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 distracted driving or disregarded pedestrian safety.

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

Contact us 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.

Have You or a Loved One Been Hit by a Car 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 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, Will County, and Lake County.

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

Why Work with Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC?

On numerous occasions, our experienced pedestrian accident attorneys have secured seven-figure recoveries for injured pedestrians.

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. In addition, at Rosenfeld Personal Injury Lawyers LLC, we bear the up-front cost of building your legal case at no out-of-pocket charge to you.

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.

We pledge to keep you informed of developments during every stage of your case. Retaining established pedestrian accident lawyers will ensure you have a passionate representative on your side fighting against deep-pocketed defendants.

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.

We have seen a range of injuries throughout our previous cases, 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

You may be reading this web page and think, 'wow, these injury attorneys are making a big deal about pedestrian cases.' Think what you like, but pedestrian injuries are an undeniable problem for people in Chicago and across the State of 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 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.

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

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 recover compensation for your injuries.
• Investigation: Once you have decided to move forward with our services, we will investigate the cause of your pedestrian 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 in place 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.

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 right of way to pedestrians.

If a pedestrian has entered a crosswalk before the signal changes, 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.

Pedestrians entering an intersection when the red light is displayed to the driver does 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 accident.
• 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.
• Illinois law also prohibits drivers from texting and using their cell phones when operating their vehicles.
• The onus 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.

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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 accident case is worth $250,000 and you are deemed to be 25% responsible, you would recover $187,500. However, if you are deemed to be 51% responsible for the crash, you will recover nothing.

What to Do If You Have Been Hit by a Car in Chicago, IL

Call 911 for emergency medical attention after a pedestrian 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 treatment of your injuries.

Once the police arrive on the scene, they will investigate the incident, get information from you and others involved if possible, and fill out an official report 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 Chicago pedestrian accident lawyer about filing a claim.

FAQs about Illinois 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

How long do I have to file a Chicago, IL pedestrian accident lawsuit?

In Illinois, injured pedestrians have two years to file a lawsuit for their injuries. However, this statute of limitations prevents injured parties from filing cases long after the accident, which would make it difficult to ascertain the truth of the matter.

However, that also means victims of pedestrian accidents must move swiftly. They need to investigate the facts, build a pedestrian accident case, and file a suit quickly.

Can I file a claim on behalf of my child if they were hit by a vehicle?

Yes, parents can sue on behalf of their child for severe injuries related to getting struck by a vehicle. To sue for negligence, you must show that the driver acted unreasonably and caused your child's damages.

If that person shows that your son or daughter was responsible for the crash, then you might lose. However, children under five generally cannot be held liable under the laws of Illinois.

Can I file a wrongful death lawsuit if my family member was killed in a pedestrian accident?

Yes. After a pedestrian fatality, Illinois law allows the decedent's next of kin to pursue a death claim for damages, including medical and burial expenses, lost financial support, and loss of companionship. The law generally applies to immediate family members such as spouses, parents, or children.

What type of compensation can I recover for injuries related to a pedestrian accident in Illinois?

In Illinois, an injured pedestrian can recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages related to their accident.

Economic damages refer to compensation for your medical expenses, future medical care and costs, lost income, and loss of future earning capacity.

Non-economic damages refer to disfigurements like scarring, pain, suffering, and emotional distress.

In some cases, you can collect punitive damages if the defendant's conduct was malicious, wanton, fraudulent, or exhibited a reckless indifference to your safety.

Punitive damages are more commonly pursued cases of drunk driving and hit-and-run accidents.

What can I do if the driver who hit me did not have auto insurance?

Were you injured in an accident with a driver who did not have auto insurance? If so, you may make an uninsured motorist (UM) claim under your personal automobile insurance company policy.

When pursuing a UM claim, you can recover the same elements of damages as the law would allow you to recover as if you were pursuing a case against the at-fault party.

There are some procedural requirements with uninsured motorist claims involving injured pedestrians, so it is advisable to have a personal injury attorney review your auto insurance policy to determine the best course of action.

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.

Resources

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