Buffalo Grove Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

A pedestrian accident can be devastating for everyone involved. Therefore, it’s important to understand your rights if you or someone you love is injured in a pedestrian accident caused by road design or poor maintenance of crosswalks.

The personal injury law offices of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC have helped many victims get justice after being hurt in an auto-pedestrian crash due to roadway design defects or unsafe traffic control devices.

Contact a Buffalo Grove personal injury attorney at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form today for immediate legal advice and schedule a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.

A Deadly Roadway Scenario

Most people don’t realize that many factors are involved in pedestrian accidents. In some cases, the driver may be held responsible for any injuries caused to pedestrians. However, if there is an issue with the crosswalk, those responsible can also be held accountable.

Many roadway hazards, including crosswalk safety issues, cause pedestrians to be struck by cars at intersections or midblock locations. Unfortunately, these locations typically have no stop sign, yield sign, traffic light, marked crosswalk lines, or other warning signs/devices intended to protect pedestrians from moving vehicles at these locations.

Were you seriously injured in a car-pedestrian collision because the driver failed to yield the right of way while driving through a marked crosswalk intersection with faulty signage or striping designed for the safety of pedestrians? If so, please call our law offices immediately at (888) 424-5757 for a free consultation concerning your case.

Our legal team is prepared to investigate all aspects of the accident that caused injuries to you or a loved one walking in or near an intersection when struck by a motor vehicle.

Crosswalk Safety Issues and City Responsibilities

Pedestrians have the right-of-way at all intersections, whether marked or unmarked. Drivers must yield to pedestrians who enter a crosswalk at the same half of the intersection as they intend to turn unless it is an ‘unmarked’ pedestrian crossing. It would include midblock crossings.

The municipality is responsible for maintaining safe roadways and pedestrian crosswalks in many jurisdictions. When a city fails to keep roads and walkways clear of snow and ice, pedestrians may be put at significant risk of being seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident or slip & fall accident. These injuries likely could have been avoided with better road conditions.

In the case of a faulty crosswalk causing injury to a pedestrian, city officials may be held responsible for any damages that resulted from their failure to maintain safe conditions at known dangerous crossings.

What Can I Do If Injured in a Pedestrian Accident?

Suppose you were seriously injured by a motor vehicle while crossing or walking through an intersection or midblock. In that case, you should retain an experienced Buffalo Grove pedestrian accident attorney at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC to learn more about your potential legal rights.

You may be eligible for compensation to cover medical costs associated with the crash and property damage sustained by vehicles involved in the crash that caused your injuries. You may also be able to receive compensation for pain and suffering, loss of income, or loss of future earning capacity.

The Insurance Industry Is Not Always Interested in Your Well Being

Many accident victims are forced to deal with insurance companies independently when involved in a pedestrian-automobile collision. Insurance companies will try to get you to settle quickly after an accident, usually for much less than your claim is worth.

As a result, you must have an experienced car accident lawyer to provide legal guidance to protect your interests and ensure you are not shortchanged on your settlement amount. In addition, our law firm has the experience, knowledge, and resources to take care of all aspects of an insurance claim or lawsuit against negligent parties.

Our efforts ensure you or your family is fully compensated for the injuries, pain, and suffering you have endured.

Our Cook County law office handles pedestrian accident cases throughout Illinois, including Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, Wheeling, Park Ridge, Hoffman Estates, and Rolling Meadows.

We are prepared to deliver personalized attention in helping injured victims obtain maximum compensation for their injuries, including medical bills:

• Pain, suffering, and grief damages
• Lost wages
• Future lost earning capacity
• Loss of consortium and companionship
• Funeral and burial expenses in wrongful death cases
• Punitive damages

Our law firm provides victims with round-the-clock access to legal representation and free initial consultation by calling (888) 424-5757 today. In addition, we handle all cases on a contingency basis, so our clients pay nothing upfront. They don’t have to worry about attorney fees until they receive a financial settlement in their case.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, Chicago saw 191 pedestrian fatalities in 2011, making it the deadliest year.

The Federal Highway Administration says that over 50% of all pedestrians killed in 2009 were hit by a car or truck while walking along major highways and arterial roads.

Pedestrian accidents are likely between 6 PM and 9 PM but can happen anytime and anywhere. Most crashes occur in urban areas with more cars, walkers, and distractions such as billboards, traffic lights, and other street signs to cause confusion or distraction for drivers and pedestrians.

Most pedestrian accidents happen on major roads, with more fatal accidents occurring between intersections. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), National data shows that pedestrians most at risk for accidents are young males between 25-44.

National Pedestrian Accident Fatalities

According to new data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of pedestrian traffic fatalities in the United States reached a record high in 2009 before declining slightly in 2010.

In its annual report on road traffic deaths, NHTSA said pedestrian fatalities increased 8% in 2010 to 4,280. While pedestrian deaths had declined slightly from a record high of 4,432 in 2009, they are still significantly higher than in recent years. For example, the number of pedestrians killed was 3,454 in 2008 and 3,416 in 2007.

