSA reports that there were 5,987 pedestrian deaths in the U.S. in 2016, which represents a 9% increase over the previous year making it the highest number of pedestrian fatalities since 1990. That increase in pedestrian deaths also includes the people of North Carolina. The Charlotte Observer reported that there were 27 pedestrian deaths in Charlotte in 2017, which is the highest number of pedestrian deaths since the city began keeping records in 2002. In North Carolina, pedestrians have the right-of-way to cross the street when they are in a crosswalk. Drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing a street within a clearly marked crosswalk. Pedestrians can make eye contact with drivers to assure them that they see each other, that the driver will stop, and the pedestrian can proceed safely. G.S. 20-155(c)

The exposure that people on foot have means that being struck by an automobile often cause catastrophic injuries such as head injuries or spinal injuries. An injured pedestrian may face significant medical bills and costly lifestyle changes. The individual may lose income if the injuries require extended time off work to recover. People who have been severely injured in pedestrian accidents may be unable to return to work and may have to adapt to a new life.

If you’ve been injured or have lost a close relative in a pedestrian car accident, don’t hesitate to contact the trusted pedestrian accident lawyers at Warren & Kallianos. With 58 years of combined legal experienced, our law firm has earned a reputation for aggressively pursuing top dollar settlements and jury awards for pedestrians who have sustained catastrophic injuries in North Carolina.

Our legal team has obtained more than 75 six figure and seven figure settlements and jury awards for injured people who were in difficult situations just like you. When you are at your most vulnerable, trust the experience of Warren & Kallianos. Call us or chat with us on our website today. We offer a free consultation.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrians have certain rights when using public roads or crossing intersections. But it only takes a moment for a distracted, intoxicated, or careless driver to cause serious injuries. Common factors that contribute to pedestrian accidents include:

• Distracted driving – Texting, talking on the phone or to a passenger, changing the radio station, eating, updating the GPS, personal grooming — the list of potential driver distractions is endless, and it takes only a moment for a distraction to cause a collision with a pedestrian.
• Speeding – Drivers who exceed the posted speed limit or who are driving too fast for traffic conditions or weather conditions are at a higher risk of being involved in a pedestrian accident.
• Failing to yield right-of-way – When a pedestrian is in a crosswalk, drivers are required to stop and let the pedestrian pass. When a driver fails to yield and hits a pedestrian, the accident is typically not the pedestrian’s fault. However, it is the pedestrian who pays the price in terms of injuries. You need an experienced lawyer to stand up for you.
• Disobeying traffic signs or signals – A driver is far more likely to hit a pedestrian if the motorist disregards a stop sign, turns right on red at an intersection without looking for people approaching the intersection, or fails to follow the rules of the road.
• Failing to signal while turning – Cars are equipped with signals so that drivers can communicate with others on the road when they intend to turn or to change lanes. When a driver fails to signal, a pedestrian may understand this as a communication that the driver is going straight through the intersection. If the driver turns without signaling, the pedestrian may be struck and injured.
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol – An impaired driver endangers everyone else on the road, including people on foot.

Drivers have a legal responsibility to drive with reasonable care and remain alert for people on foot. If a driver fails to fulfill that responsibility and hits a pedestrian, the driver may be found to be negligent.

Pedestrian Accident Injury and the Law

If you or someone close to you has been involved in a pedestrian car accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. North Carolina personal injury law allows victims to seek compensation for medical expenses, physical therapy, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering caused by the accident.

Many serious accidents are caused by carelessness, inattention or disregard for safety. A driver who gets distracted by a text message may cause a pedestrian accident by driving through a crosswalk. The driver may not have intended to hurt anyone, but through carelessness seriously injured another person. Legally, the driver can and should be held liable for the accident he or she caused.

The medical records of the treatment you received after being struck by a car or any other vehicle should document that you were injured in a pedestrian accident. Those records will be critical in making a claim for compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accidents

If you have suffered an injury in a pedestrian accident, you may have many questions. For your reference, we have compiled a brief list of questions we often hear from our clients.

