Home > Chicago Personal Injury Attorney > Chicago Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Sometimes, we don’t see the pedestrian in the crosswalk. Other times, a bicyclist shoots out into traffic when we least expect it. Whether you’re driving a car, truck, motorcycle, bus, construction vehicle, or work vehicle, hitting a pedestrian is a traumatic experience for drivers and victims alike, and even without severe injuries. If you find yourself involved in a pedestrian accident case, it’s best to contact a Chicago pedestrian accident attorney to help you through the case or trial.
When a motorist hits a pedestrian with their vehicle, it’s called a pedestrian accident, which simply means it was an accident where a vehicle hit a person who was on foot—walking, running, standing, or on a bicycle—and not another vehicle. The accident may also be called a traffic collision, but this term is applied to a variety of car crash situations.
Personal injury and wrongful death are the most common outcomes of a pedestrian accident, and compensation or a settlement is the result of the following court case or trial.
While every situation and/or accident has unique circumstances, there isn’t just one main cause of pedestrian accidents, but some of the main causes are:
Driver negligence and preoccupied pedestrians are common issues that we see in traffic collisions and pedestrian accidents, which can result in injuries, extensive medical treatment, traumatic brain damage, need to be placed in a nursing home, and sometimes even death. Financial settlements can go to the injured party for medical bills and extended care, or to the family who has suffered the loss of a loved one.
A typical settlement for a pedestrian accident is between $5,000 and $500,000. If wrongful death occurs, then the surviving family can receive a wrongful death settlement.
In most situations, the motorist calls the police to the scene and contacts their insurance company if they happen to hit a pedestrian with their vehicle. The pedestrian, in turn, will make a claim against the motorist’s insurance company if any injuries were sustained. It’s worth noting that the state of Illinois does require motorists to have liability insurance.
Now, after contacting the police, it’s important to ascertain any injuries from a pedestrian accident, seek medical attention, gather evidence, exchange insurance information and contact your insurance company, and then contact a pedestrian injury lawyer.
As Chicago pedestrian accident attorneys, our law firm is prepared to handle such accident cases, and offers free consultation to all potential clients. Our practice areas include car accidents, medical malpractice, personal injury, and pedestrian accident cases, as well as truck accidents and transportation-related claims. We’re ready and available to help protect you and your legal rights.
Yes, you need a lawyer to defend your rights. Lawyers are skilled negotiators with in-depth knowledge of Illinois court systems, which enables them to provide superior services to their clients. A skilled Chicago pedestrian attorney can deal with insurance companies on your behalf, negotiate a greater compensation than you could on your own, and defend you against the shady strategies they employ to minimize or reject claims.
