Pedestrians hit by pickup trucks face some of the most serious injuries on the road. A pickup truck’s high front end, heavy frame, and significant ground clearance create a collision profile that is far more dangerous for people on foot than a standard passenger car. If you or someone you love was struck by a pickup truck while walking in Charleston, the Lowcountry, or anywhere in South Carolina, understanding your legal rights is the first step toward protecting them. A pickup truck accident lawyer can help you understand who is responsible and what your claim may be worth.

Table of Contents

• Why Pickup Trucks Are Especially Dangerous to Pedestrians in Charleston
• South Carolina Pedestrian Laws That Apply to Pickup Truck Crashes
• The Severity of Injuries Pedestrians Suffer in Pickup Truck Wrecks
• Who Can Be Held Liable After a Pedestrian Is Struck by a Pickup Truck
• What to Do After a Pickup Truck Strikes You as a Pedestrian in Charleston
• FAQs About Pedestrian Injuries from Pickup Truck Accidents in Charleston, SC

Why Pickup Trucks Are Especially Dangerous to Pedestrians in Charleston

Pickup trucks cause disproportionate harm to pedestrians compared to other vehicles. Light trucks, which include pickups and SUVs, accounted for 54% of pedestrian fatalities where a vehicle type was known in 2023, compared to 37% for passenger cars, according to data from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).

The reason comes down to physics and design. A pickup truck’s hood sits much higher than that of a standard sedan. When a truck strikes a pedestrian, the impact often hits the torso or head directly, rather than the legs. That means the initial blow transfers enormous force to the body’s most vulnerable areas. The pedestrian then risks a second impact when they strike the ground or are thrown into other objects.

The share of pedestrian deaths caused by SUVs and pickups has surged in recent years. While the number of pedestrian deaths involving passenger cars and light trucks was largely similar for much of the 2010s, a significant gap has emerged and grown since 2019.

Charleston’s streets, from the busy corridors near the College of Charleston and King Street to the pedestrian-heavy areas around the Charleston City Market and Waterfront Park, see steady foot traffic daily. Tourists, students, and residents on foot share roads with pickup trucks driven by contractors, tradespeople, and commuters. Neighborhoods like West Ashley, North Charleston along Rivers Avenue, and the areas surrounding Joint Base Charleston all have stretches where pedestrian infrastructure is limited. That combination of high truck volume and limited sidewalk access raises the risk significantly.

Nearly two-thirds (65%) of pedestrian deaths occurred in locations without a sidewalk in 2023. Many of Charleston’s suburban and rural roads, including stretches of US Highway 17 and the roads running through rural Berkeley and Dorchester counties, lack adequate pedestrian infrastructure.

South Carolina Pedestrian Laws That Apply to Pickup Truck Crashes

South Carolina law places clear duties on drivers to protect people on foot. Under SC Code Section 56-5-3230, every driver must exercise due care to avoid a collision with a pedestrian or bicyclist, and must yield to pedestrians crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when traffic-control signals are not in place or in operation.

This duty applies everywhere, not just at marked crosswalks. Under S.C. Code § 56-5-3230, every driver in South Carolina must exercise due care to avoid hitting any pedestrian on any roadway, even outside of a crosswalk. That means a pickup truck driver who strikes a pedestrian walking along the shoulder of a road in Summerville or crossing a street in North Charleston can still be held liable, even if no crosswalk was present.

Under S.C. Code § 56-5-3130, drivers must yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing within a marked or unmarked crosswalk. The statute further requires drivers to give “warning by sounding the horn when necessary” and to “exercise proper precaution upon observing any child or any confused or incapacitated person upon a roadway.”

South Carolina also uses a modified comparative fault system. Modified comparative fault in South Carolina means an injured person may recover damages as long as they are not more than 50% at fault, with any recovery reduced by their percentage of fault. So even if a pedestrian was crossing outside a marked crosswalk, they may still recover compensation if the pickup truck driver bears the greater share of fault.

Under S.C. Code § 15-3-530, South Carolina gives injured pedestrians three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing that deadline almost always results in losing the right to pursue a claim. If the pickup truck involved was a government vehicle, a shorter two-year deadline may apply under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act.

The Severity of Injuries Pedestrians Suffer in Pickup Truck Wrecks

Injuries from pickup truck crashes are rarely minor. The size and weight of a full-size pickup, such as a Ford F-150 or RAM 1500, means that even a low-speed impact can cause life-altering harm to a person on foot. The injuries most commonly seen in these cases include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, internal organ injuries, crush injuries, and severe soft tissue damage.

According to NHTSA, 7,080 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in 2024, a 4% decrease from the 7,367 pedestrian fatalities in 2023. Another 71,635 pedestrians were injured in 2024, a 5% increase from 68,241 pedestrians injured in 2023. On average, a pedestrian died every 74 minutes and one was injured every 7 minutes in traffic crashes in 2024.

South Carolina’s numbers reflect a serious and ongoing problem. According to the South Carolina FY2024-2026 Highway Safety Plan, the state experienced 4,869 traffic-related injuries involving pedestrians in the years 2017 through 2021, with 1,041 of those, or 21.34%, classified as serious injuries. Charleston County ranked among the top six counties in the state for fatal and serious injury pedestrian crashes during that same five-year period.

