Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Charlotte Injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: “What is the value of my case?”
For centuries, walking was the only reliable mode of transportation available to the majority of the population. Today, however, pedestrians must navigate alongside a variety of different vehicles such as bicycles, automobiles, and trains. In major metropolitan areas such as Charlotte, the risk of personal injury to pedestrians in high-traffic areas cannot be ignored.
Because of the immense power differential between a pedestrian and a motor vehicle, many state departments of transportation enact strict laws and guidance intended to keep walkers safe from personal injury when traveling alongside motorized traffic. North Carolina is no different, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has created a reader-friendly resource that outlines the rules of the road as they relate to cars and pedestrians.
When a pedestrian is involved in an accident with a motor vehicle and suffers personal injury as a result, the victim will want to understand their rights to litigation to recover compensation for damages. To accomplish this goal, victims need to find an experienced local personal injury attorney. Our legal professionals can help victims understand how their case fits within the scope of North Carolina’s personal injury laws.
In addition to helping victims understand how their case fits within state laws, a quality personal injury attorney will help victims evaluate the circumstances that lead to the accident. Specifically, they will look to see if signs of negligence were present from either party. By understanding the rules related to pedestrians in North Carolina, residents will be able to watch out for signs of negligence in the event of an accident.
Pedestrians Walking Along the Road in North Carolina
North Carolina state law indicates that when a sidewalk is available, pedestrians must use that sidewalk instead of walking on the street. In the absence of a sidewalk option, however, pedestrians are expected to walk as far left as possible, facing traffic, and must yield the right of way to traffic. This is intended to maintain mutual visibility between the pedestrian and drivers, thus lowering the risk of personal injury.
Pedestrians and the Right of Way in North Carolina
When pedestrians are at a marked or unmarked crosswalk, they have the right of way in North Carolina. The exception to this rule is if a traffic signal or pedestrian signal is present. It should also be noted that if a vehicle stops at an intersection to allow a pedestrian to cross, it is illegal for any cars behind that stopped car to attempt an overtake of the vehicle, which would raise the risk of an accident and subsequent personal injury to the pedestrian.
Maintaining a Clear Roadway
In North Carolina, pedestrians are prohibited from blocking the regular flow of traffic by intentionally standing, sitting, or lying on the road. This includes attempts to loiter or solicit business from vehicles. While hitchhiking is legal, it is prohibited on interstates unless there is an emergency.
When to Contact an Attorney
When an accident occurs between a motor vehicle and a pedestrian, victims are going to want to determine if another’s negligence was to blame for their injuries. For years, the attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC have been helping accident victims in Charlotte and throughout North Carolina fight for their rights to compensation for damages incurred. Call (704) 370-2828 to receive a video, phone or in-person consultation with our lawyers to explore your legal options or fill out our contact form. Now taking cases throughout North Carolina with offices in Uptown Charlotte, Mooresville and Monroe.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://transportation.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/bikeped-laws-guidebook.pdf
https://statelaws.findlaw.com/north-carolina-law/north-carolina-negligence-laws.html
https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_20/gs_20-174.html
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https://www.freeimages.com/photo/push-button-to-walk-1445119
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