Chicago Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Drivers who disregard the right of way put pedestrians at risk for serious injury. Pedestrian accidents can cause various injuries, including head trauma, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and lacerations.

Were you injured as a pedestrian? If so, you have the right to hold the negligent driver responsible for your losses. A driver can be found negligent if they were distracted driving and disregarded pedestrian safety.

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, our experienced personal injury attorneys can help you get the full and fair compensation you deserve. We have a proven track record of success in pedestrian accident cases and will fight for your rights.

Contact a pedestrian accident lawyer 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.

Did a Driver Hit You or a Loved One in Chicago, Illinois?

If you or a family member has been injured after being struck by a motorist, you might have medical bills that are getting out of control.

You may have missed work and lost wages because of the pedestrian/car accident, or you might be experiencing ongoing pain and suffering.

You May be Entitled to Financial Compensation for Your Injuries

You are one of the thousands of people injured each year across the United States in pedestrian accidents.

Given the severity of most car accidents, you are seriously injured. Therefore, you need the help of an experienced Chicago pedestrian accident lawyer to help you get compensation from the party responsible for your injuries.

Our Chicago Pedestrian Accident Attorneys are at Your Service

The Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers at our law office are committed to securing the most favorable outcome for people suffering from serious injuries at the hands of negligent drivers.

Our law firm regularly represents people who have been hit by motor vehicles in downtown Chicago and the surrounding Cook County areas such as Lake County, DuPage County, Kane County, Will County, Tinley Park, and Schaumburg.

We won't charge a fee until we have settled the case for you to ease your financial burden, as all our Illinois pedestrian injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis.

Why Work with Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC?

Our experienced pedestrian accident attorneys have secured seven-figure recoveries for injured pedestrians on numerous occasions.

Working with our law office will give you the legal resources you need to go up against auto insurance companies with ample resources of their own. Our personal injury attorneys pay the up-front cost of building your legal case at no out-of-pocket charge to you.

Resolving Pedestrian/Car Accident Cases

Personal injury cases are messy, complicated affairs and require professionals to sort through the facts, identify your claims, develop them, and present them to a jury.

Each personal injury attorney in our law firm pledges to keep you informed of developments during every stage of your case. Retaining established pedestrian accident lawyers will ensure you have a compassionate representative on your side fighting against the driver's insurance company.

In some cases, the person at fault for causing the pedestrian was driving a company car at the time. In these cases, the driver's employer might also be responsible for the injured victims' damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering.

We Have the Experience You Need to Maximize the Value of Your Case

If you have a pedestrian injury in Chicago, you have legal rights to recover damages for the injuries sustained under the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code laws.

The Chicago pedestrian accident attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC have considerable experience in all types of injury matters, including car accidents, hit-and-run drivers, and collisions with commercial vehicles.

All of our legal consultations are free, and a pedestrian accident lawyer will give you a candid evaluation of your case.

Throughout our previous pedestrian accident cases, we have seen a range of injuries, including bone fractures, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries that can leave the victim with severe, life-altering disabilities affecting hearing, vision, cognition, motor function, and behavior.

Our experienced Chicago pedestrian injury attorneys have also seen degloving injuries, where skin and muscle are torn away from the bone, as well as joint injuries, internal injuries, paralysis, and – unfortunately – pedestrian fatalities.

Disturbing Statistics Regarding Pedestrian Safety in Illinois

A review of data from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) reveals the dangers to pedestrians in Illinois are real. In 2018 (the most recent year of pedestrian/car accident scene data released), out of 5,006 reported car accidents involving pedestrians, there were 4,711 injuries (over 94% injury rate!).

Moreover, a closer look at the data reveals 1,045 collisions where the injuries were categorized as 'type A'-- the most severe. These are cases where people have sustained major trauma that has resulted in significant medical treatment and forced them to change their daily lives.

Common minor to major injuries occurring in a motor vehicle/pedestrian crash typically include:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal injuries
• Facial and head injuries
• Neck injuries
• Wrongful death

The traumatic event typically requires the victim to seek medical attention immediately.

In the confines of the City of Chicago, 2,963 pedestrians were injured, and 64 lost their lives (pedestrian deaths) when they were struck by motor vehicles in documented Chicago pedestrian accidents.

Fatal pedestrian accidents have risen significantly in recent years with too many drivers sharing the roadway, disobeying traffic control signals, or driving recklessly. Distracted driving by a negligent driver accounts for a high rate of pedestrian deaths each year.

Settlements We've Won for Injured Pedestrians

Each Chicago pedestrian accident attorney in our law office is committed to providing the best possible representation for each client.

While the circumstances involved in each case are different, below are some sample recoveries we've realized for people injured while walking and jogging, primarily within the State of Illinois.

• $3,000,000: Insurance company settlement paid to a disabled pedestrian struck by a truck in Chicago.
• $250,000: Awarded to a young lady with ACL injuries when a backing vehicle in a company parking lot struck her.
• $200,000: Settlement for a pedestrian hit by a pick-up truck while crossing in a marked crosswalk in suburban Naperville, IL. The driver was issued a ticket for failing to yield to the right of way.
• $350,000: Pedestrian hit by a left-turning taxicab resulting in a broken leg. The compensation matched the full policy limit on the taxi.
• $667,000: Pedestrian accident involving a company vehicle. The defendant settled the case (no lawsuit was filed).
• $500,000: Uninsured motorist recovery for a man who was struck, fracturing both legs, while using a crosswalk.
• $1,250,000: Settlement for a child who was struck by a neighbor's car in the Northern suburbs of Chicago.

