Pedestrians flood the streets of Chicago daily. Unfortunately, too many drivers often ignore their right of way and pedestrians get injured in traffic accidents all the time. If you are an injured pedestrian, you have the right to hold the negligent driver responsible for your pedestrian accident injuries and financial losses. If the driver can proven to have been negligent, you may be eligible for compensation.
A Chicago pedestrian accident attorney can help you understand your rights after a pedestrian accident. Our law firm offers free consultations to new clients. You can speak with experienced pedestrian accidents attorneys about your case with no obligation to hire us. Learn what options are available to you.
As with any accident, it’s important to act quickly. Knowing what to do in the event of an accident is crucial. And taking the appropriate steps after you’ve been injured could increase your chances of successfully seeking a settlement for your severe injuries and losses that resulted from the accident.
These steps should be followed after being involved in a pedestrian accident:
Seek prompt medical care for anyone who may be injured
Call the police to the scene
Document the scene
Collect contact information for everyone involved
Gather witnesses contact information
Hire an Accident Lawyer
After the crash, you may also consider hiring a lawyer. The process of filing a claim and seeking compensation for your injuries and losses could be a complicated one especially while you are recovering from those same injuries.
Our Chicago pedestrian accident attorneys can shepherd you through the legal side of things so that you can focus on recovering from your trauma or caring for an injured loved one.
Steps to Take After You’ve Been Injured as a Pedestrian
In this Article
Damages in a Chicago Pedestrian Accident
When a pedestrian is hit by a motor vehicle, you can sustain multiple injuries. Those injuries could range from minor to severe. Receiving compensation for those injuries could make all the difference in the world especially when you’re looking at the possibility of long term effects and medical expenses.
Causes of Chicago Pedestrian Accidents
Like any type of accident the cause and liability for pedestrian accidents may not always be clear right away. A variety of factors can contribute to a pedestrian being hit by a car. Some of the most common reasons for Illinois pedestrian accidents are:
Often, pedestrians are not at fault in vehicle accidents as many pedestrian accidents occur due to distracted driving or negligence and a disregard for pedestrian safety. If you’ve been involved in a pedestrian accident, our Chicago pedestrian accident attorneys will work with you to make sure you receive compensation for any serious injuries you sustained.
Pedestrian Accidents and Teenagers
Anyone can be in a pedestrian accident, but teenagers have a higher risk. They’re old enough to commute to school or work alone but not necessarily old enough to drive. They’re also more likely to act recklessly, like crossing a street without checking for oncoming traffic.
Teenagers At Greater Risk
According to the 2011 Chicago Pedestrian Crash Analysis, teens between the ages of 15 and 18 are the most likely to be involved in a pedestrian crash. A staggering 40% of pedestrian fatalities in Chicago occurred due to hit and run accidents.
If you were hurt by a negligent driver in Illinois, you may be eligible to reclaim damages through an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. Your pedestrian accident case could hold the at-fault driver responsible for:
Medical bills
Future treatment needs
Lost income
Loss of future earning capacity
Punitive Damages
Sometimes pedestrian accidents are more than simply a driver being distracted or mistakenly making a turn where they were not supposed to. If the driver who injured you was behaving recklessly or with a wanton disregard for your rights, you may also be awarded punitive damages. These damages are meant to punish a defendant for acting in an inexcusably dangerous manner.
Is It Worth Getting a Lawyer for a Pedestrian Accident?
Depending on your situation, you may choose to handle your case without a lawyer. You can file a personal injury claim with the insurance company on your own. However, it may be worth your while to get an experienced lawyer to help file your Chicago pedestrian accident claim.
A Chicago pedestrian accident attorney will be familiar with how these cases typically unfold. They can use their extensive knowledge of pedestrian accident cases to help you navigate the process and increase your chances of a successful accident claim.
Be Wary of Insurance Companies
Insurance companies advertise as your champion when disaster strikes but they are for-profit businesses, so their motivations are not exactly in line with yours and your needs. It’s in their best interest to offer you low payouts.
If you are seeking compensation to help with your recovery from your injuries and the lost income that resulted from the accident, then you want someone on your side that will fight for you and not their bottom line. Your experienced pedestrian accident attorneys will protect your right to compensation and negotiate for a fair settlement so you get exceptional case results that could be incredibly helpful to your recovery from serious injury.
Get the Representation You Deserve
Additionally, you can be sure the driver who struck you will have legal representation. Hiring a lawyer will put you on equal footing with the party involved. When you are fighting for the compensation you need to recover from someone else’s negligence, you do not want to fight that fight alone.
And you don’t have to. Our experienced attorneys can help you prove a driver’s negligence and gather evidence to support your claim. They will keep you on top of all the proceeding and deadlines while you focus on recovering from your injuries.
Can I Afford a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?
After suffering an accident, you may be too hurt to return to work and, thus, lose your ability to make income. We understand you may struggle to make ends meet while you recover.
Monetary concerns shouldn’t stop you from preserving your legal rights and securing the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
We Work on a Contingency-Fee Basis
Our law firm works on a contingency-fee basis. That means we only get paid when you do. Our clients don’t have to worry about out-of-pocket expenses for excellent legal care.
We will fight to get you the settlement you’re entitled to and only then will we collect a fee.
When Should You Contact a Lawyer After a Pedestrian Accident?
There is no one right time to contact an experienced Chicago pedestrian accident lawyer. You can call us from the accident scene, from your hospital bed, or when you’re looking over a settlement offer from the insurance company.
The important thing is to call as soon as you are able to. As soon as you call us, we can step in and take over the legal side of things for you.
Statute of Limitations
Illinois has a statute of limitations on personal injury cases. You have just two years from the date of the accident to start your personal injury claim. If you let this deadline pass, you may miss your chance to seek the financial recovery you need and deserve for your injuries and losses.
Do not let this deadline pass you by and miss out on compensation that could be critical to your physical and financial recovery. Being left with the physical and financial bill for someone else’s negligence is not something that you should let happen.
Our Chicago Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Are Here for You
Our pedestrian accident lawyers in Chicago are here to advocate for your rights. We will work tirelessly to make sure that the liable party’s insurance company compensates you for your losses related to the accident.
You shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s negligent actions.
Free Consultation
Call The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers today to speak with a qualified attorney. Our legal team is standing by 24/7 to schedule your free consultation. We can go over the details of your situation to evaluate whether you have a valid pedestrian accident case.
The Kryder Law Group will provide a totally free, no obligation evaluation of your claim. Our team is experienced with accidents involving pedestrians and are ready to answer all your questions.
We like to understand the goals and expectations of every client before we begin a case and we are here to listen to you. That is why the Kryder Law Group provides a free consultation to every client.
What You Get in Your Free Consultation
When you call The Kryder Law Group, you’ll speak with an experienced pedestrian accident attorney who will:
Evaluate your case and determine the strengths and weaknesses.
Identify the value of your case and determine the compensation you may be eligible to get.
Evaluate the sources of insurance coverage.
Discuss the severity of your injuries to determine if you may need specialist medical care.
Evaluate whether expert testimony, such as an accident reconstructionist, is needed.
Give you an estimate of how long your case make take.
Listen to you and answer your questions about your pedestrian injuries.
Remember, there is no obligation. There is no cost. There is no reason not to call to find out for yourself what the value of a pedestrian injury case caused by negligent drivers may be.
A car enters the crosswalk and causes an accident. A Chicago pedestrian accident attorney can protect your rights if a reckless driver injured you.
(312) 223-1700 