About Pedestrian vs. Auto Accidents
Despite the general rule of pedestrian right of way, careless drivers continue to hit people crossing or walking along Illinois streets, causing serious injury and death. At the Chicago, Illinois law firm of John M. Molloy Law Group, we have experience representing those injured in motor vehicle accidents – and we know that too often, drivers fail to acknowledge basic rules of the road when they encounter a pedestrian. If you or a loved one were injured by a negligent motorist while walking along or crossing an Illinois street, call our injury lawyers today.Pedestrians have certain rights in Illinois; drivers are required to stop for pedestrians at all crosswalks (whether marked or unmarked). However, not all drivers observe these rights, and the many factors involved in pedestrian accidents include:
Speeding – the higher the speed, the higher the likelihood of a severe pedestrian injury.
• Elderly drivers – pedestrian injury rates are higher among older drivers, often because of age-related vision problems.
• Alcohol – in the blood of the driver or the pedestrian.
• Low light conditions – more pedestrians are struck during the evening and other periods with lowered visibility.
Types of Pedestrian Injuries
Despite these and other factors involved in pedestrian accidents, many drivers will attempt to blame the accident on the pedestrian to avoid legal liability. This lack of responsibility can seem particularly unjust to a pedestrian recovering from injuries such as:
• Severe head trauma
• Brain damage
• Leg injuries
• Spinal cord injury
• Paraplegia
• Quadriplegia
• Amputations
• Disfigurement
• Neck and back injuries
If you have been injured as a pedestrian because a driver failed to obey traffic laws, you have the right to file for compensation. At John M. Molloy Law Group, our personal injury attorneys conduct thorough accident investigations to determine blame accurately. We know that the smallest details may become the evidence needed to prove speed or driver inattention, even when the driver states otherwise. If the driver’s insurance company attempts to refute your claim, we will deal with them directly – we’ve been handling insurance companies for more than two decades and we will seek proper compensation on your behalf.