Whether you’re walking through Colonial Dorchester, enjoying the Greenway Trail, or simply taking advantage of the local shopping, Summerville’s layout encourages pedestrian traffic. However, South Carolina still ranks second nationally in pedestrian death and injury rates. If you or a loved one was injured while walking, immediately contact the experienced accident injury attorneys at Gil Gatch Law in Summerville, SC.
Leading Causes of Serious and Fatal Pedestrian Injuries in South Carolina
Negligent driving behaviors often result in catastrophic pedestrian accidents in Summerville. Our compassionate local personal injury lawyers commonly see the following pedestrian-vehicle accidents in the Tri-County area:
Drunk Driving and Driver Fatigue
Grouped because they both commonly result in swerving, especially during the early morning hours. When drunk, drugged, or fatigued drivers hop the curb while turning or parking, it often causes unavoidable mass casualty accidents involving innocent pedestrians.
Crosswalk/Failure to Yield
Many fatal pedestrian accidents in Summerville occur when negligent or distracted drivers fail to yield the right of way in crosswalks. Crosswalk accidents commonly result in the following serious injuries:
- Dislocated hips
- Broken necks and paralysis
- Slipped and herniated discs
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Nerve damage
- Fractures
- Facial scarring and friction burns
- Internal bleeding
Both the initial vehicle impact and secondary impact with the pavement increase the likelihood of disabling trauma and pedestrian fatalities.
Speeding
Summerville’s residential speed limits are designed to protect pedestrians from suffering fatal car accident injuries, as the fatality rate increases with speed. Even traveling a few miles per hour over the speed limit can mean the difference between life and death for innocent walkers.
Recovering Personal Injury Damages After SC Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians injured in traffic collisions can generally demand compensatory damages from the negligent driver’s auto insurance company. This includes compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, as well as pain and suffering. Pain and suffering damages include the real but incalculable losses associated with your emotional suffering, physical pain, inconvenience, and lost enjoyment of life.
If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident, our lawyers can help. We will stop at nothing to track down the liable driver and demand uninsured motorist compensation from your (or a household member’s) personal auto insurance policy.
Cost of Retaining a Reputable South Carolina Pedestrian Injury Law Firm
At Gil Gatch Law, we understand that injured pedestrians and their families cannot afford to retain reputable legal counsel on top of lost wages and mounting medical expenses. This is why we accept viable cases on a contingency fee basis. Contingency fee arrangements mean we only get paid if we recover the needed personal injury compensation for you. Our law firm can also front all necessary investigative and expert witness fees to maximize the value of your pedestrian injury claims.
Speak With a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Summerville, SC
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a Tri-County pedestrian-vehicle collision, schedule a free and confidential case consultation with our dedicated Summerville personal injury team today by calling (843) 800-2020 or connecting with us online.