Hit While Walking and Need Legal Support? Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Are Here To Help
Pedestrian accidents are some of the most serious incidents on Augusta’s roads, often resulting in life-changing injuries or even fatalities. In a bustling city like Augusta, where pedestrians frequently navigate busy streets, these accidents can occur in an instant.
At Horst Shewmaker, we understand the unique challenges faced by pedestrian accident victims and are dedicated to helping them pursue justice and the compensation they deserve. Having an Augusta pedestrian accident lawyer by your side immediately after an incident is crucial to securing your rights and navigating the legal complexities involved.
How Our Lawyers at Horst Shewmaker Can Help You After a Pedestrian Accident
When you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident, choosing the right legal team can make all the difference in your recovery. At Horst Shewmaker, our pedestrian accident lawyers combine decades of personal injury experience with a reputation for aggressive advocacy and compassionate client care. As a trusted Augusta pedestrian accident lawyer, our firm is dedicated to helping victims and their families rebuild their lives after serious accidents.
We understand that every case is personal. Your injuries, your circumstances, and your goals matter — and we tailor our legal strategy to match. From the moment you contact our office, you’ll have a team that listens, communicates openly, and fights relentlessly for your rights.
Personalized Legal Attention
Our team takes the time to truly understand your story. We meet with you directly, review your medical records and police reports, and identify the best path forward. Every client receives one-on-one support from an Augusta pedestrian accident lawyer who cares deeply about achieving justice.
Thorough Accident Investigation
We leave no stone unturned. Our investigators and legal staff gather all critical evidence — from surveillance footage and witness statements to accident reconstruction reports. By building a clear picture of what happened, we strengthen your claim and hold negligent parties accountable.
Strong Negotiation and Insurance Advocacy
Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts after pedestrian accidents. We push back hard. Our experienced pedestrian accident lawyers negotiate aggressively to recover the full and fair value of your losses — including medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs.
Proven Trial Experience
While many pedestrian accident cases settle outside of court, some require litigation to achieve justice. At Horst Shewmaker, our Augusta pedestrian accident lawyers are seasoned trial attorneys who know how to present powerful cases before a judge and jury. We prepare every case as if it will go to trial — and insurance companies know it.
Pedestrian Accident Cases Our Law Firm Handles
Pedestrians have little to no protection in a collision with a vehicle, and even a crash at low speed can result in devastating accidents. Our pedestrian accident lawyers at Horst Shewmaker investigate every angle of a crash to identify all liable parties and pursue the full compensation our clients deserve. Below are some of the most common types of pedestrian accident cases we handle.
Crosswalk and Intersection Accidents
Many pedestrian accidents occur at crosswalks and intersections when drivers fail to yield the right of way, run red lights, or turn without checking for pedestrians already in the roadway. These collisions often happen even when the pedestrian is following traffic signals correctly. We gather traffic camera footage, signal timing records, and witness statements to establish that the driver failed to yield.
Distracted and Negligent Driving
Texting, phone use, and general inattention prevent drivers from noticing pedestrians in time to stop, especially in busy areas with heavy foot traffic. We hold negligent drivers accountable by obtaining phone records, dashcam footage, and other evidence showing a driver was distracted at the time of the crash.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
When a driver flees the scene after striking a pedestrian, victims are often left without immediate answers about who caused their damages. Our lawyers work to identify hit-and-run drivers through surveillance footage, vehicle debris, paint transfer evidence, and witness accounts, while also pursuing uninsured motorist coverage when the at-fault driver cannot be found.
Parking Lot and Backup Accidents
Parking lots and driveways present unique dangers for pedestrians, particularly when drivers back out of spaces without checking their surroundings or fail to watch for people walking between parked cars. We investigate these accidents to determine whether driver inattention, poor lighting, or inadequate signage contributed to the collision.
Speeding and Impaired Driving Accidents
Excessive speed reduces a driver’s ability to stop in time to avoid a pedestrian, while drunk or impaired drivers often fail to notice pedestrians altogether. These accidents frequently result in catastrophic injuries due to the force of impact. Our lawyers aggressively pursue compensation from speeding and impaired drivers and, where applicable, pursue claims against establishments that unlawfully served a visibly intoxicated driver.
Poor Visibility and Roadway Design Defects
Inadequate street lighting, missing or faded crosswalk markings, obstructed sightlines, and poorly designed intersections can all contribute to pedestrian accidents. When a dangerous roadway condition caused or contributed to a crash, we investigate whether a government entity or contractor responsible for maintaining safe roadways may share liability.
Wrongful Death Pedestrian Accidents
When a pedestrian accident proves fatal, our firm stands beside grieving families to pursue a wrongful death claim against every responsible party. We work to hold negligent drivers and other liable parties accountable while helping families recover compensation for funeral expenses, lost income, and the profound loss of companionship and support.
