Spartanburg Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Legally Reviewed by Sam Bass: June 01, 2026
Being struck by a vehicle while on foot can upend your life in an instant. One moment you are simply walking, crossing a parking lot, stepping off a curb, or making your way along a neighborhood sidewalk, and the next you are facing broken bones, surgery, mounting medical bills, and weeks or months away from work. If you or someone you love was hurt in a pedestrian accident in Spartanburg, you do not have to deal with the legal system alone. Stewart Law Offices is here to fight for the full compensation you deserve.
Our legal team includes Sam Bass, a South Carolina Bar-licensed attorney who has spent more than 16 years standing up for people injured on Spartanburg’s roads and sidewalks. From the moment you walk through our door, Sam and the entire team make it a priority to treat you with dignity, not as a case number, but as a neighbor who deserves honest answers and real advocacy. We believe every client deserves to feel heard, informed, and genuinely cared for throughout the process.
If you were injured in a Spartanburg pedestrian accident, contact Stewart Law Offices today for a free consultation. There are no upfront fees, and we only get paid when you do.
Why Pedestrian Injuries Are So Severe
A person on foot has nothing between them and a two-ton vehicle. Even at relatively low speeds, the force transferred in a pedestrian-vehicle collision is enormous. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, pedestrian fatalities in South Carolina climbed from 173 in 2022 to 187 in 2023, a troubling reversal after years of modest progress. Pedestrians now make up a disproportionate share of all traffic deaths in the state.
Common injuries our Spartanburg pedestrian accident clients suffer include:
- Brain Injuries: From mild concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI) requiring extensive, long-term care.
- Spinal Cord Trauma: Injuries that can result in partial or complete paralysis.
- Skeletal Damage: Commonly featuring broken and shattered bones, especially in the hips, legs, arms, and pelvis.
- Internal Injuries: Damage to internal organs, which can be life-threatening and may not present symptoms immediately after the accident.
- Soft Tissue and Skin Damage: Severe lacerations and road rash, sometimes necessitating skin grafts.
- Crush Injuries: Injuries sustained when a pedestrian is pinned or run over by a vehicle.
- Fatalities: The most tragic outcome, leading to a wrongful death claim when injuries are incompatible with survival.
Many of these injuries require multiple surgeries, extended rehabilitation, and permanent accommodations like modified housing or ongoing in-home care. The total cost of a serious pedestrian accident can reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, sometimes far more. That is why having an experienced Spartanburg pedestrian accident lawyer in your corner from the very beginning matters so much.
What Causes Most Pedestrian Accidents in Spartanburg?
Pedestrian accidents rarely happen without a reason. In the vast majority of cases, a driver’s negligent behavior is the primary cause. Some of the most frequent contributing factors we see in Spartanburg County include:
- Distracted Driving: A driver who is glancing at a phone, adjusting the radio, or eating behind the wheel may not notice a person in a crosswalk or at a street corner until it is too late. South Carolina’s Department of Public Safety has identified distracted driving as a top contributing factor in tens of thousands of collisions statewide every year.
- Failure to Yield at Crosswalks: South Carolina law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks. Drivers who roll through stops or ignore crosswalk markings put walkers at serious risk.
- Speeding: Higher vehicle speeds dramatically reduce the time a driver has to react and increase the severity of any collision. The number of people killed in speeding-related traffic crashes climbed 21 percent from 2018 to 2023 nationally, and speeding represented 28 percent of all U.S. traffic fatalities in 2023.
- Impaired Driving: Alcohol or drug impairment slows reaction time and impairs judgment. Alcohol use was reported in 46 percent of all fatal pedestrian crashes nationally in 2023. Spartanburg’s nightlife corridors and late-night roadway conditions make this an especially relevant risk locally.
- Failure to Check Before Turning: Drivers making right turns on red or left turns across traffic frequently strike pedestrians who have the legal right of way.
- Inadequate Lighting: A significant portion of pedestrian deaths occur after dark. According to NHTSA 2023 data, 74 percent of pedestrian traffic deaths occurred during dark conditions, with or without artificial lighting.
- Poor Road Design and Maintenance: Missing or faded crosswalk markings, broken sidewalks, overgrown vegetation that blocks sightlines, and poorly timed traffic signals can all contribute to accidents. In some cases, the South Carolina Department of Transportation or a local municipality may share liability for a dangerous condition they failed to correct.
