Pedestrians are especially at risk to the traffic around them, and sadly, collisions involving pedestrians are frequent in North Carolina. Pedestrians should adhere to the rules of the road. There is a chance that even if you are walking on a pavement and following all traffic rules, you may still be hit by a vehicle without any fault of yours. 

Need of a pedestrian accident lawyer

Being hit by a vehicle can have brutal consequences, which might leave you bruised and unable to work while going through a lengthy recovery. A proof is vital to determine if you have the right to seek monetary remuneration from the responsible party, but the at-fault party’s insurance firm will not easily give out an appropriate amount of compensation. Only when you involve an attorney will they start an investigation to collect evidence you require to establish the other party’s liability before it disappears. In case, the insurer still denies appropriate damages, your legal adviser will submit your case to a jury to redeem the compensation you deserve.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Reckless driving by careless drivers is one of the major reasons for pedestrian mishaps. Pedestrians are often at risk because of the following reasons:

• Distracted driving

Making calls on phones or texting, driving in an exhausted state, speeding, violating traffic rules, etc., is very risky, and a driver may not look up in time to notice a pedestrian.

• Failing to Yield ‘Right of Way’

“Right of way” implies the legal right of a pedestrian or motorist to proceed with precedence at a specific place or in a situation. For example, if a traffic signal instructs a pedestrian to continue onto the crossroad, a motorist should let the pedestrian cross the road before driving through the intersection area. If there is failure to yield right of way, then either a pedestrian or motorist is guilty of traffic violation by proceeding without giving precedence to the other party. Drivers must allow walkers to cross the road at intersections or crosswalks, but mostly accidents occur when drivers fail to do so. Pedestrians are at three times the risk of being struck by cars taking left than when cars turn right. Oftentimes, when the collision happens both the driver and pedestrian are looking in different directions. Sometimes, pedestrians keep on going and looking straight ahead while drivers are working out at the intersection.

• Driving under influence 

Driving on the road under the influence of liquor or drugs damages a driver’s motor function and judgment, thus disabling them to see a pedestrian.

Who is legally responsible for a pedestrian accident?

A driver, a pedestrian, or a third party can be held legally responsible for a mishap, based on the situations. The fault is established by the standard of negligence. All drivers need to drive with caution and follow traffic laws, and the failure to comply with it is negligence. The pedestrians need to follow the same rule as well i.e. to use crosswalks and follow traffic signals, while third parties like automobile producers are legally responsible to make secure vehicle parts. If a faulty component leads to a pedestrian mishap, the concerned manufacturer can be held accountable. One more third-party example is government liability. A government organization is liable for an accident in case there was a structural defect in a crossing. So if a collision occurs due to neglect by any of the aforementioned parties, they may be held accountable.

A single party or multiple parties can be held liable. Insurance adjusters or a jury makes a decision on each party’s share of accountability by listening to what actually happened from each party, statements of eyewitnesses, assessing the relevant laws (e.g., speed limits), the police report findings, and sometimes evidence from experts. A pedestrian is not allowed to claim remuneration if they are partly accountable under North Carolina’s law of contributory negligence.

Why choose Wilson Williams as your pedestrian accident attorney?

Dominique Wilson Williams is a competent and committed attorney who aims to deliver results in your favor. He aims to offer unmatched services to clients through his experience and brilliant negotiations in the courtroom. Contact us today to book a free consultation.

Bicycle mishaps are more frequent than one can think in which a person can be wounded from merely tumbling off the bike or getting smashed against a concrete surface. You must know that if you ride a bicycle, you are more prone to risk of injury if an accident occurs. The most crucial factor here is negligence. Most bicyclists fail to adhere to the traffic rules. Except for certain serious cases, bicycle collisions usually cause injuries that are often minor, such as lesions, mutilations, strains or even fractures.

In case of a collision, debris removal may be required from the skin. The following symptoms might be apparent in case the victim suffers a fracture- inflammation, aches, immobility, or impairment.

Traumatic Injuries

Not all bike accident injuries are traumatic, but the ones that are account for the worst injuries. A person may suffer from overuse injuries, but these are often not serious and do not occur due to accidents.

The usual injuries in this category are- skull fracture, cranial hemorrhage, concussions and contusions. You may even experience facial or dental fractures, rib fractures, ruptured spleen, pancreatic trauma, bowel contusions, or renal bruises. Some riders are also at the risk of being impaled by their handlebars, which often leads to life-threatening trauma. Pelvic fractures and rectal damage are also serious causes for concern. You may even suffer damage to or fracture any bone, from your hip to your ankles or femur.