In 2010, almost three out of four pedestrian traffic fatalities (74%) were people aged 65 and older.

“Pedestrians are our most vulnerable road users,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “As Americans increasingly use walking as a mode of transportation, it is important that drivers are alert on the road to oncoming pedestrians. Pedestrian safety is especially critical as we head into the warmer months of the year when more people will be out walking to work, school, and recreation. Everyone on our roads must protect the most vulnerable—the pedestrians.”

In 2010, pedestrian fatalities between 45 and 64 increased by 18%. In addition to those over age 65, pedestrians between the ages of 25 and 44 also make up a disproportionate share of pedestrian fatalities, with 462 people in this age group killed last year.

Among children (14 years old or younger), there were 257 fatalities in 2010—a 14% increase over 2009, when 235 died in traffic crashes involving pedestrians. The U.S. Department of Transportation has set a goal of reducing pedestrian fatalities by 2.5% each year as part of the national goal to reduce highway deaths by one-third in the next ten years.

Pedestrian Safety Tips

According to the National Institute of Health, drivers and pedestrians can follow specific safety tips to maximize everyone’s well-being when sharing the roadway. Many safety tips are obvious, while others require training before getting a driver’s license. For example, these pedestrian safety tips include:

• Drivers should always exercise caution when driving near pedestrians. Pedestrians may be more challenging to see at night or when weather conditions restrict visibility.
• Drivers should check for pedestrians before entering a street, whether from a parked position or after emerging from between two buildings. Pedestrians only have the right-of-way while in a crosswalk, and drivers should not enter an intersection until all pedestrians have cleared the street.
• Drivers should slow down when driving in neighborhoods and look for children who might dart onto the street without looking first.
• Pedestrians should never drink and walk at home or while walking to their destination. Alcohol slows reflexes and impairs judgment, so any amount of drinking and walking can result in severe injury or death.
• Pedestrians should avoid distractions like using a cell phone while walking to their destination, particularly when crossing the street at an intersection. Distracted pedestrians are more likely to be injured in traffic accidents than those who do not use a phone when they cross the street.
• Drivers and pedestrians should always remain alert and look out for one another.

NHTSA Conclusions

The NHTSA concludes that pedestrians can help themselves by following these safety tips to keep safe when they are in traffic:

• Pedestrians should not assume that drivers will see them at all times. Pedestrians should make eye contact with drivers before crossing a street to ensure they are seen.
• Pedestrians should also look left, right, and left again as they cross the street. Again, it ensures that no cars are about to turn into their path of travel.
• Before crossing a road, pedestrians should never assume they have the right-of-way or that drivers will stop for them. Pedestrians should also avoid crossing the street between parked cars with limited visibility, and drivers may not see them until it’s too late.
• Pedestrians should use sidewalks whenever possible, but if there isn’t one available, they should walk on the road’s shoulder facing traffic to maximize the visibility of oncoming traffic.
• Pedestrians should wear bright clothing when walking at night to help drivers know where they are. They should also carry a flashlight if they are out walking when it’s dark outside.

It is also important for pedestrians to avoid distractions while crossing the street. For example, pedestrians should not try to cross the street if they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and parents should never allow their children to dart out into traffic on an unexpected path.

With these simple safety tips, drivers and pedestrians can work together to prevent traffic accidents that cause serious injuries or even the death of pedestrians hit by cars.

Pedestrians and Drivers Should Yield to Make Eye Contact With Each Other

One way drivers can be safe is to yield to pedestrians already in the crosswalk, even if they have just stepped off the curb. Drivers should also wait until all of the pedestrian’s body has cleared their lane before making a right turn on a red light or a left turn on a green light.

Drivers should also avoid parking their cars in the middle of a crosswalk. If there is no sidewalk where a pedestrian can walk, drivers should stop just before entering the crosswalk rather than right at it.

And finally, drivers should lower their speed on roads with many pedestrians, especially around schools and senior centers. Pedestrian fatalities increase with the speed of vehicles, so if drivers are driving slower, there is less chance that a pedestrian will be killed when they are hit.

How a Car Accident Lawyer Acquires Financial Compensation on Your Behalf

Resolving a pedestrian/car accident case can be challenging, especially with limited evidence and no eyewitnesses. Typically, the at-fault driver’s insurance company will work to defer responsibility to the pedestrian, indicating that they stepped off the curb, illegally used the sidewalk, or failed to obey traffic signals in the crosswalk.

To avoid these complications, we file a personal injury case against all parties involved, usually not limited to the motorist who hit the pedestrian.

The steps include:

• Hiring an accident reconstructionist to conduct a detailed and thorough investigation
• Hiring expert witnesses to provide testimony at trial, including medical professionals, estate planners, and specialists
• Filing a claim against an automotive component manufacturer for a faulty part, defective tire, or other car-related issues that led to the accident
• Filing a claim against road maintenance crews for their failure to provide a safe roadway

In addition to your personal injury case, we will seek compensation for economic loss and non-economic damages through a wrongful death claim for your loved one. In doing so, we use our in-depth understanding of Illinois’ no-fault law to ensure that you receive the maximum available award to which you are entitled.

