Each year, tens of thousands of American pedestrians are injured in accidents involving vehicles. Many suffer significant wounds, and fatal injuries number in the thousands.
In light of how serious these accidents can be, the court system in Cicero provides ways for injured people—with help from dedicated personal injury attorneys—to receive compensation for their damages. If you are injured in a pedestrian accident, contacting a Cicero pedestrian accident lawyer may be the best way to ensure that your right to restitution is protected.
Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents
Being struck by a vehicle can have devastating results on an unprotected pedestrian. The body is simply not built to handle the amount of force and trauma that the impact from a car, bus, or truck may cause. Common injuries in pedestrian accidents include damage to the spinal cord that may result in paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, loss of limbs, severe burns, and broken bones.
When a person suffers injury in a pedestrian accident, they may be entitled to compensation if the driver who hit them is found to be at fault for the accident. Specifically, they could be compensated for the medical costs associated with these injuries, the value of any damaged property, and sometimes more subjective damages like pain and suffering or the inability to engage in their normal daily routine. By contacting a Cicero pedestrian accident attorney, an injured pedestrian could put themselves in a position to receive the best possible compensation for their suffering.
What if the Pedestrian Passes Away?
Unfortunately, deaths are not uncommon in pedestrian accidents. In the event a pedestrian is killed in an accident involving a motor vehicle, the case would become a wrongful death case instead of a personal injury case. This means that the person filing the claim in court would be a family member or the designated “personal representative” of the deceased person. However, the same kinds of damages can still be recovered, including both economic and non-economic losses related to the accident and the ensuing death.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Most pedestrians know to look both ways when crossing the street and to avoid jaywalking. Unfortunately, though, there are some causes of pedestrian accidents that the pedestrian involved has no ability to actively prevent.
Drivers who are intoxicated or under the influence of drugs often may be a greater danger to pedestrians than sober ones. Additionally, it has become increasingly common for drivers to use their cell phones to call or text while they are on the road, and this distracted state can lead to increased accidents.
An experienced Cicero pedestrian accident lawyer could work to determine the cause of their client’s accident as well as the amount of fault held by each involved party. This may lead to higher compensation in court for the injured plaintiff, due to higher levels of fault being attributed to the driver of the vehicle.
Seek Assistance from a Cicero Pedestrian Accident Attorney Today
A seasoned Cicero pedestrian accident lawyer should have the knowledge necessary to make the legal process much easier for you after an accident. They could help with all aspects of your case, including gathering and preserving evidence, bringing in expert witnesses for assigning proper damage amounts, filing all paperwork within the required time limits, and arguing for reduced fault on your behalf.
If you are injured from a pedestrian accident, contact a Cicero pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible so that they can begin working toward the best possible outcome for your case. Schedule your consultation and get started on your case by calling today.