Skull Injuries

Most head injuries occur when the rider is not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Wounded bicyclists are the most prone to the danger of a head injury and these are often a grave concern. The maximum of lifelong impairment from bicycle mishaps are associated with head injuries.

The neck isn’t as common of an injury area as many people would think. While neck injuries can and do occur, they’re far less common than head injuries and other injuries. In fact, neck injuries are quite rare in the whole spectrum of bike accidents.

Eye injuries may not be that frequent, but they can still be grave. A rider without any eye protection is more prone to an eye injury while cycling.

Even if you experience an insignificant bicycle collision, you might suffer from some critical issues which you won't be able to realize right away. These issues often become evident days or weeks after the mishap. However, you must check for following after an accident if you feel everything is alright:

Get yourself examined

In case you get your head slammed, it’s better to have it checked out. Head injuries can be very grave hence should not be ignored. There might be internal bleeding of which you won't even be aware. Watch out for these signs of a head injury- losing consciousness, ignorance or indecision, or changes in vision. If there is a crack in your helmet, it can be an indicator of a rather critical accident.

Check your breathing 

During a mishap, you might end up breaking your ribs or having your lung damaged. Often, victims think nothing can be done in these cases, hence they avoid medical treatment. However, what you need to do is contact medical emergency services if you experience trouble breathing. The rule of thumb is to take a deep breath. If you experience discomfort or pain while breathing in deeply, then you must visit an emergency room. 

Get your abdomen scanned 

During a collision, if your abdomen smacks the handlebars, that is a matter of concern. In case of a hard blow, the organs and soft tissue in the stomach might get injured. To check whether an injury happened, use your hands and examine the abdomen. If your stomach feels stiff in one area or swollen, this might indicate internal bleeding. In case there is internal bleeding, you must seek medical assistance instantly.

Spine 

Spine injuries can be really critical. If you feel there is some issue with your spine or neck, do not move and let a medic check on you. There might be symptoms of a possible injury to the spine or neck like numbness, sting, not being able to move fingers or toes. If you experience any discomfort while moving your neck, seek immediate medical assistance. Do not move your neck or else you might put your spinal cord at risk of a permanent injury.

Check for bleeding

Bleeding is easy to detect when it’s on the outside but it can also be internal. You must check for swollen or stiff parts areas to see if there is any chance of internal bleeding. In case of external bleeding, you must go for basic first aid and put pressure on the area. Get medical treatment if you believe that you’ll need stitches or some form of advanced medical treatment. To make sure what kind of injury you have, you must get a medical professional to do an imaging on the area.

Bicycle mishap injuries can be life-altering, and if you’ve been wounded in a bike accident, a competent attorney will assist you. Your injuries, if caused by the neglect of another person, deserve remuneration.

There has been a rise in the frequency of motorcycle mishaps across the state. More than 3,200 motorcycle collisions occur in the state every year, of which many crashes result in physical trauma and even demise.

Riding a motorbike makes you more vulnerable to injury as compared to driving other types of vehicles. Motorcycle mishaps are associated with risks of grave bruises to the riders such as head trauma, neck or back injuries and other serious wounds. 

Every mishap is different, but some kinds of collisions are especially frequent. This holds true with motorbikes, since innumerable motorcyclists are wounded annually across the United States owing to usual sorts of driver carelessness.

Following are the 5 usual types of motorcycle collisions:

1. Left turn collisions

In North Carolina, mishaps often occur because of riders’ fault when they take left in front of approaching motorbikes. Oftentimes, reckless drivers are unable to correctly estimate the pace of impending motorcycles. Riders might also not spot the motorcycles fully. Whatever excuse a rider might give, the motorcyclist becomes helpless to escape a crash. The sufferer is usually tossed several feet from his bike.

1. Distracted or careless driving by rider 

Motorcycles have a high probability to be overlooked as these are smaller as compared to other passenger automobiles. Many times motorbike crashes happen because of careless riders switching lanes into motorcycles which are usually traveling in the same path. Drivers frequently experience disastrous trauma in such mishaps.

1. Rear-End accidents 

Popularly called ‘head-on’ occurs when one motor vehicle hits the back bumper of another automobile, usually at low pace. When a passenger vehicle bangs a motorbike from behind, even at a low speed, the power can still be sufficient to toss a motorcyclist from his or her bike.

1. Intoxicated Driving

Motorists have a high probability to make bad choices on handling motorcycles when they are riding while impaired (DWI). Intoxicated drivers often give rise to motorcycle collisions, many of which end up being fatal.

