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Did a vehicle strike you while you were walking in Forest City, North Carolina? If so, you could seek compensation for your losses by working with a personal injury lawyer. Our team at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC can take on your claim starting today.
A Forest City pedestrian accident lawyer can focus on showing that someone else caused your accident and your injuries. We’ll evaluate all the losses you sustained and focus on securing funds to help you get back on your feet.
Can You Claim Compensation for a Forest City Pedestrian Accident?
You may have the chance to seek damages after a Forest City pedestrian wreck. Generally, you can only secure compensation if a lawyer can prove that someone else’s negligent actions caused your injuries.
Forest City pedestrian accident attorneys establish liability for accidents by showing that:
- Someone else owed you a duty of care
- The other party violated their duty of care
- The violation directly led to your accident
- The accident caused you financial losses and/or physical injuries
Duty of care often involves a responsibility to follow the rules of the road for pedestrian accident claims. For example, drivers have a duty to check for pedestrians before making turns or entering crosswalks. Drivers who ignore this responsibility can cause accidents.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 104,000 injured people visited the emergency room after pedestrian accidents in 2020. Our team can focus on assessing fault for your accident if you were hurt in a pedestrian accident in Forest City.
Can a Driver File a Claim Against a Pedestrian in Forest City?
In most cases, motor vehicle drivers cause pedestrian accidents in Forest City. However, drivers may claim that a pedestrian caused an accident by:
- Jaywalking
- Stepping into traffic without looking
- Engaging in reckless behavior
In these situations, the driver could file a claim against the pedestrian. North Carolina is a pure contributory negligence state, which means anyone who is even one percent at fault for an accident cannot recover compensation for their injuries. Our team can step in to help you if a driver accuses you of being partly at fault for your pedestrian accident.
Who Determines Fault in a Pedestrian Accident in North Carolina?
After a Forest City pedestrian wreck, each involved party may have a different story about what happened. Eventually, someone in an official position has to determine who caused the collision.
The responsibility for determining fault varies based on how you decide to resolve your claim. In some situations, pedestrians settle with insurance companies. In these cases, insurance representatives assess fault, typically through a period of negotiations with a Forest City pedestrian accident lawyer.
However, this represents only one way to handle pedestrian wreck claims. In other cases, your claim may go to court for legal resolution. A judge and jury may determine fault after listening to arguments from your pedestrian accident lawyer and the lawyer representing the party who caused the collision.
How Much Money Can You Get After a Car Hits You as a Pedestrian in Forest City?
The amount of compensation available after a Forest City pedestrian wreck can vary based on your injuries’ severity and the impact they’ve had on your life. A Forest City pedestrian accident lawyer can review the losses associated with your accident, including your:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages at work
- Lost earning potential
- Pain and suffering and mental anguish
Our team will assess all your losses, helping you seek damages to cover the expenses associated with your collision.
Who Causes Forest City Pedestrian Accidents?
Your Forest City pedestrian accident lawyer can determine who caused your collision. Our team can focus on investigating the accident by:
- Speaking with witnesses
- Requesting a copy of your police report
- Looking for surveillance footage
- Working with pedestrian accident experts
Depending on your case’s facts, we may pursue any of the following parties for compensation:
A Motor Vehicle Driver
Individuals operating cars cause a tremendous number of pedestrian accidents. They may strike you if they ignore crosswalks or even jump a curb. Sometimes, pedestrian accidents occur because drivers fail to check their rearview mirror while backing out of a parking space.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), these accidents often occur in the dark, when it’s harder for drivers to see pedestrians.
A Government Entity
Sometimes, pedestrian accidents occur due to problems with the design of a road or intersection. If the city knew the area posed a serious risk to pedestrians and failed to take steps to solve the problem, we could seek damages for your losses.
A Vehicle Manufacturer
Some pedestrian accidents occur due to faulty vehicle parts. For example, a driver may try to stop before hitting you in a crosswalk, only to discover their brakes don’t work. In this situation, we may seek damages from the company that manufactured the defective parts or vehicle.
How Long Can You Wait to File a Forest City Pedestrian Wreck Claim?
North Carolina has a three-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims (G.S. § 1-52). Once this deadline expires, you cannot file a lawsuit to seek compensation for your losses. Therefore, we recommend building a claim quickly after your accident.
Our team will focus on handling your legal needs quickly after a wreck. We’ll keep you updated about the status of your claim and answer any questions you have about your legal options.
We can also take your claim to court. In some cases, filing a lawsuit allows you to seek damages to cover all your losses.
Start Working With Our Forest City Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Today
You can secure legal assistance from a Forest City pedestrian accident lawyer by contacting our team at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC. Call us or complete our online contact form to get started on your case.
