Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers helps injured pedestrians and families understand their options, protect their claims, and pursue payment for injury-related expenses and losses.
Our Oak Island pedestrian accident lawyers have served injured people in the Carolinas since 1995. We know how pedestrian accident claims are often handled by insurance companies, especially in North Carolina, where being found even 1% at fault can affect your ability to recover compensation.
Contact us for a free consultation with an Oak Island personal injury lawyer.
How an Oak Island Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Help Protect Your Claim
Pedestrian accident claims are not always as straightforward as they may seem. Even when a driver hits someone, the insurance company may still look for reasons to reduce or deny the claim. They may argue that you crossed outside a crosswalk, were hard to see, stepped into traffic, or did not follow a traffic signal.
That kind of blame-shifting can be a serious issue in North Carolina. Under the state’s contributory negligence rule, if the insurance company can show that you were even 1% at fault, it may try to use that argument against your entire claim.
Our job is to build the claim around the facts of what actually happened. We also look for other parties who may share responsibility, such as an employer, vehicle owner, delivery company, or another driver whose actions helped cause the crash.
How We Build Your Claim
When we take on a pedestrian accident claim, we focus on showing how the crash happened, who caused it, and how your injuries have changed your life. We do not rely only on the insurance company’s version of events.
Our work may include:
- Reviewing the police crash report.
- Gathering medical records and bills.
- Looking for photos, videos, and scene evidence.
- Speaking with witnesses.
- Reviewing crosswalks, traffic signals, road design, and visibility.
- Identifying all available insurance coverage.
- Calculating medical costs, missed income, and other losses.
- Handling insurance calls and claim paperwork.
- Challenging unfair blame placed on you.
- Preparing the claim for settlement or litigation.
Auger & Auger is a local, family-owned law firm. Our lawyers are accessible and focused on building a legal strategy around each client’s best interests. We have recovered over $100 million for injured clients, and we bring that experience to the details of each claim we handle.
Common Injuries After Being Hit by a Vehicle
A pedestrian has almost no physical protection in a collision. The first impact may come from the vehicle itself, and the second may happen when the person hits the pavement, curb, or another object.
Pedestrian accident injuries can include the following:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries and concussions
- Brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Knee, hip, and shoulder injuries
- Facial injuries
- Cuts, bruising, and road rash
- Nerve damage
- Long-term pain or limited movement
Some injuries do not fully show up right away. Pain, dizziness, numbness, headaches, swelling, and stiffness may worsen after the adrenaline wears off. Getting medical care and following your treatment plan can help protect both your health and your injury claim.
What to Do After Receiving Medical Care
Once you have received emergency care or an initial medical evaluation, there are practical steps you should take to help protect your claim.
If you are able, try to:
- Keep copies of medical records, prescriptions, discharge instructions, and bills.
- Attend follow-up appointments.
- Save photos of visible injuries as they heal.
- Write down what you remember about the crash.
- Keep the clothes and shoes you were wearing.
- Avoid giving a recorded statement before you understand your injuries.
- Do not accept an early settlement before you know your treatment needs.
- Track missed work, travel to appointments, and daily limitations.
Insurance companies may contact you quickly. They may sound helpful, but their goal is to close the claim for as little as possible. Before you give detailed statements or sign paperwork, it can help to speak with a lawyer who can protect your rights.
Potential Liable Parties
The driver who hit you may be the main at-fault party, but pedestrian accident claims sometimes involve more than one responsible person or company.
Depending on the case, liable parties can include:
- The driver who hit you.
- The owner of the vehicle.
- A delivery company or employer.
- A rideshare or transportation company.
- Another driver who contributed to the crash.
- A business or property owner, in some limited situations.
Compensation Available in a Pedestrian Accident Case
The value of a pedestrian accident claim depends on the facts of the crash, the available insurance coverage, and how the injuries affect your life.
You may be able to seek compensation for the following costs and losses, depending on your individual case:
- Emergency medical care
- Hospital stays
- Surgery
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Follow-up appointments
- Medication
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent injury or disability
- Changes to your daily life
If a pedestrian accident caused the death of a loved one, the family may have a wrongful death claim. In that situation, we can explain who may bring the claim and what damages may be available under North Carolina law.
Do Not Wait Too Long to Get Legal Help
North Carolina gives many injured people three years to file a personal injury lawsuit, but waiting can still hurt the claim.
Evidence can easily be lost or erased over time, which is why it’s important to start the investigation as soon as possible. Calling earlier also gives your lawyer a better chance to connect your medical treatment, missed work, and daily limitations to the crash.
Speak With Our Oak Island Pedestrian Accident Attorneys at Auger & Auger About Your Case
If you were hit by a vehicle while walking in Oak Island, we can review what happened and help you decide what to do next.
Our lawyers work on contingency, so you do not pay upfront attorney’s fees for our representation. If you are in the hospital, we can come to you. We also offer online document signing and can help point you toward medical care when needed.
Contact Auger & Auger today for a free consultation with a pedestrian accident attorney in Oak Island.
