Chicago Crosswalk Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

Pedestrians rely on crosswalks to give them safe passage across streets, expecting that drivers will respect the painted lines that outline a path from curb-to-curb. The law is almost always on a pedestrian’s side in traffic accidents involving motor vehicles hitting a pedestrian. Law enforcement usually determines the person on foot has the right-of-way when in a designated crosswalk. Yet regardless of the law, thousands of pedestrians are killed every year, and even more are injured while crossing within those magic painted lines.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC helps people injured in Chicago crosswalk accidents get compensation for their injuries. Our lawyers are dedicated to your success and only charge a fee when we recover compensation for you from a driver or party responsible for your accident. We offer free case reviews, and our lawyers are happy to meet with you at our office or your home.

Illinois Law Protecting Pedestrians In Marked Crosswalks

Although most urban crosswalks are outlined at intersections, there do not need to be painted lines to make an area a crosswalk. Designated crossing places and most intersections are crosswalks. According to the Illinois Vehicle Code, a crosswalk is defined as:

That part of a roadway at an intersection included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway, and in the absence of a sidewalk on one side of the highway, that part of the highway included within the extension of the lateral line of the existing sidewalk to the side of the highway without the sidewalk, with such extension forming a right angle to the centerline of the highway;

Illinois law gives pedestrians the right-of-way at a designated crossing area under most conditions. The vehicle code also elaborates the following points:

• When traffic controls are not working, or in place, drivers must yield for pedestrians when they are in a crosswalk on their side or lane of the roadway or approaching it.

• Vehicles may not pass another vehicle that has stopped for a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

• Whenever there are stop signs, flashing red signals, or a clearly marked crosswalk, vehicles should yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing (as set forth in Section 11-904).

Laws Do Not Prevent Accidents Where Pedestrians Are Injured or Killed By Inattentive Drivers

Although pedestrians are protected by the law in a crosswalk in Lake County, Cook County, and Chicago area, this does not prevent or stop pedestrian accidents. In 2017, there were 37,133 pedestrians killed in the U.S in traffic accidents, including the 5977 victims of pedestrian accidents.

The Chicago Police Department and the Illinois Department of Transportation released 2019 statistics revealing that there were sixty-six pedestrian fatalities that year, compared to eighty-seven fatalities the year before.

A vehicle weighing several tons that hits a person with no protection at a pedestrian crossing can result in severe injuries or wrongful death. Broken bones, spinal injuries, brain trauma, and many other serious injuries have plagued these victims of crosswalk accidents.

Chicago Accident Attorneys Helping Pedestrians Recovering The Cost Of Crosswalk Injuries & Medical Expenses

Individuals hit by the driver of a vehicle and injured in a designated crossing area have the legal right to seek a legal remedy. The most common recourse is to file a pedestrian accident case claim with the driver’s insurance company. Since these accidents often cause serious injuries, the victim’s medical bills, lost income, and other costs can be substantial. There may be long term costs as well for years of medical treatments, therapy, and other recovery expenses.

Crosswalk accident victims must have a personal injury lawyer on their side to ensure that they receive adequate and fair compensation to recover their expenses. In some circumstances, the driver flees in a hit-and-run accident or does not have adequate insurance to cover all the damages. In these cases, an experienced car accident lawyer can help victims pursue claims filed with their insurance company for uninsured or under-insured motorist claims.

Chicago’s Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC represents pedestrians injured in accidents throughout the city of Chicago, in Illinois, and nationwide. Before talking with an insurance company about a pedestrian crossing injury or fatal accident, speak with our law firm during an initial free consultation for immediate legal advice.

Let our personal injury attorneys discuss your situation, including your injuries and legal options, without any cost or obligation on your end. Contact us today at (888) 424-5757!

For additional information on receiving financial compensation, your legal rights, holding the negligent driver responsible, and the Illinois statute of limitations, look here.

Learn more about the occurrence of pedestrian accidents in crosswalks:

• http://www.math.uiuc.edu/~dan/Crosswalks/
• http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811625.pdf
• http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810968.PDF