According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were 3,544 accidents involving pedestrians in Cook County in 2016. In Illinois as a whole, 1.5 percent of all crashes involved pedestrians in 2016, causing 68 deaths and nearly 4,000 injuries.
Since pedestrians generally have little protection or safety gear on, these types of accidents can often cause severe injuries or fatalities. Fortunately, you may be able to seek legal recourse for such an incident with a compassionate personal injury attorney’s help. If you have injuries resulting from a pedestrian accident, it may be beneficial to consult a skilled Cook County Pedestrian accident lawyer about your legal options. En Español.
Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) found that nearly 5,000 pedestrians die in accidents involving automobiles each year, and approximately 76,000 pedestrians suffer injuries from being hit by a vehicle. With so many fatalities and injuries, it is important to assess the reasons why these accidents occur.
Common causes of pedestrian-involved auto accidents include:
- Distracted driving, often due to texting or talking on the phone
- Speeding
- Failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians at crosswalks
- Disregarding traffic signs or signals
- Failing to use a turn signal
- Disregarding weather or traffic conditions
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Far too often, these accidents occur due to driver negligence. When this is the case, though, a Cook County pedestrian accident lawyer could help an injured plaintiff pursue financial recovery for any injuries and losses they suffered.
Comparative Fault in Pedestrian Accident Cases
Also known as comparative negligence, the modified comparative fault laws in Illinois are detailed in 735 ILCS §5/2-1116. If a civil case involving a pedestrian accident goes to court, the jury would be tasked with determining under this statute if the plaintiff was at all to blame for their injuries.
If they do find that the plaintiff somehow contributed to their own accident, instead of throwing the case out, they would assign a percentage of fault to them. This same percentage would then be deducted from the amount of compensation they would have received if they were not at all at fault.
However, if the plaintiff is found to be 51 percent or more at fault, they would not be entitled to any compensation. A seasoned pedestrian accident lawyer in Cook County could help plaintiffs determine if they may be partially liable for their injuries and how comparative fault laws in Illinois may impact their case.
How a Cook County Pedestrian Accident Attorney Could Help
If you were recently involved in a pedestrian accident, you may need to take steps quickly to protect your legal rights. One of these steps should be consulting with a knowledgeable Cook County Pedestrian accident lawyer.
A skilled attorney could review your case to determine if you have a valid claim for relief. If so, they may be able to obtain a fair settlement offer or attempt to get compensation through a civil court case on your behalf.
The money you may receive can be used to pay for medical bills or replace your lost wages. It may even help secure your financial future if you are unable to work for an extended period of time. Call today to learn more about how a dedicated lawyer could work to protect your legal rights after a serious motorcycle wreck.