Common Injuries Our Lawyers Have Seen In Pedestrian Accidents
Due to the lack of protection, pedestrians often suffer severe injuries when struck by a vehicle. These injuries can lead to long-term medical treatment and rehabilitation, as well as a significant financial burden for victims and their families. Common injuries include:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
A pedestrian struck by a vehicle may hit their head on the hood, windshield, or pavement, causing anything from a mild concussion to a severe traumatic brain injury. TBIs can lead to cognitive impairments, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, personality changes, and physical disabilities that affect a person’s ability to work, communicate, and care for themselves. Because symptoms of a brain injury are not always immediately apparent, victims may not realize the full extent of the damage until days or weeks after the crash, making prompt medical evaluation critical.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The force of a vehicle impact can damage the spinal cord, resulting in partial or complete paralysis below the point of injury. Depending on the severity and location of the damage, victims may experience paraplegia or quadriplegia, loss of bladder and bowel control, chronic pain, and a permanent loss of independence. These injuries often require lifelong medical care, home modifications, assistive equipment, and ongoing rehabilitation, creating substantial long-term financial needs.
Fractures and Broken Bones
Pedestrians frequently suffer fractures to the legs, hips, pelvis, and arms from the initial impact with the vehicle, as well as additional fractures from being thrown to the ground. Common injuries include tibia and fibula fractures, femur fractures, and pelvic fractures, which may require surgical repair with plates, screws, or rods, followed by extended physical therapy. Severe fractures can lead to permanent mobility limitations, chronic joint pain, or an increased risk of arthritis later in life.
Internal Injuries
The blunt force of a collision can cause internal bleeding and damage to organs such as the liver, spleen, kidneys, or lungs, even when no external injuries are visible. Internal injuries can worsen rapidly and become life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated quickly, which is why prompt medical evaluation after any pedestrian accident is essential, regardless of how a victim feels immediately after the crash.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Damage to muscles, tendons, and ligaments, including sprains, strains, and tears, is common in pedestrian accidents and can cause chronic pain, swelling, and limited range of motion. While often dismissed as minor, soft tissue injuries can take months to heal and, in some cases, result in permanent instability or reduced function in the affected joint, often requiring extensive physical therapy or, in severe cases, surgical intervention.
Amputations and Crush Injuries
When a vehicle rolls over or crushes a limb, or when injuries are severe enough that a limb cannot be saved, victims may require surgical or traumatic amputation. Amputation injuries often require multiple surgeries, prosthetic devices, extensive rehabilitation, and psychological support to adjust to a permanent physical disability, and they frequently prevent victims from returning to their previous occupation.
Road Rash and Lacerations
Being dragged across or thrown onto pavement can cause severe road rash, deep lacerations, and skin abrasions. While sometimes viewed as a minor injury, severe road rash can result in significant scarring, nerve damage, and a heightened risk of infection, occasionally requiring skin grafts or reconstructive surgery.
Because the full extent of these injuries is not always apparent right away, our pedestrian accident lawyers work closely with medical providers to document both current and future treatment needs, ensuring that any settlement or verdict reflects the true cost of a victim’s recovery.
Types of Compensation Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Pursue for You
Pedestrian accident victims in Augusta may be entitled to various forms of compensation, depending on the specific details of their case. Common types of compensation include:
Medical Expenses
Pedestrian accidents frequently lead to extensive medical needs, and compensation can cover everything from emergency room visits and surgeries to hospital stays, diagnostic testing, and prescription medication. If ongoing care is required, a claim may also include future expenses for rehabilitation, physical therapy, assistive equipment, and long-term treatment, ensuring victims aren’t left covering costs tied to injuries they didn’t cause.
Lost Wages and Loss of Earning Capacity
Serious injuries can prevent victims from working, whether temporarily or permanently. Pedestrian accident victims are often eligible for a settlement covering past lost wages, missed overtime or bonuses, and future lost earning capacity when an injury limits their ability to return to their previous job or career, ensuring financial support throughout recovery.
Pain and Suffering
Injuries from pedestrian accidents can lead to intense physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, and a reduced quality of life. Compensation for pain and suffering recognizes these non-economic damages, accounting for the physical discomfort and psychological toll of the crash beyond medical bills and lost income.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
For many victims, injuries disrupt the ability to participate in favorite activities, hobbies, and time with family. A settlement for the loss of enjoyment of life addresses this diminished quality of life, helping victims recover for the parts of daily living that an injury has taken away, even when those losses are harder to quantify.
Permanent Disability and Disfigurement
Some pedestrian accidents result in lasting impairments, such as paralysis, amputation, or visible scarring, that permanently change a victim’s life. Compensation for permanent disability and disfigurement accounts for the long-term physical and emotional impact of these injuries, including any needed adaptations to a victim’s home, career, or daily routine.
Wrongful Death
Tragically, some pedestrian accidents lead to fatalities. In such cases, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim, including funeral and burial costs, loss of the deceased’s financial support and services, and compensation for the loss of companionship, guidance, and support the family can no longer receive.
At Horst Shewmaker, we are committed to standing by Augusta pedestrian accident victims and their families, fighting to secure the justice and compensation needed to recover from these challenging experiences. If you or a loved one has been affected by a pedestrian accident in Augusta, contact us today to discuss your options and start your path toward recovery and justice.