South Carolina Law and Your Right to Compensation
South Carolina is an at-fault state. This means the driver who caused the accident is responsible for your losses. You have the right to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s liability insurance. If that driver was uninsured or underinsured, your own policy’s Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may also be available to you.
South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault, as long as your percentage of fault is 50% or less. Your total award will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. For example, if you are found 30% at fault, your compensation will be reduced by 30%. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover anything.
Under S.C. Code § 15-3-530, you generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. The same three-year period applies to a wrongful death claim, starting from the date of death.
Compensation for Spartanburg Pedestrian Accident Victims
As a Spartanburg pedestrian accident victim, you may be able to seek compensation for:
- All past and future medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, and medication
- Lost wages during your recovery period
- Loss of future earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your prior work
- Physical pain and ongoing suffering
- Emotional distress, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disfigurement or disability
- Wrongful death damages, including funeral costs, loss of companionship, and the financial support the deceased would have provided
Do not wait to consult a personal injury attorney. Important evidence, such as surveillance footage, witness memories, and the condition of the accident scene, can disappear or fade quickly.
How Stewart Law Offices Will Fight for You
Insurance companies are skilled at limiting what they pay. Their adjusters may contact you quickly, sometimes within hours of the accident, hoping to obtain a recorded statement or push a low settlement before you understand the full extent of your injuries or your legal rights. Our job is to prevent that from happening.
When you hire Stewart Law Offices, our team immediately goes to work by:
- Preserving evidence: We act quickly to secure traffic camera footage, dashcam recordings, phone records, and physical evidence from the scene before it is lost or overwritten.
- Conducting an independent investigation: We interview witnesses, consult accident reconstruction experts when needed, and review the police report for accuracy.
- Documenting your injuries and losses: We work with your medical providers to build a complete picture of your injuries, projected recovery timeline, and long-term care needs.
- Handling all insurance communication: You do not have to speak directly with the at-fault driver’s insurer. We handle all correspondence and negotiations on your behalf.
- Fighting for full value: We calculate the true value of your claim, including future expenses and non-economic damages, and pursue that number aggressively at the negotiating table and in court if necessary.
Visit Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Spartanburg, SC
Contact a Spartanburg Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
If you were injured while walking in Spartanburg, or if you lost a loved one in a pedestrian collision, the team at Stewart Law Offices is ready to hear your story and explain your options. Attorney Sam Bass and our entire staff are committed to treating every client with respect and fighting hard for results that make a real difference.
Frequently Asked Questions About Columbia Pedestrian Accident Claims
Call 911 right away so law enforcement and emergency medical services respond to the scene. Even if you think your injuries are minor, accept medical evaluation on-site and follow up with a doctor as soon as possible; some serious injuries, like internal bleeding or a concussion, may not be immediately obvious. Gather contact information from the driver and any witnesses if you are physically able to do so, and photograph the scene, any vehicle damage, and your visible injuries. Then contact a Spartanburg pedestrian accident lawyer before speaking with any insurance company.
Every case is different. Many pedestrian accident claims are resolved through insurance settlement negotiations without ever going to court, which can take several months to a year, depending on the complexity of the injuries and the insurance company’s willingness to negotiate fairly. Cases that go to trial typically take longer. We always aim to reach the best possible outcome in a reasonable timeframe, but we will never pressure you to accept an inadequate settlement just to close the file quickly.
Hit-and-run pedestrian accidents are unfortunately not uncommon. One out of every four pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in 2023 was struck by a hit-and-run driver.If the at-fault driver cannot be identified, your own uninsured motorist coverage may cover your losses. South Carolina requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage for exactly this kind of situation. Our attorneys can help you pursue every available source of compensation.
Yes. South Carolina law allows eligible family members to bring a wrongful death claim on behalf of someone killed in a pedestrian accident. Recoverable damages may include funeral and burial costs, medical expenses incurred before death, lost future income the deceased would have provided, and the emotional loss suffered by surviving family members. There is a three-year statute of limitations, so it is important to consult a lawyer promptly.
Pedestrian accidents in parking lots are more common than many people realize. These incidents may still give rise to a personal injury claim, and depending on the circumstances, liability could extend to the property owner if a dangerous condition of the lot contributed to the accident. Our attorneys investigate all angles to ensure no responsible party is overlooked.
Almost certainly. Insurance companies routinely make early settlement offers that are far below what a case is actually worth. Studies have shown that injury claimants who are represented by an attorney typically recover significantly larger settlements than those who negotiate on their own. Before you accept any offer, have an attorney review your case. There is no cost to you for an initial consultation at Stewart Law Offices.