How much is my case worth?

Each pedestrian accident case has unique facts. The value of your claim depends on the specifics of your situation, including the extent and the costs of your injuries and the insurance policies available to provide compensation. The types of compensation you may be able to recover after a North Carolina pedestrian accident include:

• Past and future medical bills;
• Lost wages, including diminished future earning capacity;
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress;
• Permanent impairment and/or disfigurement; and/or
• Punitive damages to punish the at-fault party for serious misconduct.

If your relative was killed in a pedestrian car accident, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim, holding the at-fault driver liable for your loved one’s death. Through this type of claim, you can pursue compensation for funeral expenses, medical expenses, pain and suffering of your loved one prior to death, loss of companionship and income the loved one provided, and other damages.

What should I do if I was injured by a hit-and-run driver?

In many pedestrian accidents, the driver leaves the scene of the collision rather than stopping to help the injured individual. If you are struck by a hit-and-run driver, you should report the accident to police or have someone else contact police if your injuries prevent you from doing so. If the identity of the hit-and-run driver is unknown, you may be able to make a claim for compensation through your own uninsured motorist automobile insurance policy. That policy may also cover your children or other members of your household who are injured by a hit-and-run driver.

How can a lawyer help after I’ve been injured in a pedestrian car accident?

A whole host of legal issues can arise after an accident. Our team of skilled attorneys will handle your case by:

• Thoroughly investigating the accident to determine its cause and identify all parties who may be responsible for the accident.
• Calling in experts such as accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, and economists to consult on your case.
• Protecting you from insurance adjusters by managing communications and aggressive settlement talks.
• Presenting your claim in court if the insurer refuses to agree to a reasonable settlement offer.

At Warren & Kallianos, our compassionate lawyers understand that you have been through a highly traumatic event. A pedestrian accident attorney will work to resolve your case as quickly as possible while fighting for you to receive the maximum amount of compensation available.

Is the Insurance Company Required to Make Me a Fair Offer?

Insurance companies in most states, including North Carolina, are prohibited by law from violating applicable insurance laws and regulations in handling claims. However, many insurance companies will aim to offer you an amount they think you will accept but does not cover all the losses and damages you sustained from the accident. Even if an insurance adjuster appears to be friendly and sympathetic, bear in mind that his/her job is to look out for the best interests of the insurance company, not yours.

A moderate or severe auto accident injury can have lingering effects. For example, a mild traumatic brain injury can have lifelong consequences including impaired memory, concentration, attention, sleep disorders, and mood. Other severe injuries may leave you permanently disabled and/or in chronic pain. A full and fair insurance settlement should consider your past and future medical care needs, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other losses.

Even if you believe your case can be settled, it is wise to have a lawyer on your side. Your Charlotte injury attorney can help ensure that the settlement accurately reflects your current and future needs. Your lawyer will also investigate your case and gather evidence with the possibility of a trial in mind, helping you preserve that option in case it is needed.

Why Should I Choose Warren & Kallianos?

Our skilled personal injury lawyers have been recognized as Super Lawyers, named among the Best Lawyers in America, admitted to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and have been listed among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers.

If you are worried about the expense of hiring an effective pedestrian accident lawyer, don’t be. At Warren & Kallianos, we will handle your pedestrian injury claim on a contingency fee basis. That means that we do not receive a legal fee unless we recover compensation for you. We understand you may be under financial stress after a serious injury. You do not have to worry about how to afford an experienced injury attorney if our Charlotte pedestrian injury lawyers represent you.

Contact Our Charlotte Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Today

At Warren & Kallianos, we work to provide every client our utmost attention and respect. If you or someone you love has been injured in a pedestrian accident, you need to take immediate action. You might be due financial compensation to help cover medical bills and property damage. Call 704-377-7777 or contact us to speak with a compassionate Charlotte pedestrian accident lawyer about how we can fight for your rights and safeguard your future.

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