Eastern NC Pedestrian Injury Attorneys

Any person using North Carolina roads who is not in or upon a vehicle is considered to be a pedestrian. According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System Encyclopedia, about 5,000 pedestrians are killed and another 64,000 are injured in motor vehicle accidents every year.  On average, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic accident every 110 minutes and injured in a traffic collision every 9 minutes. Statistics show that in 2006 alone, 173 pedestrians were killed in the state of North Carolina. Pedestrians have little to no protection during an accident, and even a slow-moving car or truck can easily cause injury or death.

Drivers and pedestrians alike must adhere to the laws of the road and exercise reasonable care for their safety and the safety of others. Thus, either can be at fault depending on the circumstances of the accident. In many cases, pedestrians who use caution before entering a roadway have a great deal of control in avoiding a collision with a motor vehicle. When they don't exercise caution, pedestrians can cause accidents by:

  • Ignoring traffic signals while crossing the street.
  • Crossing the street outside of a crosswalk or intersection.
  • Carelessly walking, playing or working on a roadway.
  • Walking into a roadway without looking for traffic (as in the case of a darting child or a parent following a child).
  • Being inattentive near a roadway (talking, eating, drinking, etc.).
  • Carelessly entering or leaving public transportation (bus, trolley, taxi, etc.).

Many pedestrian injuries and deaths are caused by careless or negligent motorists. Motorists can cause accidents by:

  • Speeding.
  • Driving recklessly or while distracted.
  • Disobeying traffic signs or signals.
  • Ignoring pedestrian rights in crosswalks.
  • Failing to stay in their lane.
  • Disregarding weather or traffic conditions.
  • Failing to yield right of way to pedestrians already crossing a roadway.
  • Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

In some states, pedestrians that are partly responsible for their injuries are still eligible to claim compensation under the concept of "comparative negligence." However, North Carolina follows the law of “contributory negligence”, which means that a pedestrian whose negligent behavior contributed to the cause of the accident cannot collect any compensation from the motorist (or the responsible insurance company), regardless of whether the driver was much more at fault than the pedestrian.

The injuries sustained by pedestrians who are struck by motor vehicles are usually severe and life-altering. Common injuries include broken bones, neck injuries, brain injuries, nerve damage, loss of limb and disfigurement. In addition to the immediate costs of medical care related to the accident, victims must shoulder the burdens of future medical needs, reduced or lost income, and the radical lifestyle changes that come with a permanent health condition or disability. Of course, a pedestrian injured in a motor vehicle accident can suffer psychological and emotional trauma even greater than any physical injury. Those who lose a loved one in an accident can suffer from the unexpected loss of an income, burial expenses, and the irretrievable loss of love, care, and companionship.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident or if you are the survivor of a pedestrian who was killed in a motor vehicle accident, contact the pedestrian accident lawyers of Teague & Glover to schedule a consultation. Our pedestrian injury attorneys have been helping personal injury victims in northeastern North Carolina obtain justice since 1981, including Elizabeth City, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Corolla, Duck, Kill Devil Hills, Manteo, Hertford, Edenton, Camden, Currituck County and all of the Outer Banks. We understand the distress that comes with pedestrian accidents and we will work quickly to get you the compensation you deserve. Our pedestrian injury lawyers have experience in fighting to protect the rights of pedestrian accident victims and we can help you. Danny Glover, Jr., previously served as the elected Chair of the AutoTorts Section of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and for six years served on the Board of Governors and other various boards and committees of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice.  Please call us at 252-335-0878 or contact us online.