Have you been in a pedestrian accident in Lancaster, South Carolina? Navigating the aftermath of a pedestrian accident can be overwhelming. Our Lancaster pedestrian accident lawyers at Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys are here to offer trusted assistance. Call us at (803) 902-7065.
Our injury lawyers can fight to recover full compensation for your losses. Whether you are facing injuries, medical expenses, or pain and suffering, our personal injury team can provide the legal representation you deserve, from your initial consultation to settlement or trial.
Contact our Lancaster law office to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced attorney.
How Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys Can Help You After a Pedestrian Accident in Lancaster, SC
Our Lancaster personal injury lawyers understand how accidents can disrupt lives. Since 1980, we have legally represented injured victims across South Carolina.
Over 150 years of combined experience in personal injury law has allowed our team to recover $100+ million in compensation for those facing injuries, lost wages, and other damages.
After a pedestrian accident in Lancaster, SC, we can handle all aspects of your case, including:
- Advising you of your legal rights
- Investigating the cause of your pedestrian accident
- Gathering evidence of negligence and liability
- Collecting accident reports, medical records, and other evidence
- Interviewing eyewitnesses
- Retaining expert witnesses
- Filing insurance claims and a personal injury lawsuit if necessary
- Negotiating settlements for maximum compensation
Contact our experienced pedestrian accident lawyers if you or a loved one has been injured in Lancaster.
What Causes Pedestrian Accidents in Lancaster?
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) estimated that 9,188 pedestrians died in traffic and non-traffic incidents in a recent year. Most of these pedestrian traffic deaths occurred in urban settings and on the open road. Even more accidents resulted in serious injuries.
The cause of pedestrian accidents has been attributed to many different factors, including:
- Speeding
- Failing to yield
- Distracted driving
- Impaired driving
- Ignoring traffic signs or signals
- Driving in inclement weather or with poor visibility
- Distracted pedestrians
Our team of pedestrian accident lawyers in Lancaster fights for victims regardless of how their injuries occur. We will investigate how your accident happened and determine whether you may have a right to compensation if someone else’s negligence is involved.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Pedestrian Accident in Lancaster, South Carolina?
Pedestrian accidents can have devastating consequences. Cars, trucks, and other vehicles can deliver serious injuries to victims. If someone else’s negligence was involved, you may be entitled to different types of financial compensation for your damages.
But how much is your case worth? The specific compensation awarded varies from case to case but is generally categorized into economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are your direct financial losses after the accident. They are associated with bills, receipts, and other out-of-pocket expenses.
Examples include:
- Medical expenses: Compensation for medical care related to your pedestrian accident, such as hospitalizations, surgeries, medications, and physical therapy. This includes current and future expenses.
- Rehabilitation costs: Compensation for rehab and other services necessary to fully recover after your pedestrian accident.
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity: Compensation for lost income, salaries, and bonuses after your pedestrian accident if you missed work or cannot return to work in the same capacity as before.
- Property damage: Compensation for repairing or replacing personal property damaged in your pedestrian accident.
Our knowledgeable lawyers can help you value all of your potential economic damages.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are your non-financial losses after the accident. They are subjective and not shown directly on bills or receipts.
Examples include:
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and suffering you experienced due to your pedestrian accident.
- Emotional distress: Compensation for anxiety, depression, and other psychological impacts of your accident.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Compensation for losing the ability to engage in daily activities and hobbies as you did before your pedestrian accident.
Our personal injury lawyers in Lancaster will help you fight for all of your potential non-economic losses. We will pursue compensation for all damages you may be entitled to through a settlement or trial.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Pedestrian Accident in Lancaster?
To recover compensation, you will generally need to prove that someone else’s negligence caused your accident and injuries. Proving negligence may be difficult, but a Lancaster pedestrian accident attorney can help.
It typically requires establishing four elements by a preponderance of the evidence:
- Duty of care: You must show that another person had a legal duty to act a certain way to avoid harming you. For example, drivers have a duty to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and obey traffic signals.
- Breach of duty: You must demonstrate that someone failed to uphold their duty, such as by failing to yield or ignoring a traffic signal.
- Causation: You must prove that someone’s breach of duty directly caused your injuries and other damages. This requires proving that your injuries would not have occurred otherwise.
- Damages: You must show that you have been harmed, such as from incurring medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Our South Carolina personal injury team can help you gather evidence after a pedestrian accident to prove negligence.
What Should I Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Lancaster, South Carolina?
Being involved in a pedestrian accident can be traumatic. Serious injuries are common, and some accidents can even be fatal. If you or a loved one are involved in a pedestrian accident in Lancaster, taking certain steps can protect your health and legal rights, especially if someone else’s negligence may have played a part.
Consider doing the following:
- Seek medical attention: Obtain treatment promptly after a pedestrian accident. Whether you have sustained minor or serious injuries, seeing a medical provider can document your condition and potentially reveal unknown injuries.
- Report the accident: Contact the Lancaster police. They will create an accident report that documents basic information about your pedestrian accident, including the people and vehicles involved.
- Get contact information from witnesses: Ask any witnesses for their names and contact information. Witnesses can help corroborate your version of what happened.
- Document everything: Keep a detailed account of your injuries and medical treatments. Take photos of the accident scene and any injuries. Save receipts for doctor’s appointments, property damage, and other expenses. Keep a journal detailing your daily symptoms and emotional well-being.
- Contact a lawyer: Consult a pedestrian accident attorney in Lancaster to understand your rights. A lawyer can help you investigate your accident and fight for potential compensation.
Taking these steps can safeguard your rights. A Lancaster lawyer can then take the lead and guide you through pursuing potential insurance claims or personal injury lawsuits for compensation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit in South Carolina?
You have limited time to file a lawsuit after suffering injuries in a pedestrian accident. South Carolina law generally gives you three years from your accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. This is known as the statute of limitations.
If you fail to file your lawsuit in time, you will lose the right to pursue your case in court. Some exceptions to the three-year rule exist, such as if you or your loved one were a minor under age 18 when the accident happened.
You should speak with a Lancaster pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. They can advise you about the specific statute of limitations that applies to your case and guide you through the process of filing a personal injury lawsuit. Waiting too long may jeopardize your legal rights and make it more challenging to collect evidence of negligence.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Lancaster, SC?
Pedestrian accidents often come with substantial financial costs, including medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses. Our South Carolina pedestrian accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means you can retain our services without paying an upfront or hourly fee. Instead, we earn a fixed percentage of the amount we recover on your behalf through a settlement or trial.
Contact Our Experienced Lancaster Pedestrian Accident Lawyers to Schedule a Free Consultation
You should not have to navigate the aftermath of a pedestrian accident in Lancaster alone. If you or a loved one have been injured, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Lancaster pedestrian accident attorney.
Our personal injury team brings over 150 years of combined experience to every pedestrian accident case. We can help you pursue compensation for injuries, lost wages, and other damages.