1. Dooring Accidents

The way bicyclists are at the risk of experiencing consequences of an accident in metropolitan areas, similarly ignorant travelers in other places can put motorcyclists in danger when they sway open the doors to passenger automobiles on bustling roads.

It is not necessary that every motorcycle mishap involves some other vehicle. It is quite possible for some motorcyclists to often get injured in crashes caused by faults in the motorcycles. A case could still be filed against the negligent party when the victim suffers trauma in a collision caused by a manufacturer’s faulty item or an unprofessional servicing.

Hit-and-Run Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists are frequently caught in hit-and-run mishaps as often there is hardly any damage to the other vehicle, and its driver panics and runs away from the spot. Or else, the other driver coerced you off the road and either didn't know you met with an accident or that it was their mistake. Both of these are complex situations. There is a chance of no other witnesses being present at the spot, and lack of proof to testify the incident. If you are unaware of the person who wounded you in a motorcycle accident, a motorcycle accident legal adviser can assist you with the claim procedure and strengthen your case to get you the reimbursement that you deserve.

How a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help

Contributory neglect is a supportive defense, implying that it needs to be raised by the opposing party. You need not fret till it arises, however you ought to be ready for it. Just like you have to prove your claim, it isn’t sufficient for the opposing party to just avert that you were contributorily negligent. To be able to successfully raise the defense, the other party must prove two things: 

1. That you have been careless; and

2. That your neglect contributed to causing the accident. 

An experienced North Carolina motorcycle accident attorney who is adept in dealing with motorcycle accident cases will be able to find out if contributory negligence applies in your case or not. They may require that the other party prove their claim, question their proof, and present testimony to prove that you have not been negligent or your neglect did not contribute to the accident. Contact Dominique Wilson Williams today to seek a free consultation and let him analyze your case to help you secure an appropriate settlement.

Each state is governed by its own set of legalities for car insurance. Whether you’re driving in your home state or out of state, you must possess an automobile insurance policy that complies with the norms established by the state in which your vehicle is listed. The law mandates that every registered vehicle should possess continual liability insurance coverage given by an institution authorized to do business in the state.

What is liability insurance?

It implies reimbursement for medical expenses, vehicle destruction, and other costs for anyone wounded in an accident by your fault. You must have your insurance policy with more coverage than the compulsory minimums. If the collision costs go beyond the sum of your policy, you’d be  personally liable to compensate for the pending expenditure. Minimum liability insurance coverage sums:

• $30,000 for bodily injury (one person)
• $60,000 for bodily injury (2 or more people)
• $25,000 property damage

You must also possess uninsured motorist coverage.

What to do if you get in a car accident?

• Share details of the accident with the nearest highway patrol or local police,
• If wounded, get immediate medical treatment,
• Obtain the police report of your mishap;
• Avoid communication with an insurance agent or inspector without your lawyer,
• Click photos of the affected vehicles, of the location, and even of your bruises 
• Record details of the injury, about the time of the day, weather conditions, approximate pace of vehicle, potential spectators to the mishap, any other associated information,
• Document  any statements of the person who hurt you, or any eyewitness(es), 
• Journal your reactions and emotions about the trauma,
• Guide your employer, if the car collision was associated to your employment
• Seek legal guidance to know who you may have a right of lawful action against, and to check if the events of your trauma may lead to redemption, damages, or requirement of a legal adviser.

How to file an insurance claim for a car accident?

When you’re not at fault, you can file a claim in one of 3 ways:

1. File a claim with your own insurer.

Firstly, you must inform your insurance company without delay after a car collision.Then, your insurance firm will solicit remuneration from the at-fault motorist's insurance company.

2. File a claim with the other driver's insurer.

You may even go straight to the at-fault driver’s insurance firm. Provide the insurance company details of the driver's insurance policy number, driver's license number and other information. Then, follow up with written notice that you're intending to file a claim.

3. File a personal injury lawsuit.

This is your last-resort. The insurance company will be reluctant to settle a claim if there are questions about who's liable.

How much time do you get to file a claim?

The “statute of limitation” laws put restraints on the duration of waiting period to register a personal injury suit. Different lawsuits have different statute of limitations. These may vary from 1 year to 10 years, relying on many state laws and the kind of case. Usually, personal injury claims need to be presented within three years of the date when the physical injury was or should have been evident. An unjust act of death must be put forward within two years from the date of death. If a claim is not filed timely, you may be denied reimbursement. 

