If you’ve been hurt in a pedestrian accident, you may be dealing with a tough recovery, mounting medical bills, and insurance claim challenges. A Cincinnati pedestrian accident lawyer from our personal injury law firm will work to secure compensation for you, so you can focus on healing.
In this Article
What Traffic Laws Protect Pedestrian Safety in Ohio?
Ohio law—the Ohio Revised Code (ORC)—governs pedestrian safety, detailing duties for drivers and pedestrians. Drivers must yield at marked crosswalks, stop for visually impaired pedestrians, and exercise due care to avoid collisions (even with jaywalkers). Pedestrians must use sidewalks when available, yield to vehicles when crossing outside crosswalks, and follow traffic signals.
Do I Need a Cincinnati Pedestrian Accident Attorney?
If a pedestrian suffers catastrophic injuries after being hit by a car, they can pursue compensation with a pedestrian accident claim.
After a traffic accident, a Cincinnati personal injury attorney navigates local traffic laws to protect your rights. They can investigate the accident to preserve evidence (like medical records for your medical treatment and traffic camera footage), consult with accident reconstruction experts, identify negligent parties, and manage communication with the insurance company for maximum compensation. Most cases settle during negotiations, but your Cincinnati injury lawyers can file a lawsuit in court if needed.
Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Cincinnati, Ohio
Pedestrian accidents in Cincinnati can result in minor and severe injuries. This is because of the lack of physical protection against vehicles. Common pedestrian accident injuries can include broken bones, head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, pelvic injuries, internal injuries, or spinal cord injuries.
Many pedestrian accidents result from:
- Distracted driving (like cellphone use)
- Drivers failing to yield the right-of-way or not following traffic laws
- Speeding or driving recklessly
- Impaired driving (under the influence of alcohol or drugs)
- Malfunctioning traffic signals
- Poor visibility caused by bad weather can contribute
What to Do When Pedestrian Accidents Occur in Cincinnati, OH
Pedestrian-car accidents due to driver negligence can have life-altering consequences. When such an accident happens, injury victims should:
- Seek medical attention for injuries sustained and keep records of your emergency room and all other medical expenses.
- Call 911 to report the incident from the accident scene. Obtain a copy of the police report.
- Don’t admit fault or post about the accident on social media.
- Exchange contact and insurance information with the driver.
- Collect witness statements and take photos of the scene and your injuries.
- Contact our Ohio pedestrian accident law firm.
Who Is Liable for Pedestrian Crashes in Cincinnati?
Liability for pedestrian crashes in Cincinnati depends on proving negligence. At-fault parties can include negligent drivers (most often liable for failing to yield, speeding, or driving distracted), government entities (for unsafe road conditions), commercial employers (for crashes involving company vehicles), property owners (for hazards like obstructed views), and pedestrians themselves (for jaywalking, ignoring signals, or darting into oncoming traffic).
What If I Was Partially to Blame for the Pedestrian-Motor Vehicle Collision in Ohio?
Cincinnati uses a comparative negligence rule, allowing you to recover compensation even if you’re partially at fault—as long as your fault is 50% or less. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re over 50% at fault, you won’t be able to pursue a personal injury claim.
Can an Injured Person Recover Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Injuries?
Under Ohio personal injury law, injured pedestrians can seek compensation for past and future medical bills, lost wages, emotional or physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more. In fatal pedestrian injury cases, an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer can file a wrongful death claim to recover funeral costs and much more.
How Much Is My Cincinnati Pedestrian Accident Case Worth?
After a serious accident with an at-fault driver, our attorneys evaluate a pedestrian or wrongful death case considering factors such as economic damages, the severity of injuries, past and future medical costs, lost income, emotional suffering, and available insurance coverage.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit?
Pedestrians normally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit according to the Ohio statute of limitations.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm Today
If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries in a pedestrian accident caused by negligence or recklessness, contact our personal injury lawyers. We are proud of our proven track record.
We offer a free consultation. We can discuss your legal options and explain the legal process to you. Our firm operates on a contingency fee basis, so pedestrian accident victims don’t pay attorney fees unless we win their legal claims.
(312) 223-1700