Chicago Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Helping Injured Victims In Chicago since 1977
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Helping Injured Pedestrians Recover
Hit by a car in Chicago? If a negligent motorist caused you to be injured, the pedestrian accident attorneys at Strom Yen Injury Attorneys can help you recover. Our injury law firm will investigate your accident and help you navigate the personal injury claims process to ensure you obtain compensation from all negligent parties. We can help make sure your medical bills are paid, your lost income is restored, and you are compensated for the pain and suffering, and other losses you have encountered. Representing injured victims in Chicago since 1977, our law firm has recovered millions on behalf of our clients.
Hit by a car? Let us assist you in moving forward with a pedestrian accident claim or personal injury lawsuit. Contact Strom Yen Injury Attorneys online or call (312) 609-0400 to schedule a free consultation.
What Damages Are Recoverable in Pedestrian Accident Claims?
Recovering after a pedestrian accident is difficult physically, emotionally, and financially. If you were injured because of a negligent motorist, you may be able to file a personal injury claim to recover compensation for the harm you have endured. Recoverable damages, include, but are not limited to:
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses for debilitating injuries vary depending on treatments like surgery (including metal implants and skin grafts), orthopedic casts, pain management options, rehabilitation, nursing home care, and aids for victims left with paraplegia/quadriplegia who may need walking and/or breathing aids. Cases involving permanently disabling conditions often conclude in victims receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses following the accident.
Lost Wages
Injuries interfere with work schedules and reduce a pedestrian accident victim's ability to earn a living. Filing a personal injury lawsuit will assist you in recovering lost income that resulted from your accident. Our experienced Chicago injury lawyers can help you recover damages for missed work, income opportunities, and reduced earning ability. Rewards may include missed bonuses, pay raises, promotions, sales commissions, and tips/other non-salary benefits.
Pain and Suffering
Physical and mental pain and suffering are the by-products of the physical injury and trauma caused by pedestrian accidents. Victims may experience post accident effects like anxiety, depression, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, fear, shock, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). These non-economic damages are difficult to quantify. Awards are generally determined by multiplying the amount of economic damages by a number that reflects the severity of the injury.
Pedestrians At Risk for Serious Injuries
Recent statistics from the GHSA (Governors Highway Safety Association) conducted in all 50 states, display a disturbing increase in pedestrian fatalities (with overall traffic deaths down 6%). The study revealed the largest rise in pedestrian fatalities since 1990. According to 2019 statistics, a pedestrian was killed every 85 minutes in traffic crashes. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) reported that 6,205 pedestrians were killed and an estimated 76,000 pedestrians were seriously injured nationwide. To take action, the NHTSA has set up educational and traffic enforcement programs that advocate pedestrian safety in cities with large pedestrian populations.
Our pedestrian accident attorneys understand that victims have many questions after an accident. We can answer those questions, address your concerns, and guide you on the path to recovering maximum compensation.
What To Do After a Pedestrian Accident
When a pedestrian is involved in an accident, emergency services should be contacted, information collected, and witnesses at the scene should be interviewed. If negligence or recklessness caused the accident, victims can file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party.
Contact Emergency Medical Services/Receive Treatment
Pedestrian accident victims are at high risk for a variety of severe injuries, so it’s important to get first responders on the way immediately after the crash. Even when injuries don’t appear to be severe at first, you should get checked out by a medical professional to identify internal injuries that may be present.
Move out of the Roadway
The driver should move out of traffic to prevent further collisions with other motorists. If the victim is in the roadway, the driver may need to wait for the ambulance before moving the vehicle. Emergency medical personnel will provide further assistance and give additional instruction tp ensure that people at the scene are safe.
Document the Details
If able, the accident victim will need to photograph or write down the details of the crash, such as the license plate numbers of all vehicles involved, insurance data, and contact information of the driver. Additionally, photographing crosswalks, traffic lights, and the accident scene can help a pedestrian accident attorney prove fault in a personal injury claim.
Contact A Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Contact a pedestrian accident attorney to help ensure your rights as an injured pedestrian are protected. Your Chicago auto accident lawyer can handle insurance adjusters, interview witnesses, gather additional evidence, and help you calculate how much your claim may be worth.
What Causes Pedestrian Accidents in Illinois?
- Distracted Drivers
- Speeding
- Failure to Yield
- Disobeying Traffic Signs/Signals
- Driver Impairment
Common Injuries Pedestrian Accident Victims Face
Pedestrian accidents in Chicago often result in catastrophic injuries and may even be deadly. Motor vehicles have safety features to protect occupants. Pedestrians have little to no protection, and the human body is not made to withstand direct impact with an object weighing a thousand pounds or more. The majority of severe trauma results from victims hitting vehicle bumpers, hoods, and/or the windshield area. Some of the most common injuries our pedestrian accident attorneys see include:
- Burns that can lead to infection and permanent scarring.
- Contusions (bruises) and lacerations (deep cuts) including internal body damage.
- Dental or facial injuries that may incorporate eye damage and vision loss
- Head trauma from second-impact is capable of causing concussions and more severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) such as brain hemorrhaging that can result in lasting cognitive disabilities or even death.
- Spinal cord injuries, which may include paralysis (paraplegia/quadriplegia) or another loss of function and/or mobility due to fractures and herniation that cause spinal discs to bulge or slip.
- Orthopedic trauma that involves severe injury to the bones (breaks and fractures) or damage to other components of the musculoskeletal system (joints and/or soft tissues). Most often fractures and dislocations are found in the claimant’s hips, ribs, wrist, and even back/neck.
“Best firm in Chicago! I would recommend this firm to anyone who’s looking to be represented. The staff is very professional and friendly. Kevin Yen is the best. He’s informative, reliable, and prompt. Kevin’s promptness is one of the many things that stood out to me. As he was very patient with me and all of the questions and concerns that I had for him. I can say with confidence that Kevin and his firm went above and beyond to properly communicate and share updates with me. Hands down the best ever. I would highly recommend this amazing firm.”
What Type of Accident Lawyer Do You Need?
Our accident law firm handles a wide range of personal injury and workers’ compensation cases in Chicago. We are:
FAQs About Pedestrian Accidents in Chicago
If you bear some responsibility for the pedestrian accident, your role in causing the crash may reduce the amount recoverable. Under Illinois modified comparative negligence law, an injured victim can only recover if his or her percentage of fault was below 51%.
Several factors can give you a general idea of how much your settlement is worth. To provide you with a fairly accurate estimate, your pedestrian accident attorney will consider the severity of your injuries, any legitimate disputes in your case, your degree of fault, and the negligent driver’s insurance limits.
In Illinois, pedestrian accident victims generally have two years to file an injury lawsuit. Special consideration may apply to your case, however. If you fail to take legal action before the deadline, you could be barred from recovering damages.
Contact our Chicago pedestrian accident attorneys online or call (312) 609-0400 to schedule a free consultation.