An Illinois pedestrian accident lawyer helps people struck by negligent drivers pursue compensation for medical bills, lost income, and serious injuries. Zayed Law represents injured pedestrians throughout Illinois, including Chicago, Naperville, Wheaton, Joliet, and communities across Cook, DuPage, Lake, and Will Counties.
Pedestrian accidents can occur at busy intersections, marked crosswalks, parking lots, and neighborhood streets. Without the protection of a vehicle, pedestrians often suffer injuries requiring extensive treatment and rehabilitation.
Led by attorney Adam Zayed, Zayed Law brings decades of combined personal injury experience and more than $150 million in reported client recoveries to injury claims across Illinois.
Call Zayed Law at (312) 726-1616 for a free consultation with an Illinois pedestrian accident lawyer.
How Can Zayed Law Help After a Pedestrian Accident?
Pedestrian accident claims often involve disputed fault and insurance companies attempting to minimize injuries. Our attorneys investigate what happened, identify responsible parties, and pursue compensation supported by the evidence.
Zayed Law can help by:
- Obtaining police reports and witness statements.
- Preserving traffic camera and surveillance footage.
- Investigating driver negligence and traffic violations.
- Reviewing medical records and future treatment needs.
- Identifying available insurance coverage.
- Calculating lost income and other damages.
- Negotiating settlements or pursuing litigation.
We handle communication with insurance companies while clients focus on recovering from their injuries.
What Causes Pedestrian Accidents in Illinois?
Many pedestrian collisions occur because motorists fail to follow traffic laws or pay attention to people walking nearby.
Failure to Yield at Crosswalks
Drivers who fail to yield when required at crosswalks and intersections may strike pedestrians crossing legally.
Distracted Driving
Texting, adjusting navigation systems, and other distractions can prevent drivers from noticing pedestrians.
Speeding
Excessive speed reduces reaction time and increases the force of a collision.
Unsafe Turns
Drivers making left or right turns may focus on other vehicles while overlooking pedestrians crossing their paths.
Drunk or Drug-Impaired Driving
Impaired motorists may have difficulty judging distances, recognizing hazards, and reacting appropriately.
Parking Lot and Driveway Accidents
Drivers backing out of parking spaces or driveways may fail to check for pedestrians.
These incidents can happen on Chicago streets, near suburban Metra stations, or along commercial corridors in communities such as Aurora and Joliet.
Related practice areas include Illinois Car Accident Lawyer and Illinois Distracted Driving Lawyer.
What Injuries Can Pedestrian Accidents Cause?
Pedestrians are particularly vulnerable to serious injuries when struck by passenger vehicles or commercial trucks.
Common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Broken bones and fractures
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Severe cuts and abrasions
- Pelvic and hip injuries
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Emotional trauma
Some victims require surgery, extended rehabilitation, or lifelong medical assistance.
For more information about severe injuries, see our Illinois Brain Injury Lawyer and Illinois Catastrophic Injury Lawyer pages.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Pedestrian Accident?
The driver who struck the pedestrian is often responsible when negligent driving caused the collision.
However, additional parties may share liability depending on the circumstances.
Potentially responsible parties include:
- Negligent passenger vehicle drivers
- Commercial truck operators
- Employers of drivers acting within their employment duties
- Vehicle manufacturers responsible for qualifying defects
- Government entities or contractors responsible for certain dangerous roadway conditions
Claims involving public entities may have special procedural requirements and deadlines.
Our attorneys investigate available evidence to determine which parties may be legally responsible.
What Compensation Can Illinois Pedestrian Accident Victims Recover?
Compensation depends on the injuries, financial losses, degree of fault, and available insurance coverage.
Economic Damages
These include measurable financial losses:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Hospitalization and surgery
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Assistive devices and personal care
Non-Economic Damages
Victims may also pursue compensation for:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
When a pedestrian accident causes death, surviving family members may have grounds for a wrongful death claim.
Contact Zayed Law for a free pedestrian accident case evaluation. Our Illinois attorneys can review your injuries and explain your compensation options.
What Does Illinois Law Say About Pedestrian Right-of-Way?
Illinois traffic laws establish responsibilities for both motorists and pedestrians.
Under 625 ILCS 5/11-1002, drivers generally must yield to pedestrians within qualifying crosswalks when traffic signals are absent or not operating, subject to statutory conditions.
Pedestrians also have responsibilities when crossing outside marked crosswalks.
However, crossing outside a crosswalk does not automatically make a pedestrian responsible for an accident. Drivers must still exercise reasonable care and take appropriate precautions to avoid collisions.
Determining liability requires examining traffic signals, visibility, vehicle speed, pedestrian movements, and other relevant circumstances.
Can I Recover Compensation if I Was Partially at Fault?
Yes. Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116.
In most applicable negligence cases, pedestrians can recover compensation when they are 50% or less responsible for the collision. Their damages are reduced according to their percentage of fault.
For example, a pedestrian awarded $100,000 who is found 20% responsible would recover $80,000.
Someone found more than 50% responsible generally cannot recover under this rule.
Insurance companies may attempt to blame pedestrians for crossing outside marked crosswalks or failing to notice approaching vehicles. Evidence helps determine whether these arguments are justified.
What Should I Do After a Pedestrian Accident?
Taking appropriate steps after a collision can protect your health and preserve evidence.
- Call 911. Request medical assistance and report the accident.
- Seek medical treatment. Some injuries may not be immediately apparent.
- Document the scene. Photograph vehicle damage, crosswalk markings, traffic signals, and visible injuries when safe.
- Collect information. Obtain the driver’s contact and insurance details.
- Identify witnesses. Record contact information for anyone who observed the collision.
- Preserve records. Keep medical bills, accident reports, and documentation of missed work.
Consider speaking with an attorney before providing recorded insurance statements or accepting a settlement.
How Long Do I Have to File an Illinois Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit?
Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, most Illinois personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years after the claim accrues.
Different deadlines may apply to cases involving minors, government entities, or other special circumstances.
Because traffic footage may be deleted and witnesses can become difficult to locate, seeking legal guidance promptly can help preserve evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Illinois Pedestrian Accidents
Yes, potentially. Drivers who negligently fail to yield or otherwise violate their duty of care may be responsible for resulting injuries. Evidence must establish liability and damages.
No. Crossing outside a marked crosswalk does not automatically prevent compensation. Illinois’ comparative negligence rules consider each party’s responsibility for the collision.
You may still have legal options. Uninsured motorist coverage may apply to qualifying hit-and-run accidents, depending on your policy and the circumstances.
There is no standard settlement amount. Compensation depends on medical expenses, lost income, injury severity, permanent limitations, liability, and available insurance coverage.
Zayed Law offers free consultations and handles qualifying personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. Attorney fees generally depend on recovering compensation, subject to the written agreement.
Contact an Illinois Pedestrian Accident Lawyer at Zayed Law
A pedestrian accident can leave you facing serious injuries, financial uncertainty, and a difficult recovery. When another party’s negligence caused the collision, Illinois law may provide a path to compensation.
Zayed Law represents injured pedestrians throughout Illinois, investigating accidents and pursuing financial recovery from responsible parties.
Call Zayed Law at (312) 726-1616 today for a free consultation. Our Illinois pedestrian accident lawyers can help protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
