Choosing to walk to work, to run errands, or to get exercise is a responsible decision. Not only is walking good for your body, but it also contributes to cleaner air in Elk Grove Village by reducing auto emissions. Sadly, choosing to walk can also put you in danger. Drivers who do not properly yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, who drive up on a curb, or who are not careful in parking lots may collide with individuals. The resulting injuries could leave your life in chaos.
An Elk Grove Village pedestrian accident lawyer could help you pursue claims for appropriate damages after being hit by a negligent driver. The team of experienced personal injury attorneys at The Kryder Law Group could explain your legal rights, investigate how a driver violated those rights, and build a strong case for compensation on your behalf.
Getting behind the wheel of any type of vehicle places a burden on that driver. That driver must follow the rules of the road and keep their attention on their surroundings at all times. This duty extends to other drivers, passengers, and even pedestrians.
In the most basic sense, this requires drivers to always keep their eyes on the road. A driver who looks at a billboard, who is eating while behind the wheel, or chooses to use a cell phone, becomes distracted. Not only are these distractions a leading cause of pedestrian accidents, but they also indicate negligence.
Another way to prove a failure to perform one’s duty behind the wheel is to show that a defendant’s actions violated a rule of the road. The state’s crosswalk laws are especially relevant in pedestrian accident claims. If you can show that a defendant received a conviction in traffic court connected to the incident—the conviction is proof of negligence per se—and a civil court will presume the driver is at-fault for the collision. A proactive Elk Grove Village pedestrian accident attorney could help gather all of the evidence needed to prove defendant fault.
The fact that an injured plaintiff was on foot at the time of the incident does not prove that a driver was negligent. 735 ILCS 2/1116 requires courts to evaluate the actions of all parties in accidents and to assign blame accordingly. This means that if a defendant argues that a pedestrian moved out from between parked cars or that they crossed the street against the light, a court may reduce an award at trial. A skilled pedestrian injury lawyer in Elk Grove Village could help prove that a defendant’s failure to keep a pedestrian safe was the only reason for the collision.
Pedestrian accidents can result in injuries that affect every portion of your life. Not only will you need to seek medical care for your physical injuries, but an incident could affect your ability to earn a living and your overall quality of life. The only way to reimburse those losses is to pursue a civil negligence claim against the at-fault driver.
An Elk Grove Village pedestrian accident lawyer could take every necessary step to promote your case. They could work to explain your rights as a pedestrian and how a defendant’s actions violated those rights. They could also determine the extent of your losses to ensure that any demand package asks for fair payments. Though, there is a short time to seek compensation. So, contact the dedicated team of legal professionals at The Kryder Law Group today to get started.