Sumter Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Most of these incidents occur at non-intersection locations and outside marked crosswalks. Therefore, the tortfeasor (negligent driver) is often traveling at or near top speed at the moment of impact. Speed multiplies the force in a collision between two objects. If one object is a small child and the other object is a 4,000-pound speeding car, the resulting collision is often devastating for the victim. Pre-existing conditions, such as the victim’s physical size, often come into play as well.
The dedicated Sumter pedestrian accident lawyer at The Stanley Law Group used proven methods to obtain life-changing results in these cases. Our methods rest on old-fashioned values, like hard work every day, a strong belief in the rightness of our clients’ claims, and open communication throughout the process. So, regardless of the nature of your injuries, you can count on us to obtain the financial compensation you need and deserve. Usually, we settle pedestrian accident claims out of court, so victims don’t have to go to trial to receive their compensation.
Pedestrian Injuries
When they are in collisions, motorcycle riders often have helmets to protect them, and airbags usually protect vehicle occupants. Pedestrians only have the clothes on their backs. As a result, pedestrian accident victims often sustain catastrophic injuries, such as:
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Internal Bleeding: Exsanguination (excessive blood loss) is often the official cause of death in these instances. Internal bleeding, which happens when the force of a collision pushes organs against each other, is difficult to detect and even more difficult to stop. As a result, by the time emergency responders arrive, many victims have already lost as much as a fourth of their blood.
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Broken Bones: The force of a collision usually throws victims through the air. When they land, the impact often shatters their bones, especially their arm and leg bones. The extensive injury means doctors must use aggressive means, like metal parts, to reconstruct these bones. As a result, some permanent paralysis, like lost range of motion in a shoulder or knee, is likely.
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Head Injuries: Contrary to popular myth, the brain doesn’t fit snugly inside the skull, like a hand in a glove. Instead, the skull is like a water tank which suspends the brain in cerebrospinal fluid. So, if people fall and land hard, their brains slam repeatedly and violently against the insides of their skulls. The resulting brain injury is usually permanent. Generally, when brain cells die, they don’t regenerate.
Making matters worse, many of these incidents occur in relatively rural parts of Sumter County. The remote location, when combined with the serious nature of the injuries, usually requires helicopter medevac. The cost of a brief medevac flight often exceeds $40,000.
Liability Issues
Compensation is available for medical bills, and other economic and noneconomic losses, if a Sumter pedestrian accident lawyer proves negligence by a preponderance of the evidence.
Basically, negligence is a lack of ordinary or statutory care. Most drivers have a duty of reasonable care in South Carolina. They must be sober, well-rested, and otherwise fit to drive before they get behind the wheel. Common breaches of the duty of care include driving under the influence of alcohol or while fatigued.
Drivers must also obey the rules of the road. They must follow safety laws. Tortfeasors who break safety laws, like the speed limit law, and cause crashes could be liable for damages as a matter of law.
Evidence in a pedestrian accident case usually includes the police accident report, witness statements, and medical bills. This evidence must be sufficient not only to prove negligence by a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not). It must also be strong enough to refute comparative fault, sudden emergency, and some other common insurance company defenses.
Connect With an Experienced Sumter County Lawyer
Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced Sumpter pedestrian accident lawyer, contact The Stanley Law Group, P.A. Attorneys can connect victims with doctors, even if they have no insurance or money.
