Pedestrian Accidents
We Only Represent The Injured.
Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Rock Hill
We Represent Injured Pedestrians. We’ve Never Represented an Insurance Company.
When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, the injuries are often severe, and the insurance disputes that follow can be aggressive. At Lewis Law Firm, LLC, we represent injured pedestrians in Rock Hill and throughout York County, building customized legal strategies around the specific facts of each case. We represent injured people, not insurance companies, and that principle shapes everything we do.
If you or a family member was struck by a vehicle in the Rock Hill area, don’t give statements to insurers before speaking with us. Call (803) 327-1103 to discuss your case in a free consultation with our pedestrian accident attorneys.
South Carolina Pedestrian Right-of-Way Laws
South Carolina law places meaningful obligations on drivers to protect pedestrians. Under S.C. Code § 56-5-3130, drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians crossing within a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. The state recognizes unmarked crosswalks at intersections, so pedestrians have right-of-way protection even without painted lines on the road. Drivers also can’t pass a vehicle that has stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross.
Beyond crosswalk rules, S.C. Code § 56-5-3230 requires every driver to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian on any roadway, whether or not the pedestrian is in a crosswalk. Pedestrians crossing at a point other than a marked or unmarked crosswalk must yield to vehicles under S.C. Code § 56-5-3150. Which rules applied at the moment of your accident matters significantly for how fault is assigned.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Rock Hill
Distracted driving, failure to yield at crosswalks, speeding, and improper turns account for most pedestrian accidents. South Carolina ranked as the fourth most dangerous state in the nation for pedestrian deaths in the 2026 Dangerous by Design report, with 893 pedestrian deaths recorded statewide between 2020 and 2024. The local picture reflects those statewide pressures. The Dave Lyle Boulevard and Cherry Road intersection combines heavy commuter traffic with frequent pedestrian crossings, creating conditions where driver inattention can have serious consequences.
Rock Hill has added flashing pedestrian beacons along Cherry Road and Main Street and expanded sidewalk coverage in recent years. Infrastructure improvements help, but they don’t eliminate the risk created by drivers who fail to pay attention or observe the law.
How Comparative Negligence Affects Your Claim
South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule. A pedestrian found 51% or more at fault for the accident is barred from recovering any damages. Below that threshold, fault reduces recovery proportionally but doesn’t eliminate it. A pedestrian who crossed outside a crosswalk or against a signal may still have a viable claim.
Insurance companies know this rule and use it strategically. After a pedestrian accident, insurers routinely investigate pedestrian conduct, looking for any behavior they can cite to reduce or deny a payout. Our pedestrian accident lawyers in Rock Hill have seen these tactics firsthand. Because we have never represented an insurance company, our focus stays entirely on countering those arguments and protecting your interests.
“The staff was so friendly and professional! They treated me with respect and you can tell they care.”
- Justin R.
The actions you take in the hours and days after being struck can shape your entire claim. Seek medical evaluation promptly, even if you feel relatively uninjured. Traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and soft tissue damage may not produce obvious symptoms right away. A medical record established close in time to the accident is far harder for an insurer to dispute.
File a police report: Call police to the scene so an official record of the accident is created.
Preserve evidence: Photograph the scene, your injuries, and any vehicle involved. Collect contact information from witnesses before they leave.
Avoid insurer statements: Don’t give a recorded or written statement to any insurance company before speaking with a pedestrian accident attorney. Those statements can be used to reduce what you recover.
Compensation Available to Injured Pedestrians
Injured pedestrians in South Carolina can pursue economic damages, including medical expenses, future treatment costs, and lost wages. Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life are also recoverable. When a pedestrian accident results in death, South Carolina law allows surviving family members to pursue a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver.
The full value of a claim depends on injury severity, how liability is disputed, and whether the at-fault driver carried adequate insurance. Our team works to identify every available source of recovery and build the strongest possible case for each client.
Injuries Sustained in Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians have no protective barrier between themselves and a striking vehicle. That physical reality means collisions frequently produce more severe injuries than typical vehicle-to-vehicle crashes. Common injuries include broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, internal organ damage, and lacerations requiring surgical repair. Many of these injuries require extended hospitalization, rehabilitation, and ongoing care.
Filing Deadlines for Pedestrian Accident Claims in South Carolina
South Carolina gives injured pedestrians three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under S.C. Code § 15-3-530. Missing that deadline generally bars any recovery, regardless of how strong the claim is.
A shorter deadline applies when the at-fault party is a government entity. Claims against a city, county, or the South Carolina Department of Transportation must be filed within two years under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act, S.C. Code § 15-78-110. Government involvement in a pedestrian accident can arise from defective traffic signals, poorly maintained crosswalks, or inadequate signage. Identifying whether a government entity bears any responsibility is part of the early case evaluation we conduct.
Why Rock Hill Pedestrians Choose Lewis Law Firm, LLC
Our injury lawyers bring over 80 years of combined experience to personal injury cases, including pedestrian accident claims throughout Rock Hill and York County. That depth of experience shapes how we approach comparative fault disputes, insurance negotiations, and the preparation of each client’s case.
Lewis Law Firm, LLC Has Never Represented an Insurance Company Every case we take is on behalf of an injured person. That position isn’t a marketing line; it means our analysis of your claim is never filtered through the interests of the other side.
Bilingual Services in Spanish We offer bilingual services in Spanish, so language is never a barrier to getting the legal support you need.
Get a Free Consultation from a Rock Hill Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you were injured as a pedestrian in Rock Hill or anywhere in York County, the time to act is now. Filing deadlines are firm, and evidence becomes harder to preserve with each passing day. Our pedestrian accident lawyers can review your case and explain your options.
Contact Lewis Law Firm, LLC today at (803) 327-1103 to schedule your free consultation.
