Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in Chicago

Pedestrians fill the streets and sidewalks of Chicago throughout the day and night. Unfortunately, too many drivers fail to pay attention to them in areas such as crosswalks, or they ignore or refuse to respect when pedestrians have the right of way. The results can be tragic.

Illinois Department of Transportation statistics show that, on average, every year in the City of Chicago:

  • 2,919 vehicles get involved in collisions with pedestrians
  • 38 pedestrians die in these traffic accidents
  • 2,751 pedestrians suffer injuries.

About Our Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we protect the rights of injury victims and their families, including pedestrians who are hurt in crashes caused by negligent car drivers.

Over the course of our law firm’s history, we have secured more than $2.5 billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of clients throughout Illinois. If you or your loved one suffered harm in a pedestrian accident, we will put that experience to work for you today.

Call or reach us online now. We will review your case in a free consultation.

Why Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen in Chicago?

Distracted driving frequently causes collisions between pedestrians and drivers in Chicago, Waukegan and communities throughout Illinois. Too many drivers are busy with texting or talking on their phones and don’t pay attention to what is around them. As a result, they often fail to see pedestrians who are in crosswalks or walking along the side of the road.

Many of these accidents also result from what is called “inattentional blindness.” In other words, a driver may clearly see a pedestrian. Still, due to inattention, the driver fails to react by slowing down, swerving or coming to a full stop.

A key issue in most pedestrian accident cases is who had the right of way: The pedestrian or the driver? As CyberDriveIllinois.com points out, drivers in our state must yield to a pedestrian when drivers make a turn at any intersection, including lawful turns after the driver has come to a complete stop at a red light, stop sign or flashing red signal. Additionally, pedestrians have the right of way when they:

  • Are in a marked crosswalk (or a child in close proximity to a school zone crosswalk)
  • In an unmarked crosswalk on the driver’s side of the road, and there are no traffic control signals
  • Walk with a green light or follow a walk signal
  • Leave or enter the road from a driveway, private road or alley
  • Enter an intersection with a flashing yellow arrow
  • Enter a crosswalk before the light has changed.

Accidents happen when drivers ignore these rules of the road and fail to stop, or when they come dangerously too close to pedestrians. If a driver’s failure to yield caused you or a loved one to suffer injuries, you should take immediate steps to protect your legal rights and pursue all compensation you are due.

What Should You Do If a Car Hits You While You Are Walking?

The most important step that you can take is to get help from an experienced Chicago pedestrian accident attorney. At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we will provide a free and immediate review of your case, with no strings attached. Additionally, you should try to do the following:

  • Get medical attention. A doctor should check you for injuries as soon as possible and start your treatment plan. The longer you wait to see a doctor, the longer you will prolong your recovery. Additionally, many injuries such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) can difficult to detect. A doctor will know how to examine you and conduct the proper tests.
  • Get a copy of your accident report. You should contact the law enforcement agency that prepared the report such as the Chicago Police Department, or you can order a copy through the Illinois State Police.
  • Keep all of your information. Hold on to accident scene photos, witness names and numbers, insurance company letters and receipts from all accident-related expenses, including your medical bills.
  • Keep a journal. Write a summary of what you recall about the accident and keep track of how your injuries affect your ability to work and engage in other activities.
  • Report the crash to your auto insurance company. You should give your insurer notice about the accident, especially if you will need to file a claim with the insurer. For instance, if you were injured in a hit-and-run crash, you may need to file an uninsured motorist (UM) claim.
  • Refer the driver’s insurance company to us. While you focus on your physical recovery, your lawyer from Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., can deal with the driver’s insurer. You should talk to your lawyer before you give any statement to the insurer and before you accept any settlement offer.

How Can a Chicago Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Help You?

Our goal at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. is simple: We want to pursue all compensation you are due so that you can move on with your life after a pedestrian accident. We will start by conducting a thorough investigation of your case. As part of that investigation, we may:

  • Review the police accident report
  • Collect and study accident scene photos
  • Inspect the accident scene and the driver’s vehicle
  • Talk with eyewitnesses
  • Analyze available video footage
  • Subpoena (if necessary) and look at the driver’s cell phone records
  • Examine the driver’s chemical test results (if police obtained a breath, blood or urine sample)
  • Download and study electronic data recorder information (if available)
  • Gather and analyze your medical records
  • Request the driver’s debit/credit card receipts from the period just before the crash.

Determining Liability After a Pedestrian Accident

We will work hard to determine why the driver hit you and who should be held responsible for your physical, emotional and financial harm.

In some cases, the driver is not the only one who should be held liable. The driver’s employer or a bar or social host who provided alcohol to the driver, for instance, could be liable as well.

We will want to identify every potential defendant and all sources of compensation available to you. In order to determine the cause of the accident and to fully calculate your losses, we may also consult with experts in accident reconstruction, life care planning and other fields.

We Will Build a Case in Your Favor

Our attorneys are skilled negotiators and litigators. We will prepare a persuasive case for a settlement or, if necessary, we will be ready to go to trial. Please see Our Results for examples of the awards that we have secured for clients both in and out of the courtroom.

Throughout your case, we will advise you of any settlement offers that you receive and help you to make decisions that will affect your case and your future. We will always be available to talk about your case and answer your questions.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Illinois Pedestrian Accident Claims?

Illinois law limits the amount of time that you have to file a claim after a pedestrian accident. This is called the statute of limitations. In general, you must file a claim within two years after you suffer injuries in an accident or within two years after the death of a loved one.

If you do not meet those deadlines, you could lose your right to pursue compensation. So, it will be highly important to contact a lawyer as soon as you are ready to take action.

Contact Our Chicago Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we represent clients on a contingency fee basis. So, you will not pay any legal fees unless we secure a financial recovery for you.

The bottom line is that we don’t any concerns about paying upfront for a lawyer to keep you from seeking the legal help that you need. We know how a lawyer can make a major difference for you and your loved ones as you move forward after a pedestrian accident.

To learn more, contact us today. We will review your case in a free consultation through our offices in Chicago and Lake County.