When you’re walking in Raleigh, the last thing you expect is to be injured by a negligent driver. Sadly, pedestrian accidents happen every day, causing physical, financial, and emotional hardships for injured victims. If you or a loved one were hurt as a Raleigh pedestrian, Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers is ready to help you get through this difficult time.
Our team can protect you from unfair insurance companies and fight to secure the maximum compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses caused by the accident. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We’ll explain your rights and discuss how we can help you pursue justice.
Key Takeaways
- Raleigh pedestrian accident injury claims can be complex without legal guidance. Hiring an experienced attorney can help you navigate the process and maximize your compensation.
- Many local factors contribute to pedestrian accidents in Raleigh, including distracted driving, crosswalk errors, speeding, and poor weather conditions.
- There are steps you can take after a pedestrian accident to protect your health and your right to recover compensation, including speaking with an injury lawyer in Raleigh.
Why Hire Riddle & Riddle to Help With My Pedestrian Accident Claim in Raleigh, NC?
After being injured in a pedestrian accident, the aftermath can be frustrating and confusing. While you’re trying to focus on your health, you may be dealing with expensive medical care, insurance delays, and not knowing what to do next. A lawyer for pedestrian accidents can guide you through the process and provide compassionate support when you need it most.
When you work with our team, we combine thorough investigation, strategic case preparation, and personalized client care. Here’s why injured pedestrians in Raleigh choose us to represent them:
Local Knowledge and Experience
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers is led by father-daughter attorney partners and has served the Raleigh community for more than 40 years. We know the local legal landscape, Raleigh’s specific traffic laws, and common accident scenarios, such as busy intersections on Hillsborough Street and pedestrian traffic around North Carolina State University. This insight and knowledge can help us strengthen your case.
Guidance on the Legal Process
Our pedestrian injury lawyers in Raleigh will be by your side every step of the way, explaining what to expect and guiding you through every decision. We’re available around the clock to answer your questions while we handle evidence gathering, settlement negotiations, and litigation on your behalf.
Maximizing Compensation
Working with an experienced lawyer improves your chances of securing higher compensation. Our team is committed to pursuing the best possible outcome for your claim by meticulously preparing your case and demanding the full value of your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Raleigh
There are many factors that contribute to pedestrian crashes in Raleigh, including:
Crosswalk Errors
In many pedestrian crash cases, the driver fails to see the pedestrian in the crosswalk and does not yield the right of way. This tends to happen in busy intersections or where visibility is poor, including:
- Capital Boulevard: Consistently ranked as one of North Carolina’s most dangerous roads
- Six Forks Road and Wake Forest Road: High volume of pedestrians with confusing traffic patterns
- Downtown Raleigh: Mix of foot traffic and aggressive commuters on Fayetteville Street, around the Warehouse District, and throughout the downtown area
Distracted Drivers
Distracted driving is a serious issue in Raleigh and continues to be a leading cause of traffic accidents across the country. Common distractions that take a driver’s attention away from the road include:
- Texting while driving
- Checking social media
- Talking on the phone
- Eating or drinking
- Reaching for something in the car
- Applying makeup or personal grooming
Speeding and Reckless Driving
Speeding and other reckless driving behaviors can make it difficult for drivers to slow down for or avoid pedestrians on the road. In particular, aggressive driving in residential areas or near schools can lead to serious accidents and pedestrian injuries.
Inclement Weather
Rain, fog, snow, and other poor weather conditions in Raleigh can make roads slick and affect visibility, increasing the risk of pedestrian accidents.
As the second-fastest-growing metro area in the United States, Raleigh is committed to improving road safety. The goal of the Vision Zero initiative is to reduce and eliminate serious traffic injuries by improving infrastructure, lighting, school zones, and other safety concerns.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
If another party’s negligence or careless actions caused your pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to recover economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are the financial losses or expenses caused by the accident, including:
- Current medical bills, including emergency room visits and the cost of treatment
- Cost of ongoing physical therapy, future surgeries, and other necessary care
- Lost wages and the loss of future earnings
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages are the intangible or subjective ways your life has been affected by the accident, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress or trauma
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If you lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident, your family is likely going through a very challenging time. But you’re not alone. Although nothing can change what happened, our team can help your family file a wrongful death claim to pursue financial relief on behalf of your loved one.
Steps To Take After a Pedestrian Accident in Raleigh
It’s difficult to know what to do after a pedestrian crash, especially when you’re injured or in shock over what happened. However, there are things you can do to protect your health and your right to take legal action. If you can, take these steps after a pedestrian accident:
Call the Police
Call the Raleigh Police Department to report the accident and file an official report. If you file a claim, this will be an important piece of evidence. Ask for a copy of the report to keep with other important documents.
Seek Medical Attention Immediately
Even if you feel fine, go to an emergency room or urgent care for treatment. Adrenaline could be masking pain, or symptoms may not be obvious right away. Seeking medical care prioritizes your well-being and creates medical documentation of your injuries.
Don’t Talk to the Insurance Adjuster
Avoid speaking with the driver’s insurance company without legal guidance. They may try to use your statement to shift the blame to you. North Carolina’s contributory negligence rule applies to pedestrian accidents, so you are barred from recovering any compensation if you share even 1% of fault.
Call Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers
Schedule a consultation with our pedestrian accident attorneys in Raleigh. We can explain your rights and walk you through your next steps. If you decide to work with us, we will send investigators to the scene to secure traffic camera footage, Ring doorbell video, and other evidence before it is deleted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Pedestrians Always Have the Right of Way in Raleigh?
No. While pedestrians often have the right of way at all intersections and driveways in Raleigh and North Carolina, they must yield the right of way to vehicles when crossing outside of a marked crosswalk. Drivers also have the right of way on highways and interstates.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
North Carolina’s statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is three years from the date of the accident. Although there are some exceptions, this means you generally only have three years to file a pedestrian accident claim or risk losing your right to recover compensation.
The three-year deadline applies to initiating your claim, not resolving it. How long it takes to settle your pedestrian accident claim will depend on the severity of your injuries and other factors.
What if the Driver Fled the Scene?
If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident as a pedestrian, you can file a claim through your own uninsured motorist (UM) policy to cover medical expenses, missed income, and other losses. In North Carolina, all drivers are required to carry UM coverage.
Why Choose Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers As Your Pedestrian Accident Attorney?
For more than 40 years, our Raleigh personal injury attorneys have advocated for accident victims, guiding them through difficult times with compassion, integrity, and award-winning legal service (see disclaimer below). We’re here to help you after a pedestrian accident. Call (919) 876-3020 or use our online form to schedule a free consultation. There are no upfront fees when you hire our team, and you only pay if we recover compensation for your claim.