Pedestrian Accidents Are Usually Clear-Cut, with Exceptions
Many people in Winston-Salem still remember the Huntersville firefighter who, while on duty, was hit by a car as he was about to climb back into his truck. The car slammed into him and threw him off the truck and into the road, where, fortunately, he was able to recover, avoiding the possibility of another car striking him in the road. His injuries were not terribly severe, luckily for both him and the driver who hit him. He did suffer road rash, several bruises, and a concussion. The firefighter was taken to the hospital and released not long after his arrival.
The driver of the vehicle who hit the man could be held liable for his medical expenses due to the fact that the driver failed to slow down as he approached the emergency vehicle. It was obvious that the fire truck, which was clearly marked and with lights flashing, was there. Moreover, the driver admitted he knew it was there because he said that he failed to see the firefighter due to the glare of the flashing lights in his eyes. The driver, however, stopped and cooperated fully, and no charges were pursued. It is apparent that the firefighter did not litigate against him.
Cases such as this are pretty clear-cut, as they are in most cases involving pedestrians or people who are not in a vehicle but involved in an accident with a vehicle. If severe injuries are sustained that involve loss of normal quality of life, medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses, a Winston-Salem pedestrian accident attorney can act on the behalf of the injured party to pursue compensation through negotiation or in court.
In some North Carolina pedestrian cases, liability is not quite as clear-cut, and that’s when a Winston-Salem pedestrian accident attorney can fully investigate and unravel complicated arguments put forth by the defendant.
For instance, there was a case in which a young man was struck by a car outside of a bar late at night. He was intoxicated, and according to the driver, jumped into the street from nowhere. The man who was hit claimed that he was standing still, waiting for traffic to pass when he was struck. A full investigation revealed that the man had been in a slight altercation earlier and someone had shoved him into the street. Drunk, the victim was not aware that this had happened, and the driver had not seen it happen. The person who shoved him was arrested for assault, and also held liable for the victim’s injuries.
Nagle & Associates, P.A. – With seven offices across North Carolina, Nagle & Associates are dedicated to client service in injury litigation. To learn how you can benefit from our experience, focus, and past successes, contact a highly skilled Winston-Salem pedestrian accident attorney at Nagle & Associates by calling 336.723.4500 or toll free 800.411.1583 or visit http://www.naglefirm.com/Winston-Salem/ for a FREE initial consultation.
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