Have you been injured in a pedestrian accident in Charlotte, North Carolina? Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers can help when you call (704) 486-5824. We offer a free consultation with a Charlotte pedestrian accident lawyer, giving you the chance to learn your rights and explore your options for pursuing full compensation.
You may be entitled to recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional distress. Our Charlotte pedestrian accident attorneys are ready to fight for you around the clock. Contact us today to schedule your free case evaluation and start the path toward recovery.
Why Choose Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers for Help After a Pedestrian Accident in Charlotte, NC
When pedestrians in Charlotte, NC, are seriously injured in auto accidents, many turn to Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers for experienced guidance. Backed by more than 190 years of combined trial experience and over $850 million recovered for clients (see disclaimer below), our attorneys are recognized leaders in the courtroom and beyond.
Members of our team have been:
- Recognized among the Best Attorneys in America
- Honored as Avvo Top Attorneys
- Selected as Super Lawyers Rising Stars
- Named to the Top 100 by The National Trial Lawyers
- Members of the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Rated AV Preeminent Litigators by Martindale-Hubbell
- Awarded Nation’s Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel
Contact our office today to schedule your free consultation with a Charlotte personal injury attorney and put proven trial lawyers on your side.
What Causes Most Pedestrian Accidents?
Most pedestrian accidents happen because someone is negligent – meaning they fail to use the level of care that’s needed to prevent avoidable injuries or deaths. Some of the most commonly cited causes of car accidents that cause pedestrian injuries and deaths include:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Drugged driving
- Failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians at an intersection or in a crosswalk
- Speeding
- Illegal turns
- Unsafe passing
- Braking errors
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Blind spot errors
- Dooring
- Poor visibility
Anyone who is careless or reckless and contributes to a pedestrian accident, even indirectly, can be responsible for resulting harm.
Our North Carolina pedestrian accident attorneys in Charlotte will thoroughly investigate your case, gather and evaluate important evidence, consult experts across various fields, and work to understand why you got hurt and who’s at fault. Then, we’ll build a legal claim that forces the at-fault party (or their insurance carrier) to make things right.
How Much Money Is My Pedestrian Accident Case Worth?
Everyone who’s been hit by a car in Charlotte has a different experience. The things that make your specific situation unique will influence what types of damages you might be able to recover and what your claim will be worth.
It’ll be important to consider:
- The types of physical injuries you’ve suffered
- The severity of your injuries and whether they’re likely to cause a permanent impairment or disability
- Changes in your earning capacity or ability to work, even for a short duration
- Shared responsibility for your pedestrian accident
- Your age at the time of the accident
- Steps you may have taken to mitigate your damages
- How being hit by a car and any resulting injuries you’ve suffered have affected your quality of life
The more you struggle physically, financially, and emotionally because of a pedestrian accident, the more compensation you can usually expect to receive in a settlement or jury award.
Knowing what your pedestrian accident case is worth is half the battle. The more you know about your damages and what they’re worth, the better prepared you’ll be to negotiate a favorable settlement with the defense. You’ll be able to tell if the insurance company is trying to lowball you or if their offer reflects the true costs and suffering you’ve experienced.
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers wants to empower you during this trying time by giving you the insight, answers, and guidance you need to maximize your financial recovery. Don’t hesitate to call our Charlotte pedestrian accident attorneys to discuss your case today.
What Damages Can Be Awarded To Injured Pedestrians in Charlotte?
As the victim of an avoidable pedestrian accident in North Carolina, you have the right to file a civil tort claim for damages. Damages can include money for your objective financial losses (economic damages), as well as for the subjective life changes and trauma you experience as a victim (non-economic damages.
Economic damages can help with:
- Current and future medical bills
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Diminished earning capacity
- Lost wages
- Short-term and long-term disability
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages may compensate you for losses such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Chronic physical pain
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced quality of life
- Disfigurement
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Embarrassment
- Mental anguish
If someone tried to hit you with their car on purpose or displayed a conscious disregard for your safety, you might also be able to recover punitive damages – but only if your pedestrian accident lawsuit makes it to trial.
Can I Get Compensation if I’m Partly To Blame for My North Carolina Pedestrian Accident?
North Carolina follows a harsh pure contributory fault system. Sharing any responsibility for a pedestrian accident in which you’re injured is a total bar to recovery. It’s not uncommon for insurance adjusters and negligent parties to point fingers and cast blame, hoping that even a small percentage of blame will be assigned to an injury victim.
So, it’s important to anticipate victim-blaming tactics and have a plan in place to discredit them. Our Charlotte personal injury attorneys know the insurance company’s playbook well, and we’ll be prepared to fight back whenever they attempt to blame you for your catastrophic pedestrian injuries.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Charlotte?
Like many personal injury lawyers in North Carolina, we work on a contingency fee basis. Contingency fee representation means that we don’t get paid unless we win compensation for you. When we win, our attorney fees are a predetermined percentage of your settlement or jury award. While it varies, the average fee is between 30 and 40 percent.
Members of our legal team in Charlotte are always available to answer your questions and provide insight into what you can expect when you hire our law firm to represent you after a serious accident. Contact Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers for assistance today.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Unlike occupants of motor vehicles, pedestrians don’t have the benefit of a large steel frame, airbags, or seatbelts. So, you’re susceptible to serious, often life-changing injuries when you’re involved in a traffic accident as a pedestrian in Charlotte.
At Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers, we advocate fiercely for pedestrians and families dealing with:
- Broken bones
- Burn injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Nerve damage
- Chest injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Degloving injuries
- Neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back injuries
- Paralysis injuries
- Eye injuries
- Concussion injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Leg injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
It’s imperative that you report your pedestrian accident to the Charlotte Police Department immediately, and then get yourself to the closest emergency room for a thorough medical evaluation. The sooner your injuries are diagnosed, documented, and treated, the better.
What Is the Statute of Limitations on Pedestrian Accident Lawsuits in North Carolina?
You’ll typically have three years from the date of a pedestrian accident in Charlotte to pursue compensation through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. If a spouse, parent, or child has been killed in a fatal pedestrian accident in Charlotte, you’ll have two years to file a wrongful death claim.
You have to file your claim before the statute of limitations runs out. Once the filing deadline passes, you give up the right to hold a negligent motorist, an insurance company, a property owner, or another at-fault party accountable for your injuries and losses.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Charlotte Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
You’ve been injured as a pedestrian in Charlotte, NC, because someone else wasn’t careful enough. Now, that party has to be held accountable for the considerable harm they’ve caused. Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers is here to offer the knowledgeable and experienced legal representation you need to get the best possible case results.
Our Charlotte pedestrian accident lawyers are award-winning litigators with a multi-million dollar track record of success. Backed by 190+ years of collective experience handling complex personal injury cases, we’ve recovered hundreds of millions in monetary awards for our clients (see disclaimer below).
Call our law office in Charlotte to discuss the specific details of your pedestrian accident. Your initial case review is free.