Chicago Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Over a Decade of Award-Winning Representation for Victims

When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, odds are the injuries will be serious. It goes without saying that the human body is no match for a two-ton automotive vehicle, let alone one moving at moderate to high rates of speed. Since 2005, the Chicagoland personal injury lawyer at Panio Law Offices has successfully helped clients fight for the compensation they need for recovery. Let our firm help you hold irresponsible people accountable for their errors.

What to Do Following an Accident

When a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle, it is important to know one's options and the steps to take to preserve one's rights to compensation.

If you were involved in an accident, you should:

• Get out of danger and secure appropriate medical treatment for your injuries – Getting immediate medical treatment (or getting assistance from others at the scene) is not only essential to your survival but also protecting your legal rights. The fact is that insurance adjusters and their attorneys often presume that individuals who delay seeking medical treatment following an accident have not been seriously injured. It's vital to both your health and your legal rights that you seek immediate medical care following an accident, even if it is inconvenient to do so at the time.
• Document the facts in your case – This includes identifying any witnesses who can attest to what happened at the time of your accident as much as is possible. Taking photos, after the accident (or having someone do so) will often aid any resulting personal injury claim immensely.

Filing a Claim against the At-Fault Driver

When a pedestrian is injured in a car accident, the driver is most often the one at fault. The law requires drivers to be alert and aware of what is going on around them, paying attention to all road hazards and driving defensively. A pedestrian is considered a hazard on the road, so drivers are required to be aware of their presence and avoid them in the course of their driving.

While the law typically holds a driver to a higher standard than a pedestrian, a pedestrian does not have the right to jaywalk. In that scenario, it can be very difficult to recover damages. However, if the pedestrian can show they were paying attention to their surroundings or that the driver was distracted or speeding, the driver may be found liable for injuries sustained outside a crosswalk, or the two may share in the responsibility for damages.