Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Charlotte
Mecklenburg County Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
When a vehicle hits a person on foot, usually only one of them gives a statement at the scene. The driver stays, talks to the officer, and explains what happened. The person who was struck is often in an ambulance. By the time they can describe the collision, the first account of it is already written down and in an insurer's hands. That gap matters more here than in most states, because North Carolina bars recovery entirely from an adult found even slightly at fault.
DeCurtins Law Office provides legal services and representation in pedestrian injury claims, including catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. We obtain the crash report and the driver's account, canvass for witnesses and any security videos not collected by the officers, and take over contact with the insurer. Because these cases often begin with a hospitalization, we can work directly with family members making decisions for someone who cannot yet speak for themselves.
Our team is ready to advocate for you. Call (704) 313-1131 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a pedestrian accident attorney in Charlotte today.
Does Your Case Count as a Pedestrian Accident?
The category of pedestrian accident is broader than most people assume. A pedestrian claim covers anyone struck by a vehicle while not inside one, including situations that few people imagine when they hear the phrase.
Collisions handled under this area of law include:
- Marked crosswalk and intersection strikes
- Mid-block and unsignalized crossings
- Sidewalk incursions and driveway strikes
- Transit platform and bus stop collisions
- Roadside breakdown and work zone strikes
- Hit and run departures
Someone walking a dog, standing beside a disabled car on the shoulder, loading a trunk in a lot off South Boulevard, or waiting at a stop, all fall under the same body of law. So do children struck by vehicles in residential neighborhoods, where driver expectations and posted limits frequently diverge.
If a vehicle hit you while you were on foot, the claim belongs in this category no matter where the impact happened. We can help you evaluate whether your case falls into this category and, if not, which avenue to pursue for justice.
Children are treated differently, and the difference is decisive. A child under 7 cannot be found contributorily negligent as a matter of law, no matter what the child did. Between 7 and 14, the law presumes incapacity and the burden falls on the driver's insurer to prove otherwise. That makes a young pedestrian's claim stronger than an adult's, not weaker, because the defense that ends most North Carolina injury cases is unavailable.
Catastrophic Pedestrian Injuries & Lifelong Care Costs
A steel frame, crumple zones, airbags, and seatbelts protect people inside a vehicle. A pedestrian, on the other hand, likely has none. When thousands of pounds of metal strike an unprotected person, the injuries can be devastating.
Victims often suffer life-altering trauma, such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord damage
- Severe fractures to the pelvis and femur
- Deep skin wounds and internal organ damage
Recovery takes years, and for many people, life never fully returns to normal.
Insurance companies rush to make an early settlement offer for this exact reason. A quick check might look generous right now, but are you sure that it will cover any long-term medical expenses?
We refuse to settle a case based on incomplete information. Our legal team works closely with doctors, life care planners, and financial experts to calculate the true cost of an accident. We can calculate what will be needed over your lifetime, including future surgeries, in-home care, housing modifications, and any wages lost from not being able to work.