How long does it take to settle your claim?

A definite answer cannot be predicted unless sufficient information is available about the claim. If the claim is not resolved before the statute of limitations runs out, then it needs to be registered in court within three years from the time of the mishap or two years in case there is an unjust death claim. The usual duration to resolve the claim is based on aspects like the gravity of the trauma, the span of medical treatment, the subsequent medical expenses to be borne, the prompt action of providers and others to supply medical aid, and the coordination of the insurance bearers. 

We face distressing deferrals from the dereliction of insurance carriers and healthcare professionals in receiving comprehensive details that we require to settle liens in spite of our persistent endeavors to acquire it. In nearly every grave injury or demise claim, complexities arise about legal responsibility, compensation, liens, and future care. Wilson Williams Law has a dedicated medical department of qualified workforce and lawyers who are pro at arbitration with insurance firms, Medicare, Medicaid, and other healthcare professionals to ensure that settlements are executed in favor of our clients.

Personal injury cases are a matter of serious concern as these imply critical injury, lifelong disability, and even demise in certain instances. Sufferers rely on the personal injury lawyer to reclaim monetary compensation to provide for their medical treatments, restore permanently lost income, and reimburse for their pain and distress. 

Following are the general personal injuries covered by our practice:

1: Automobile accidents with other cars, trucks, or buses

Automobile accidents, which include accidents with car, motorcycle, or bicycle and pedestrian accidents, are the most frequent instances that lead to personal injury where the lawful support of lawyers becomes necessary. Neglect, lack of judgment and caution, and failure to abide by the rules and regulations of the road are the usual reasons for car accidents. Whether the mishap involves careless driving, speeding, or drunken driving, if you suffer because of someone else’s neglect, you’ll be required to prove it. The driver at fault can be legally held accountable to pay monetary compensation for the trauma suffered by the complainant from the car accident. The complainant needs to possess adequate medical testimonials about the injury and expenses incurred on the treatment and recovery, insurance details, and police record among other crucial information of the accident as these are vital in strengthening the assertions of the complainant. 

Getting affected by an automobile accident can leave you with anything from an injury to the neck (the cervical vertebrae) and bruising to grave head and spinal injuries. If you have been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, whether as a driver, a commuter, or a pedestrian, you may have the right to financial reimbursement for your personal injuries and financial loss. You can trust an experienced automobile accident attorney like Wilson Williams Law to defend your rights during the legal process. 

2: Transportation accidents, such as trains and buses

Whenever you travel by modes like rail, bus or taxi, your safety becomes the responsibility of someone else. All public transport operatives are accountable to get you to your destination safely but there is always a risk factor involved as nothing is certain. Here is a list of public transport accidents that we handle:

• Accidents which occur by the dereliction of the driver of the bus or minicab and taxi drivers
• Mishap caused by the hazardous condition of a taxi, bus, or train
• Accidents that happen by poor security systems or due to dangerous conditions at the rail or bus platforms or within the premises of rail or bus stations
• Train mishaps that befall by the fault of driver and signal or line faults

3: Defects on a property (such as swimming pools, hot-tubs, slippery floors, defective buildings, and property)

In an instance of slip and fall on a public or private property, the injured can seek remuneration for the trauma suffered from the mishap. Property owners are legally bound to keep their premises safe and free from barriers and perils that can harm others. ‘Premises liability’ implies accidents caused by a hazardous or faulty condition on someone’s land. These mishaps can take place anywhere, from commercial venues or public places such as supermarkets, food outlets, gas stations, offices and retail stores, to a house next door or a public or private swimming pool or hot tubs. Also, a wide range of risky situations can lead to a ‘premises liability’ claim, for example tumbling down a staircase because of a missing handrail, to tripping over a block or slipping on a spill in a passage, among many others. It is vital to register the dangerous or defective condition almost immediately after the mishap.

Count on Wilson Williams Law, an expert attorney to help you deal with personal injury cases. With in-depth knowledge of the law, unrivaled negotiating skills, North Carolina-based Wilson Williams Law is the best to get you the money you deserve. If you suffer accidental personal injury or loss through the fault of another, that organisation or individual is lawfully accountable and can be required to give damages. Wilson Williams Law aims to facilitate reimbursement for your pain, medical expenses, lost wages, or earnings, and other damages linked with injuries caused by the neglect on part of others. 

No one ever expects to be hit by a drunk driver. But, unfortunately, it happens all too often. If you or a loved one has been hit by a drunk driver, there are certain steps you need to take in order to ensure your safety and well-being.