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Pedestrians Hit by Cars Can Require Years of Treatment to Recover

Posted on December 30, 2025 in Pedestrian Accidents

Norfolk personal injury attorney for pedestrian accidents When a car hits a pedestrian, that brief moment of physical contact can change that person's life forever. Even accidents that seem minor at first can lead to surgeries, years of physical therapy, and lasting pain that never fully goes away.

For example, Whitlock Law represented a client this year who was legally crossing in a crosswalk when an HVAC vehicle made a right turn on a red light and struck her. Her injuries required ankle fusion surgery on one foot and a full ankle replacement on the other. She has undergone nerve surgery and countless physical therapy sessions.

Nearly four years after the accident, she still had not been able to return to work. Her case shows what many pedestrian accident victims face: A recovery process that stretches on for years with no guarantee of returning to normal life. Our Norfolk, VA pedestrian accident lawyer recently recovered a $3,500,000 settlement for this client.

Pedestrian accidents like this deserve an attorney committed to seeking justice for the victim. If you or someone you care about was hit by a vehicle, you should meet with our Virginia personal injury attorney Whitlock Law. We investigate cases aggressively to fight insurance denial and are not afraid of taking cases to trial.

What Kinds of Injuries Do Pedestrians Suffer When Hit by Cars?

Pedestrian injuries tend to be severe even at low speeds, and the lower body often takes the first impact. Some of the most common pedestrian injuries include fractures to the legs, ankles, and feet. The client we mentioned earlier is a classic example of this.

Femur fractures, tibia fractures, and shattered ankles frequently require surgery and hardware like plates, screws, or rods. Hip and knee injuries are also common and can require replacement surgery in serious cases.

At higher speeds, upper body injuries happen when pedestrians are thrown onto the hood or the ground. Broken collarbones, spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries can result from these secondary impacts. Even a hairline fracture to the clavicle, which happened to another pedestrian client of ours this year, can require months of physical therapy to heal properly.

Why Does it Take So Long to Recover From Pedestrian Accidents?

Many people assume that once a bone heals or a surgery is complete, recovery is over. Unfortunately, that is rarely true for pedestrian accident victims.

Surgeries for Victims of Pedestrian Accidents

Surgeries often require extensive rehabilitation before victims can walk normally again. Some patients need multiple surgeries over several years to address complications or ongoing problems.

Intensive Physical Therapy After a Pedestrian Accident

Physical therapy alone can last for months. Nerve damage may require additional procedures. Joint injuries sometimes lead to early arthritis, creating pain that lasts a lifetime.

The Cost of Medical Treatment After a Car Hits a Pedestrian

The financial burden on victims of pedestrian accidents starts building immediately. Emergency room visits alone can cost tens of thousands of dollars. One of our clients who was struck in a parking lot had emergency room bills of nearly $50,000 from a single visit. When you add surgery costs, hospital stays, imaging, medications, and therapy, the total can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.

What If the Insurance Company Blames a Pedestrian for an Accident?

Virginia follows a legal rule called "pure contributory negligence" under common law. Juries in Virginia courts are instructed to consider whether the person bringing a personal injury case was negligent and whether that negligence was a proximate cause of the accident.

In other words, this means that if an insurance company can argue you were even slightly at fault for your accident, you may not be able to get any compensation at all. Insurance carriers know this rule well, and they often try to blame pedestrians for their own injuries.

Our Virginia personal injury attorney also knows how the law works and can fight the insurance company’s claims. At Whitlock Law, we investigate pedestrian accidents very carefully. We have often found the evidence we need to win in court or force insurance companies to settle.

For example, one of our clients was struck by a car when the driver veered out of her lane. The insurance company denied liability because the police report said our client was stumbling and appeared intoxicated.

But our client had already been taken by ambulance before the police arrived. He never spoke to officers, and they never actually observed him. We located a witness who confirmed our client's version of events, and the insurance carrier offered their policy limit.

Another client was standing beside a friend's vehicle when a delivery truck struck her with its side mirror. The insurance company initially denied the claim, arguing contributory negligence. Then video footage from a neighbor's doorbell camera surfaced and clearly showed our client did nothing wrong.

Call a Norfolk, VA Personal Injury Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one was injured as a pedestrian, you deserve an attorney who will fight back against unfair blame. Our Norfolk, VA personal injury lawyers at Whitlock Law investigate every detail to protect your rights. We offer free consultations, so call Whitlock Law at 301-565-1655 to discuss your case today.

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Results listed are not a guarantee or indication of future case results.

Cases Tried In:

Free Consultations
Maryland 301-565-1655 | Virginia 703-576-5005

Pedestrians Hit by Cars Can Require Years of Treatment to Recover

What Kinds of Injuries Do Pedestrians Suffer When Hit by Cars?

Why Does it Take So Long to Recover From Pedestrian Accidents?

Surgeries for Victims of Pedestrian Accidents

Intensive Physical Therapy After a Pedestrian Accident

The Cost of Medical Treatment After a Car Hits a Pedestrian

What If the Insurance Company Blames a Pedestrian for an Accident?

Call a Norfolk, VA Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Recent Blog Posts

Categories

Archive

Request a Case Evaluation

Silver Spring Office

Bowie Office

Frederick Office

Chesapeake Office

Manassas Office

Glen Allen Office

Leesburg Office

Cases Tried In:

Free Consultations Maryland 301-565-1655 | Virginia 703-576-5005

Pedestrians Hit by Cars Can Require Years of Treatment to Recover

What Kinds of Injuries Do Pedestrians Suffer When Hit by Cars?

Why Does it Take So Long to Recover From Pedestrian Accidents?

Surgeries for Victims of Pedestrian Accidents

Intensive Physical Therapy After a Pedestrian Accident

The Cost of Medical Treatment After a Car Hits a Pedestrian

What If the Insurance Company Blames a Pedestrian for an Accident?

Call a Norfolk, VA Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Recent Blog Posts

Categories

Archive

Request a Case Evaluation

Silver Spring Office

Bowie Office

Frederick Office

Chesapeake Office

Manassas Office

Glen Allen Office

Leesburg Office

Free Consultations
Maryland 301-565-1655 | Virginia 703-576-5005