Injured at a Crosswalk? Know Your Rights in a Pedestrian Accident

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Pedestrian Accidents

Have you been injured by a car or bicycle as a pedestrian? Such an accident can leave pedestrians severely injured and may result in death. The good news is that Illinois law is often on the side of the pedestrian. In many circumstances, a pedestrian has the right of way, and it is the fault of the driver if a pedestrian is hit.

How Common Are Pedestrian Accidents?

According to the most recent data available, there are 4,637 pedestrian-involved accidents a year in Illinois. Of these, the Illinois Department of Transportation reports that 126 were fatal. A vast majority of the accidents occurred on city streets in urban areas.

Nationwide, there were 4,884 pedestrians killed and 65,000 reported injured in 2014. This means that a pedestrian is injured every eight minutes in this country.

Alcohol plays a role in about half of pedestrian accidents, with either the pedestrian or driver registering a high blood alcohol content level. Also, children younger than 14 and people older than 65 make up a large percentage of those who die in a pedestrian accident. Young children are more likely to be hit by inattentive drivers, and the elderly are more likely to have complications from their injuries.

What Rules Are Drivers Bound to Follow?

There are numerous laws drivers must follow with regard to pedestrians. For example, a driver must come to a complete stop and yield:

• When a pedestrian is walking in a crosswalk;
• When children are near a school zone crosswalk on school days;
• When a pedestrian is crossing on the driver’s side of the street and there are no traffic signals;
• When turning at an intersection; and
• When a pedestrian is following traffic or pedestrian signals.

If you were hit as a pedestrian and the driver was not following the law, this is evidence of a driver’s unreasonableness. In court, you will have to prove that the driver acted unreasonably in hitting you. Even if a driver is not violating a law, he or she may still be liable for your injuries.

Contact a Lake County Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

If you have been injured as a pedestrian, you have a limited time to bring your claim. Typically, you have two years, but in some circumstances, you may have less time. It is critical to speak to an attorney who has your best interests in mind before speaking to an insurance company.

Our firm seeks to have victims made whole again and to hold wrongdoers accountable. Contact a skilled Lake County pedestrian accident attorney at Salvi & Maher, LLP by calling at 847-662-3303.

Sources:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/062500050K11-1003.1.htm

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K11-1002

https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/traffic_safety/bikepedsafety.html

http://www.idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Resources/Safety/Crash-Reports/crash-facts/2014%20CF.pdf