When a pedestrian survives a pickup truck wreck, the road to recovery is long and expensive. Surgeries, rehabilitation, long-term care, and lost income all pile up quickly. Compensation available under South Carolina law can include medical bills, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and permanent disability damages. A skilled car accident attorney who handles pedestrian injury cases can help you document and pursue every category of loss.

Who Can Be Held Liable After a Pedestrian Is Struck by a Pickup Truck

Liability in a pickup truck pedestrian crash does not always fall on just one party. Identifying every responsible party is critical to recovering full compensation.

The driver is the most obvious starting point. A pickup truck driver who was speeding, distracted, impaired, or failed to yield at a crosswalk near Folly Beach Road or along Meeting Street in downtown Charleston can be held personally liable for the harm they caused. Negligent driving behaviors, including failure to yield, reckless driving, and aggressive driving, create strong grounds for a personal injury claim.

If the driver was operating the truck for work purposes, their employer may also be liable. Under the legal theory of respondeat superior, an employer can be held responsible for the negligent acts of an employee acting within the scope of their job. Construction companies, utility companies, landscaping firms, and delivery services all operate pickup trucks throughout the Charleston area. If the driver of one of those vehicles struck you while on the job, the employer’s insurance and assets may be part of the recovery.

In some cases, a third party shares responsibility. If the pickup truck had a defective braking system, faulty steering, or a tire blowout caused by a manufacturing defect, the vehicle’s manufacturer may face product liability claims. Poor road design or missing crosswalk infrastructure in a municipal area could potentially expose a government entity to liability under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act, though claims against government bodies carry strict notice requirements and shorter deadlines.

An experienced truck accident lawyer will investigate every angle, gather crash reports, review surveillance footage from nearby businesses, consult accident reconstruction professionals, and identify all liable parties before a claim is filed.

What to Do After a Pickup Truck Strikes You as a Pedestrian in Charleston

The steps you take immediately after a pickup truck crash can directly affect the strength of your injury claim. Acting quickly and carefully protects both your health and your legal rights.

Call 911 right away. South Carolina law, under S.C. Code § 56-5-1230, requires drivers involved in a crash resulting in injury or death to render reasonable assistance to injured persons, including arranging for medical transport if treatment is clearly needed. Whether or not the driver complies, getting emergency services to the scene is your first priority.

Do not speak to the truck driver’s insurance company before you talk to an attorney. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts, and anything you say can be used to reduce or deny your claim. This applies even to your own insurer. Reach out to a personal injury attorney first.

If you are physically able to do so, gather information at the scene. Get the driver’s name, address, and vehicle registration number, as required under S.C. Code § 56-5-1230. Take photos of your injuries, the truck, the road, any skid marks, and the surrounding area. Identify any witnesses and get their contact information. Note whether there was a crosswalk, traffic signal, or sidewalk present.

Seek medical treatment immediately, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline can mask serious injuries. Traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and spinal injuries may not produce obvious symptoms right away. A medical record created on the day of the crash becomes important evidence linking your injuries to the wreck.

Then call Steinberg Law Firm at 843-720-2800. Our team will review your case, explain your options, and begin building your claim right away. As a personal injury lawyer firm serving Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry, Steinberg Law Firm has been standing up for injured South Carolinians for nearly 100 years. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

FAQs About Pedestrian Injuries from Pickup Truck Accidents in Charleston, SC

Can I still recover damages if I was not in a crosswalk when the pickup truck hit me?

Yes, you may still recover damages. Under S.C. Code § 56-5-3230, every driver in South Carolina must exercise due care to avoid hitting any pedestrian on any roadway, even outside of a crosswalk. South Carolina’s modified comparative fault rule allows you to recover compensation as long as you are not more than 50% responsible for the crash. Your recovery would be reduced by your percentage of fault, but you are not automatically barred from compensation just because you were not in a marked crosswalk.

How long do I have to file a claim after being hit by a pickup truck in South Carolina?

Under S.C. Code § 15-3-530, you generally have three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit in South Carolina. If the pickup truck was owned or operated by a government entity, the deadline may be shorter, often two years, and you may need to file a formal notice of claim before the lawsuit deadline. Missing either deadline typically results in losing your right to pursue compensation, so contacting an attorney as soon as possible is important.

What if the pickup truck driver fled the scene after hitting me?

Hit-and-run crashes are unfortunately common. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, one in four pedestrian deaths involves a hit-and-run driver. If the driver cannot be identified, you may be able to pursue a claim through your own uninsured motorist coverage, if you have it. South Carolina law allows uninsured motorist claims in hit-and-run situations. An attorney can help you identify all available sources of recovery and guide you through the claims process.

Can the employer of the pickup truck driver be held responsible for my injuries?

Yes, in many cases the employer can share liability. If the driver was performing job-related duties at the time of the crash, their employer may be held responsible under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. This applies to construction companies, delivery services, landscaping firms, utility companies, and other businesses that operate pickup trucks in the Charleston area. Employer liability can significantly increase the total compensation available to you, since businesses typically carry larger insurance policies than individual drivers.

What damages can I recover after being struck by a pickup truck as a pedestrian?

South Carolina law allows injured pedestrians to pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover measurable financial losses such as medical bills, future medical expenses, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity. Non-economic damages cover losses that are harder to quantify, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving especially reckless or intentional conduct, punitive damages may also be available. A personal injury attorney can help you document and value each category of loss based on the specific facts of your case.