At Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers, our Folly Beach pedestrian accident lawyers help injured victims pursue compensation after preventable crashes.
Our local, family-owned firm has served the Carolinas since 1995, and our lawyers have an average of 19 years of personal injury experience each. We can investigate what happened, identify all available insurance coverage, deal with the insurer, and help you understand the next steps after medical treatment.
To learn more, contact our firm today to speak with a Folly Beach personal injury lawyer during a free consultation.
Why Work With a Folly Beach Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
In a pedestrian accident claim, the insurance company may try to shift blame to you. Because South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule, insurer arguments can affect whether you recover compensation and how much you may receive.
Under South Carolina law, you may still recover compensation if you are 50% or less at fault, but your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found 51% or more at fault, you may be barred from recovering compensation.
Auger & Auger can help protect your claim by investigating the driver’s conduct, preserving evidence, reviewing traffic laws, and pushing back when an insurer tries to shift blame onto you.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Folly Beach
Many pedestrian crashes happen because a driver fails to pay close attention to people walking near the roadway. That can happen at intersections, in parking lots, near beach paths, outside restaurants, around vacation rentals, and along roads with heavy foot traffic.
Common causes include:
- Failing to yield at a crosswalk.
- Distracted driving.
- Speeding near pedestrian traffic.
- Turning without checking for people walking.
- Backing up without looking carefully.
- Driving under the influence.
- Ignoring traffic signals or signs.
- Failing to adjust for poor lighting or heavy foot traffic.
- Opening a vehicle door into a pedestrian’s path.
- Unsafe rideshare, delivery, or commercial driving.
Injuries That Can Change Your Daily Life
Pedestrian injuries can affect nearly every part of your life. You may need emergency treatment, surgery, physical therapy, follow-up visits, medication, mobility support, or help at home. Some people cannot return to work for weeks or months. Others face permanent limits.
The following are common pedestrian accident injuries we see in Folly Beach:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Skull fractures
- Broken arms, legs, hips, ribs, or pelvis
- Spinal cord injuries
- Herniated discs
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
- Knee, ankle, shoulder, or hip injuries
- Road rash and scarring
- Facial injuries
- Dental injuries
- Nerve damage
- Anxiety, sleep disruption, or trauma symptoms
When Auger & Auger evaluates a pedestrian injury claim, we consider the full effect of the injury, including future treatment, limits on your work, pain, mobility problems, and changes to your daily routine.
Who May Be Liable for Your Losses
The driver who hit you is often the first party reviewed in a pedestrian accident claim. A driver may be liable if they failed to yield, ignored traffic signals, drove distracted, sped through an area with foot traffic, backed up unsafely, or drove while impaired.
Other parties may also share legal responsibility, including the following:
- A rideshare driver
- A delivery driver
- A commercial vehicle driver
- The driver’s employer
- A vehicle owner
- A property owner
- A business that failed to address unsafe walking areas
- A vehicle or parts manufacturer
- A government entity responsible for a dangerous roadway condition, depending on the facts
Identifying all potentially responsible parties can affect the insurance coverage available for your claim. Auger & Auger reviews these issues early so our Folly Beach pedestrian accident attorneys can pursue the compensation sources that apply to your case.
What Compensation May Cover in a Pedestrian Accident Case
A serious crash can affect how you move, sleep, work, care for your family, and get through an ordinary day. We look at what the injury has already cost you and what it may continue to cost in the months or years ahead.
Depending on your case, compensation may account for the following:
- Medical treatment
- Follow-up care
- Rehabilitation
- Prescriptions
- Missed income
- Reduced ability to work
- Transportation to appointments
- Mobility equipment
- Help at home
- Physical pain
- Emotional distress
- Scarring
- The loss of activities you can no longer enjoy in the same way
If a pedestrian accident causes a fatal injury, South Carolina law may allow surviving family members to bring a wrongful death claim.
Auger & Auger has recovered over $100 million for injured people, and we use that experience to present the full human and financial impact of a crash.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident
Once you have received medical care, keep copies of medical records, discharge papers, prescriptions, bills, and any work restrictions from your doctor. Follow your treatment plan and tell your providers about pain, mobility limits, sleep problems, or new symptoms.
If you are able, you should also:
- Save photos of your injuries and the crash area.
- Keep damaged clothing, shoes, glasses, or personal items.
- Write down what you remember about the collision.
- Save witness contact information.
- Track missed work and out-of-pocket costs.
- Avoid detailed recorded statements to the insurer before getting legal guidance.
- Avoid posting about the crash or your injuries online.
How Long Do You Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Claim in South Carolina?
South Carolina generally gives injured people three years to file a personal injury lawsuit, though some cases may have shorter deadlines, especially when a government entity may be involved.
Waiting can also make the claim harder to prove because video footage, witness memories, and scene evidence may disappear.
Speaking with a pedestrian accident attorney in Folly Beach soon after the collision gives us a better opportunity to preserve evidence and evaluate your options while the facts are still available.
Speak With a Folly Beach Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Auger & Auger helps injured pedestrians in Folly Beach and throughout South Carolina pursue compensation after preventable crashes. Contact Auger & Auger today for a free consultation with our team.
