Greenville Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Legal Help After A Serious Pedestrian Crash

When a vehicle hits a person on foot, the pedestrian usually takes the full force of the impact. Broken bones, head injuries, and months of recovery are common, and the financial fallout can be just as painful. If you were hurt while walking in Greenville, a pedestrian accident lawyer in Greenville can help you understand your options.

At Smith Born Leventis Taylor & Vega, LLC, we focus our work on personal injury and workers' compensation cases across South Carolina. We know how overwhelming it feels to balance treatment, bills, lost income, and calls from insurance adjusters. Our goal is to step in, shoulder the legal burden, and guide you through each decision with clear, steady advice.

Our team brings more than 100 years of combined experience with serious injury claims. We have obtained multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements in complex cases, including those where responsibility was disputed. While every case is different, this history shows that we know how to build strong claims and stand firm when powerful defendants try to avoid accountability.

Contact our firm today at to request a free case review.

What is a Pedestrian Accident?

A pedestrian accident occurs when a person traveling on foot is struck or injured by a motor vehicle, bicycle, motorcycle, or other form of transportation. These incidents can happen in crosswalks, parking lots, sidewalks, intersections, or even residential neighborhoods.

Because pedestrians have little protection, injuries are often severe. Victims may suffer broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, internal bleeding, or permanent disability. In tragic cases, pedestrian accidents can be fatal.

If you were injured while walking, jogging, or standing near a roadway in Greenville, you may have legal grounds to file a personal injury claim.

South Carolina Pedestrian Laws

South Carolina law provides specific rules that drivers and pedestrians must follow to promote safety and reduce accidents. Understanding these laws is important when determining liability after a collision.

Key pedestrian laws in South Carolina include:

• Right-of-way in crosswalks: Drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks when traffic signals permit crossing.
• Pedestrian responsibilities: Pedestrians must obey traffic signals and use crosswalks when available.
• Sidewalk usage: When sidewalks are present, pedestrians should use them instead of walking in the roadway.
• Walking along roads: If no sidewalk exists, pedestrians should walk facing oncoming traffic.

South Carolina also follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means a pedestrian can still recover compensation as long as they are less than 51% at fault for the accident. However, the total compensation may be reduced based on their share of fault.

Our Greenville pedestrian accident attorney can analyze the circumstances and determine how these laws apply to your case.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents are often preventable and typically occur due to driver negligence or unsafe road conditions. Some of the most common causes include:

• Distracted driving: Texting, phone use, and in-car distractions prevent drivers from noticing pedestrians.
• Speeding: Higher speeds reduce reaction time and increase the severity of injuries.
• Failure to yield: Drivers ignoring crosswalks or turning without checking for pedestrians.
• Driving under the influence: Alcohol and drugs impair judgment and reaction time.
• Poor visibility: Nighttime driving, bad weather, or inadequate street lighting.
• Reckless driving: Aggressive behavior, running red lights, or ignoring traffic laws.

Identifying the cause of the accident is a crucial step in proving negligence and building a strong injury claim.

Who is Liable for a Pedestrian Accident?

Liability in a pedestrian accident depends on the facts of the case. While drivers are often responsible, other parties may also share liability.

Potentially liable parties include:

• Negligent drivers who fail to yield, speed, or drive distracted
• Employers if the driver was working at the time of the accident
• Vehicle manufacturers if defective brakes, tires, or other components contributed
• Government entities responsible for unsafe roads, poor signage, or malfunctioning traffic signals
• Property owners if hazards in parking lots or private areas caused the incident

Your attorney will investigate police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, and accident reconstruction evidence to determine who should be held accountable.

Compensation Available for Injured Pedestrians

A pedestrian accident can have lasting physical, emotional, and financial effects. Filing a personal injury claim can help you recover damages for both immediate and long-term losses.

Compensation may include:

• Medical expenses and future treatment costs
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and trauma
• Rehabilitation and therapy
• Disability or disfigurement
• Property damage
• Wrongful death damages for surviving family members

Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts or shift blame onto the pedestrian. Having a Greenville pedestrian accident attorney on your side can help ensure your claim reflects the full extent of your losses.

Pedestrian Accident FAQs

What should I do after a pedestrian accident in Greenville?

Seek medical attention immediately, even if injuries seem minor. Call law enforcement, document the scene if possible, collect witness information, and contact an attorney before speaking with insurance adjusters.

How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident claim in South Carolina?

In most cases, South Carolina’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years from the date of the accident. Missing this deadline could prevent you from recovering compensation.

Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault?

Yes. Under South Carolina’s comparative negligence law, you can recover damages as long as you were less than 51% responsible for the accident. Your compensation will be reduced based on your percentage of fault.

What if the driver who hit me fled the scene?

You may still have options, including filing a claim through uninsured motorist coverage or pursuing other liable parties. An attorney can help you explore available legal avenues.

Do I need a lawyer for a pedestrian accident claim?

While it is not required, having legal representation can significantly improve your chances of obtaining fair compensation. Attorneys understand how to prove negligence, calculate damages, and negotiate with insurers.

Why Injured Pedestrians Choose Our Firm

People who come to us after a pedestrian crash are usually dealing with more than just physical pain. They may be unable to work, worried about long-term mobility, and frustrated by insurance companies that seem focused on paying as little as possible. They choose our firm because we treat them as people, not file numbers, and we build our approach around the life that has been disrupted.

Unlike general practice firms that handle a wide range of matters, our work centers on personal injury and workers' compensation law. Everything from our intake process to our litigation strategies is designed for serious injuries and high-stakes disputes. Our attorneys have handled cases involving catastrophic harm, denied liability, and long-term rehabilitation needs, all of which are common in severe pedestrian collisions.

Call to talk with our team about your pedestrian accident case.