Pedestrian Accident Attorney Illinois

Skilled Motor Vehicle Collision Lawyers for Schaumburg and Wheaton Residents

Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents are common in Illinois and throughout the United States. These accidents can have devastating consequences for the victims, who are often left to deal with life-altering injuries. If you or someone you love was injured in a pedestrian accident, you need to reach out to a Wheaton or Schaumburg pedestrian accident lawyer without delay. At Therman Law Offices, our focus is on helping our clients get the compensation that they need to heal and move on with their lives. Our injury lawyers understand that this is an extremely stressful time in your life, which is why we will handle your case with the utmost compassion.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines a pedestrian as any individual on foot, walking, running, jogging, hiking, sitting, or lying down who is involved in a motor vehicle crash. According to the NHTSA, there were 5,376 pedestrian deaths in 2015. In that same year, almost 129,000 pedestrians were treated in emergency departments for non-fatal crash-related injuries. Data from the Illinois Department of Transportation reveals that crashes involving pedestrians accounted for 1.6 percent of the overall crashes in 2015. In addition, there were 4,536 injuries caused by pedestrian accidents across the state in that year. Factors such as alcohol and speeding played a role in many pedestrian accidents.

Illinois law allows victims of pedestrian accidents to recover compensation from at-fault parties who negligently caused their harm. Negligence occurs when a person causes injuries or death to another person by failing to use the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would have used under the same or similar circumstances. For example, if a driver strikes a pedestrian because they were texting while driving, that driver would likely be liable for the pedestrian’s resulting harm. This is because a reasonably prudent driver would not text behind the wheel, understanding the risk of accidents and injuries associated with such conduct. Our pedestrian accident attorneys can help Schaumburg and Wheaton victims gather evidence of a driver’s negligence.

It is important to note that Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence doctrine, in which fault is relatively apportioned to each party involved. This simply means that the injured party’s total monetary reward will be reduced by their share (i.e., percentage) of fault for the accident. For example, if the injured party is considered to be 30 percent at fault, they will be able to take home 70 percent of the total award (100 percent minus the 30 percent of their own fault). The only exception to this rule is if the plaintiff is 50 percent or greater at fault, in which case they are barred from recovering any damages at all.

Since there is nothing protecting a pedestrian’s body during an accident, the injuries tend to be much more severe. These injuries often require years of painful recovery and rehabilitation. Fortunately, Illinois law allows accident victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages for their harm. Examples of these damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, hospital bills, prescription medication, physical therapy, lost wages, loss of future pay, and any other losses stemming from the accident. Each case is different, and the exact amount of compensation that an injured party will be entitled to receive will vary depending on the details of the specific case.

Explore Your Options with a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Schaumburg or Wheaton