South Carolina residents owe one another an inherent duty of care went out and about. This duty demands that all parties act as reasonably as possible both in the face of everyday responsibilities and dangerous scenarios. Parties who engage in negligence violate the duty of care owed to others and can subsequently cause dangerous pedestrian accidents.
Victims of pedestrian accidents have the right to take action against the offending parties. If you need help bringing forward evidence of pedestrian accident negligence, you can contact the Shelly Leeke Law Firm. Our South Carolina pedestrian accident lawyers can stand with you as you bring your case to the attention of a civil judge. Our South Carolina personal injury lawyers are ready to help you get the settlement you deserve.
Take Back Control of Your Pedestrian Accident Recovery
When you move to take civil action in the wake of a pedestrian accident, you give yourself control over your circumstances. More specifically, you have the opportunity to investigate the source of your accident and value your losses in relation to that negligence.
Moreover, the pursuit of a civil claim does not lock you into a course of action. When requesting compensation for a pedestrian accident, you can choose to either negotiate with a liable party or place your case in the hands of a judge. You can determine which of these approaches you would prefer to take during an initial case consultation.
Even then, you have the right to change your approach to your case as it is developing. If negotiations for compensation go sour, you can turn to a judge. So long as your trial hasn’t reached this conclusion, too, you can resume settlement negotiations.
Your Pedestrian Accident Case Has a Deadline
Civil courts in South Carolina classified pedestrian accidents as personal injury claims. This means that the deadlines that apply to personal injury cases in the nickname state also apply to your pursuit of compensation. Specifically, S.C. Code § 15-3-530(6) states that you must submit information regarding your losses within three years to request compensation for them.
You do not have to take the full three years to bring your case to the attention of a civil judge. When you work with a pedestrian accident attorney in South Carolina, you can file the necessary paperwork for your claim within months of your accident taking place.
Do note, however, that you want your claim to be as informative as possible when it reaches the county clerk. If you find yourself stressed by the deadline imposed upon your case, you can let our team know. We can spearhead your investigation and make sure that your claim makes it into the right hands in the appropriate amount of time.
Recover Damages After a Pedestrian Accident
The purpose of the pedestrian accident claim you file is to secure compensation for your losses. You can’t request compensation, however, without knowing the value of your case. Because you can pursue pedestrian accident claims as personal injury claims, you have the right to record your billable losses alongside non-billable (or non-economic) damages.
Of your possible avenues for compensation, your billable losses are the most material. These include the cost of any damage done to your personal property or the expense of essential medical care. If you have to take time off of work to recover, you can also demand that the liable party help make up your lost wages.
Your non-billable losses consist of the stress you face in the wake of an accident. If you find yourself contending with emotional distress, symptoms of PTSD, or even the loss of a partner, South Carolina makes it possible for you to assign a dollar value to these losses. Our team applies multipliers to the sum of your economic losses to establish your case’s total value.
Evidence Plays an Essential Role in Pedestrian Accident Cases
While presenting an estimate of the value of your case establishes some information about your accident, you must also provide a county clerk and applicable parties with evidence of both negligence and the related damages. Without evidence, no party who views your case can determine whether or not the state’s laws on fault entitle you to financial support.
The evidence you bring forward for the competition you are owed can include bills, invoices, and bank statements reflecting lost wages. You should also be prepared to submit evidence of negligence resulting in your accident. This evidence can range from bystander testimony describing a liable party’s behavior to expert witness statements elaborating on your injuries.
Our South Carolina pedestrian accident lawyers also encourage you to pursue video or photo footage of your accident. You can often secure video of a pedestrian accident by requesting that local shop owners or drivers in the area share their security or dash cam footage with you. If your accident occurs near a streetlight, city footage may also help you defend your case.
Assigning Fault for Pedestrian Accident Losses
There is no point in filing a pedestrian accident claim if you don’t know who to hold responsible for your losses. You must determine liability before you bring your claim before a civil clerk.
In the wake of a pedestrian accident, many survivors feel as though motorists, bicyclists, or other parties on the road may be inherently responsible for their losses. While this is often the case, a court will not assign you compensation based on an assumption. You must present evidence of negligence on the road to hold these parties accountable for their alleged behavior.
Under certain circumstances, negligence on the part of government officials, shop owners, and even corporate representatives can see your initial assumptions about fault flipped on their heads. Fortunately, our team can assess the circumstances and make sure that your complaint addresses the right party in the wake of your pedestrian accident.
Let’s Overcome Pedestrian Accident Losses Together
Pedestrians can suffer serious injury as a result of someone else’s roadway negligence. Should you find yourself contending with injuries or losses related to such an accident, you can contact a South Carolina pedestrian accident attorney for guidance. Our representatives can meet with you and discuss what compensation you may be entitled to.
The sooner you’re able to act in the wake of a pedestrian accident, the better. With that in mind, contact the Shelly Leeke Law Firm today. We are available to schedule your initial case consultation over the phone or through our website.