We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients and can help you too.

Our accident lawyers represent people who have been injured due to negligent driving, including auto accidents, truck accidents, bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents, and pedestrian/auto collisions.

Our law firms understand that the life-altering consequences of a severe collision may not be immediately apparent. And while no amount of money can replace losing a loved one, we are committed to maximizing your recovery.

Do you need more information or have any questions about how our Buffalo Grove, IL, law firm may be able to help you with your pedestrian accident case? If so, contact a Lake County car accident lawyer at our law firm at (888) 424-5757 or visit our website for legal guidance.

Recent Catastrophic Pedestrian Accidents in and Around Buffalo Grove, Illinois

Our trial attorneys have represented clients in many personal injury cases involving pedestrian injuries in car accidents and reviewed other lawsuits around the Buffalo Grove area. Some of these catastrophic pedestrian/car accidents include:

• In March 2021, a Lake County man suffered severe injuries after being struck by a car as he was crossing Lake Cook Road, according to police. The man in his 80s was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after being hit by a vehicle traveling eastbound on Grand Avenue near Old Grand Avenue.
• In August 2014, a Buffalo Grove, IL pedestrian was killed and another man injured when struck by a car in the Little Italy neighborhood of Chicago. The accident happened at about 12:30 AM near Roosevelt Road and Taylor Street when two men, aged 30 and 35, were hit by a white Mitsubishi Outlander traveling westbound on Taylor Street. The vehicle’s driver remained on the scene to cooperate with the police.
• In May 2014, a North Aurora man was charged with a fatal pedestrian accident outside a South Elgin nightclub. The accident occurred when the man’s car struck and killed another motorist who had stopped his vehicle on Route 31 to help a stranded motorist.
• In March 2014, a pedestrian struck by a car on Buffalo Grove Road was transported to the local hospital, where he later died of injuries he sustained in the accident. The crash occurred when the man was struck by an oncoming car as he attempted to cross Route 41 near 21st Street.
• In June 2017, two drivers were involved in a devastating auto accident that claimed the life of an innocent victim struck down on Lake Cook Road. One motorist failed to yield the right of way to another vehicle, lawfully attempting to turn left onto southbound Lake Cook Road from westbound Quentin Road.
• In September 2015, three people were killed by a driver who crossed into oncoming traffic and hit another car head-on in South Elgin. The Buffalo Grove, IL, victims rode with their mother and her friend in the woman’s Ford Explorer on Arlington Heights road.
• In November 2013, a 50-year-old man was charged with negligent homicide after fatally striking a pedestrian as he drove his vehicle. The Buffalo Grove, Illinois driver, arrested at his home shortly after the incident, had been involved in three previous auto accidents and suspended licenses. His charges were later reduced after his criminal defense lawyer argued that the accident occurred in a dangerous place along Dundee Road.
• In April 2012, a Buffalo Grove, IL, man was found guilty of reckless homicide in connection with the death of his 90-year-old mother, who was killed as she attempted to cross a street outside an Oak Lawn nursing home. The defendant, who prosecutors claimed had been drinking, was sentenced to nine years in prison even after his attorneys put on a robust criminal defense.
• In October 2011, a Chicago man was killed by a hit-and-run driver after he walked into the path of another car on the Eisenhower Expressway. The victim, struck near Central Avenue around 4:00 AM, left behind two children and four grandchildren.

Our law firm understands how difficult these situations are for survivors and loved ones, and we are committed to helping you through this difficult time. Therefore, our law firms urge you to call our personal injury law firm now at (888) 424-5757 for a free legal consultation with one of our experienced pedestrian accident attorneys.

Hire a Buffalo Grove Personal Injury Lawyer to Resolve Your Pedestrian Accident Case

Were you recently injured in a pedestrian accident, or did you lose a loved one through another’s negligent actions?

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, our pedestrian accident lawyers advocate for every injured victim with personal injury matters. They can help your family through the legal process too.

Call our Buffalo Grove, IL, law firm today at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form for immediate legal advice and schedule a free case evaluation. Our legal team represents clients throughout Illinois, including Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, McHenry County, Lake County, Peoria County, Winnebago County, and Will County.

Every trial lawyer at our personal injury law firm accepts personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This promise ensures you pay nothing until your negligence case is resolved through a negotiated settlement or jury award with your Buffalo Grove car accident lawyer.

Our personal injury law firm provides legal services to injury victims and related practice areas, including auto accidents, product liability, nursing home abuse, medical malpractice, bicycle deaths, workers’ compensation, premises liability, and wrongful death.

Buffalo Grove Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Resources:

• NIH – Pedestrian Injuries: Emergency Care Considerations
• NIH – Pedestrian versus motor vehicle accidents