A pedestrian accident in Bloomington can cause serious injuries, emotional distress, and financial stress. An experienced Bloomington pedestrian accident lawyer from our law firm will provide the legal representation you need to secure fair compensation and focus on healing. Call for a free case evaluation.
What Indiana Laws Protect Pedestrian Safety?
The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute states that drivers must yield to pedestrians walking at crosswalks. Drivers are required to exercise due care, especially around vulnerable pedestrians and in school zones. Pedestrians must use designated crosswalks and sidewalks and obey traffic signals. If no sidewalk is available, pedestrians should walk facing traffic.
Do I Need an Attorney for an Indiana Pedestrian Accident?
Yes. A Bloomington pedestrian accident attorney can help. We handle the entire legal process to fight against the responsible parties. Attorneys conduct a thorough investigation and gather evidence (medical care records, witness statements, and incident reports), consult with experts, prove liability, and negotiate with insurance companies and their insurance adjusters for maximum compensation. Most personal injury claims are resolved through fair settlement offers during negotiations, but if insurance negotiations fail, your Bloomington injury lawyers can follow the legal avenue of filing a personal injury lawsuit in court.
Common Causes of Bloomington Pedestrian Accidents
Many pedestrian accidents are caused by driver negligence. Common causes include distracted driving like cell phone use, failing to yield, speeding, reckless driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Poor visibility from weather and malfunctioning traffic signals can also contribute to these accidents.
Pedestrians suffer injuries like severe lacerations, internal bleeding, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, emotional trauma, and permanent injuries.
What to Do When Pedestrian Accidents Occur in Bloomington
When a pedestrian-car accident happens:
- Call 911 and, if possible, stay at the accident scene until the police arrive.
- Seek medical attention and keep all medical records.
- Obtain a copy of the police report.
- Don’t admit fault or post about the accident on social media.
- Obtain the driver’s contact info and insurance company information.
- Contact us to discuss a pedestrian accident claim.
Who Is Liable for Pedestrian Crashes in Bloomington?
Typically, drivers are held responsible for pedestrian injuries in accident cases. However, pedestrians may share fault if they act recklessly, like jaywalking. Government agencies or property owners can also be liable if unsafe conditions that they failed to maintain contributed to the accident.
Indiana’s modified comparative fault laws (Indiana Code § 34‑51‑2) allow you to recover damages if you’re partially at fault. Compensation decreases by your percentage of fault. No recovery is allowed if you’re 51% or more at fault.
How Much Compensation Might I Recover?
Injured pedestrians can pursue legal action against a negligent party to seek compensation for serious injuries sustained. Settlements can include medical bills for current and future medical treatment (emergency care, hospital, doctor, and physical therapy costs), lost wages, physical pain, emotional pain, personal property damage, and more. In cases of fatalities, surviving family members can file wrongful death claims.
How Much Is My Bloomington Pedestrian Accident Case Worth?
An experienced Bloomington attorney can assess the worth of an accident case caused by someone else’s negligence by examining losses like the severity of serious and catastrophic injuries, medical expenses, lost income, and more.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit?
According to the Indiana Office of Court Services, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Indiana is typically two years from the date of the pedestrian accident. There may be some exceptions, so contact an injury attorney quickly to pursue compensation and determine liability.
Contact Our Experienced Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one suffered severe injuries in an accident caused by a negligent driver in Monroe County, contact our pedestrian accident lawyers in Bloomington for legal guidance. Our law office can help take legal action if a pedestrian suffered serious harm in an auto accident, a bicycle accident, or a motorcycle accident.
Free Initial Consultation
In a free consultation, our personal injury law firm can review your case, explain Indiana’s claims process, discuss your legal options to recover compensation, and answer your questions. Additionally, our Bloomington personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay out-of-pocket costs or any legal fees unless we win your case.
(312) 223-1700