Should you have more questions about the value of your claim or cases on behalf of a loved one, we invite you to speak with an experienced Chicago pedestrian accident attorney in our office for a free consultation regarding your legal rights.

Your Personal Injury Lawyer Will Fight for You

While you focus on recovering from your injuries, your pedestrian attorney from our law office will give your case the best chance of a favorable outcome. We will see you through the legal process, providing you with expert legal advice along the way:

• Free consultation: We will use this time to get to know the details of your case and advise you on the best way forward to obtain financial recovery for your injuries.
• Investigation: Once you have decided to move forward with our services, we will investigate the cause of your pedestrian/car accident and gather the evidence to build the liability and damages components of a case for you.
• File a claim: Once we have established a case against the responsible party, we will file a claim with their auto insurance company.
• Settlement negotiation: After making our demand, the insurance company will likely present a settlement offer. Your personal injury lawyer will negotiate this offer to get the best possible outcome for you.
• Lawsuit: If both sides cannot reach a fair settlement, your pedestrian lawyer will help you file a personal injury lawsuit and prepare your case for trial.

Know Your Rights as an Injured Pedestrian

As someone injured by an automobile accident while on foot, there are various regulations to protect you.

Understanding these will help you prepare for your case and give you peace of mind that you have support for your Chicago pedestrian accident claim.

State Traffic Laws

According to Illinois traffic laws, when you are in a crosswalk or when the light is green, and there is no sign to indicate otherwise, drivers must stop and yield the right of way to pedestrians.

If a pedestrian has entered a crosswalk before the traffic signals change, drivers must allow that person the right of way. This regulation includes any vehicle in that intersection at that time.

Additionally, if a pedestrian enters a crosswalk in front of you while the light is green, you must stop and let them pass.

When the red light is displayed to the driver, pedestrians entering an intersection do not give that person permission to walk into your path. Therefore, you should always scan for pedestrians in this scenario before moving any further.

Illinois Law Protects Pedestrians

Several laws protect people crossing streets and people close to motor vehicle traffic. The following summarizes the main rules from the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code laws to prevent traffic accidents involving pedestrians:

• Drivers must stop when people are in crosswalks or on school days when they enter/leave a school zone. Drivers must also stop if doing so would prevent further injury or pedestrian/car accidents.
• Drivers must yield when turning at a red light or intersection; when people are on their side of the road; when foot traffic has the right of way; when people are already in the crosswalk, when the light turns green; when people are leaving a driveway, alley, private road, or building; and when yielding would prevent a personal injury or pedestrian accidents.
• Drivers must use all due care to avoid pedestrian accidents with people and other vehicles on the roadway. It is incumbent on them to operate their cars or sound their horns to prevent a collision.
• State law also prohibits drivers from texting and using their cell phones when operating their vehicles.
• The responsibility is on drivers to avoid an accident, including pedestrian accidents. When incidents arise, the assumption is that the driver caused the crash. These laws protect individuals and penalize negligent drivers.
• When encountering a person at a marked crosswalk, drivers must yield to the individual. In addition, the regulations require drivers to slow, stop completely, or do whatever is necessary to allow the person to go through the crosswalk.

You Can Still Pursue a Claim, Even If You Were Partly at Fault for the Accident

You may recover compensation for your serious injury, even if your actions contributed to your pedestrian crash. However, your damages will be reduced because Illinois law applies the doctrine of comparative fault to all personal injury and other tort cases.

Comparative fault means that a person's financial recovery is reduced by the degree to which the plaintiff (injured person) contributed to their damages.

Further, the pedestrian who has been injured must be 50% or less at fault for their pedestrian accident to recover anything at all. If they are deemed more than 50% responsible for causing it, they are barred from any recovery.

For example, if your pedestrian/car accident case is worth $250,000 and you are deemed 25% responsible, you would recover $187,500. However, if you are deemed to be 51% responsible for the pedestrian/motor vehicle crash, you will recover nothing.

What to Do If You Have Been Hit by a Motor Vehicle in Chicago, Illinois

Call 911 for emergency medical attention after a pedestrian/car accident, even if you believe you are unhurt or not badly hurt.

You may not be aware of the severity of your injuries until the adrenaline you are experiencing from the accident begins to wear off in the hours or days following the crash.

Receiving a prompt diagnosis from a doctor at a hospital will not only protect your health but preserve your future right to obtain adequate financial compensation for the medical treatment of your serious injuries.

Once the police arrive at the pedestrian/motor vehicle accident scene, they will investigate the incident, get information from you and others involved if possible, and fill out police reports documenting what happened.

If friends or companions are available, have them collect contact information from any individuals who witnessed the event. Once you are safe and have had medical attention, speak with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer about filing a claim.

FAQs about Chicago Pedestrian Accidents

Our law firm is sensitive that most pedestrian accidents are traumatic events and impact all aspects of your life.

While we have handled many cases, we never lose sight of the fact that this is likely a new situation for you. Below are some commonly encountered questions related to pedestrian accident injuries.

Let Our Chicago Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Start the Claims Process for You Today

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys have considerable experience in all types of bodily injury matters and pedestrian crashes, including vehicle accidents, hit-and-run drivers, and collisions with commercial vehicles.

Contact a pedestrian accident attorney today for a free consultation and start the process towards full compensation for your personal injury claim. We accept all financial recovery cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning no upfront fees are required to initiate your personal injury claim.

All confidential or sensitive information you share with your personal injury attorney remains private through an attorney-client relationship.

Resources:

• NIH - Pedestrian accidents: adult and pediatric injuries
• PubMed - Motor vehicle-pedestrian accidents in adults. Relationship between impact speed, injuries, and distance thrown