Pedestrian Accidents

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Pedestrian Accidents

While car accident statistics have generally been declining since the 1980s, the same cannot be said of car accidents involving pedestrians. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, 5,376 pedestrians were killed in 2015. In fact, that is a 9.1% increase in pedestrian deaths compared to 2001, when 4,901 pedestrians were killed.

Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

These accidents can be the fault of the driver, pedestrian, or a combination of both. These are the most common causes of pedestrian accidents:

  • Failing to stop at a pedestrian crossing
  • Distracted driving (e.g., texting or talking on the phone)
  • Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
  • Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
  • Vehicle malfunction
  • Blindspots

The Compensation You Deserve

Under Illinois law, if you are involved in a pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to reimbursement of medical expenses, and compensation for pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, permanent impairment, lost wages, and property damage. If you or a loved one was killed as a result of a pedestrian accident, you may be entitled recovery under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180/1). Consulting an attorney early on in your case is the best way to ensure that your damages have been properly documented so that you receive fair value for your claim. Also, be sure to get medical treatment right away if you believe that you have been injured, as more often than not, this is a big factor in the outcome of car accident cases.

Illinois Time Limits on Filing Suit

Illinois sets a time limit of two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in the state’s civil court system. In most cases, this two-year time limit, known as a “statute of limitations,” begins to run on the date of the accident. Sometimes, however, a statute of limitations might run from the date that you discovered you were injured, rather than the date of the event that injured you. This later date is known as a “discovery date.”

For injury claims against a city or county, you have one year to file a lawsuit. The time limit to sue the state is generally two years, but you must file a formal claim within one year in order to sue.

A qualified personal injury attorney can help guide you through this difficult time and alleviate some of the stress.

Contact a Lawyer You Can Trust

For a confidential, compassionate, in-depth, free, and, most importantly, thorough consultation with a Rockford Personal Injury Lawyer about your pedestrian-involved auto accident injury case in Rockford, Belvidere, Freeport, Rochelle, Oregon, Loves Park, Byron, Machesney Park, Roscoe, Rockton, or elsewhere in the State of Illinois, call or text message us at (815) 391-0089, or e-mail us 24/7/365. We offer in-office consultations, and routinely make visits to clients’ homes, hospital rooms, nursing homes, and other off-site locations to make retaining our services as easy as possible.

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