843-636-TREY
Walking around Charleston is a great way to get around. It’s a terrific form of exercise and environmentally friendly.
Charleston’s drivers in cars are not always aware of pedestrians. If you are a pedestrian hit by a car in Charleston, you can get badly injured and need appropriate compensation for your suffering.
You may be entitled to compensation if you are a hurt as a pedestrian from someone else’s negligence. Trey Harrell Auto Accident and Personal Injury Attorney will make sure you have your say in getting justice. Call 843-701-8029 to get the help you need.
Main Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Charleston
Pedestrian accidents occur for various reasons including the following:
- Distracted driving: Drivers can get distracted by just about anything, from electronic devices to eating, looking at billboards or daydreaming. If they are not paying attention, they may end up hitting a pedestrian.
- Speeding: If drivers are speeding, they may not stop in time for a pedestrian in the street. The fast speed will also make the impact more forceful resulting in serious injuries.
- Not yielding right-of-way in crosswalks: Pedestrians usually have the right of way in crosswalks but that doesn’t mean drivers will always . Drivers are especially likely to run into pedestrians if there is no light at the crosswalk.
- Disobeying signs or signals: Drivers that do not obey traffic signs or signals can run over a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
- Not signaling while turning: If a driver does not use their turn signal, a pedestrian will be unable to tell if they are entering into their lane and may think it’s safe to cross the street when it’s not.
- Not considering weather conditions: Cars should be going even slower when the weather is bad, especially around pedestrians. If they go too fast, they may cause an accident.
- Driving intoxicated: Driving intoxicated is reported to cause 13% of all pedestrian accidents.
What Are Pedestrian Rights in South Carolina?
Here is a review of pedestrian rights in South Carolina to help determine who is liable for an accident.
Anyone who is walking, rollerblading, pushing a stroller, traveling on a skateboard or rollerblades or in a wheelchair is considered a pedestrian.
Pedestrians should always walk on sidewalks. If there is no sidewalk available, they have as much of a right to the road as the driver does. However, they should walk on the side of the road facing oncoming traffic and they should stay as close to the shoulder of the road as possible.
Pedestrians should cross at crosswalks whenever possible. If no crosswalk is available, you may cross at corners, as long as you yield to traffic. So, if you are in a crosswalk, you will have the right-of-way. If you are not in a crosswalk, the cars will have the right-of-way.
Pedestrians are not permitted to walk along a freeway. Doing so can result in a $100 fine or 30 days in jail.
What Are Drivers’ Responsibilities to Keep Pedestrians Safe?
Drivers also have responsibilities to keep pedestrians safe. For example, they must:
- Stay within speed limits and drive responsibly in inclement weather
- Exercise every precaution to avoid colliding with pedestrians
- Be careful at crosswalks and intersections, especially during peak hours when these areas are likely to be congested with foot traffic.
- Activate turn signals at least 100 feet before turning to prevent pedestrians from crossing the street when it may not be safe to do so.
- Be particularly careful with pedestrians that are blind or have mobility issues.
What Can Pedestrians Do to Reduce the Risk of an Accident?
Even though pedestrians usually have the right-of-way at crosswalks, the last thing you want is to be involved in a car accident. Here are some precautions you can take to stay safe.
- Keep one ear free when listening to music so you can hear cars approaching.
- You can prevent accidents by not walking distracted by your electronic device.
- Assume oncoming cars can’t see you and act accordingly.
- Don’t walk if you are intoxicated enough to cause a hazard.
What Kind of Damages Can I Collect in a Pedestrian Accident?
If you are involved in a pedestrian accident in Charleston, SC, you may be eligible for damages including:
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning potential
- Emotional pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
The amount you can be compensated for will vary depending on your personal and professional situation and the extent of your losses. Your Charleston pedestrian accident attorney will assess your situation and let you know how much you are eligible to collect.
Contact Our Charleston Pedestrian Accident Attorney to Protect Your Rights
If you were injured in a pedestrian accident in Charleston due to a driver’s reckless or negligent behavior, it’s time to act. Trey Harrell Auto Accident and Personal Injury Attorney will gather evidence to help you prove your claim. We will assess your damages and ensure you are fairly compensated.
Trey Harrell is an experienced Charleston pedestrian accident attorney with extensive knowledge in South Carolina injury case law. We will fight relentlessly to support your case, and we won’t make a dime unless we help you win.
Don’t delay, call Trey today.
