While it is the duty of drivers to always be aware of their surroundings, pedestrian accidents are still incredibly common in Illinois. In fact, the state of Illinois has seen a substantial increase in pedestrian deaths resulting from cars over the past few years. Whether crossing the street or on a jog, drivers are just as responsible for paying attention to pedestrians as pedestrians are to drivers, especially because drivers have the ability to cause severe injury or even death to pedestrians with their vehicles.
If you or someone you love has been involved in a pedestrian accident in DeKalb County, don’t wait to find legal representation that can help you recover damages.
Expert Northern Illinois Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
A pedestrian accident can be very stressful and traumatic. At Franks Gerkin Ponitz & Greeley, our team is committed to providing strategic, compassionate legal services for different personal injury cases, like pedestrian accidents. We understand just how overwhelming situations like these can be, which is why we work to fight for the best possible outcome in each case that we take on. With over five decades of experience representing our clients and their rights, you can trust our team to work with you and fight for the settlement that you deserve. If you were involved in a pedestrian accident in Northern Illinois, see how our team of expert personal injury attorneys at Franks Gerkin Ponitz & Greeley can represent you today.
What Is a Pedestrian Accident and How Do They Happen?
A pedestrian accident is an accident that occurs when a driver hits a pedestrian with their vehicle. Pedestrians are considered to be any individuals that are traveling on foot, whether they are walking on a crosswalk or they are running on the side of the road. Some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents in the state of Illinois include the following:
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents across the country. Unfortunately, there are a multitude of things that can distract a driver and take their attention away from the road. From texting or changing the music to having a screaming toddler in the backseat, sometimes drivers take their eyes off the road for more than a few seconds. When a driver isn’t paying enough attention to the road, it can not only slow down their reaction time, but the driver may not notice the upcoming pedestrian until it’s too late to stop. For example, a driver that has been staring at their phone may not notice the upcoming crosswalk where they are supposed to yield to pedestrians, ultimately hitting them because they couldn’t stop in time.
Impaired Driving
When an individual is driving a vehicle under the influence of some kind of drugs or alcohol, it is considered to be impaired driving. Impaired driving is another frequent cause of pedestrian accidents because drivers that are under the influence have slower reaction times and poor judgment. This means that even if an impaired driver may notice a pedestrian crossing in front of them, they might not have the reaction time and cognitive function to actually stop in time. While the legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08%, a driver may also be considered impaired if their levels are under this, but they are still driving dangerously.
Reckless Driving
According to Illinois state law, reckless driving occurs when an individual is operating their vehicle with no regard for the safety of drivers, pedestrians, or property around them. This means that reckless driving can come in a variety of different forms, including excessive speeding, swerving, racing, blowing through stop signs, ignoring traffic signals, and more. Reckless drivers can easily injure pedestrians, especially if they disregard basic safety and traffic laws.
Common Injuries that Occur from Pedestrian Accidents
Car accidents are well-known for having the ability to cause serious injury to those who are involved. Some of the most common injuries that our team has seen occur from pedestrian accidents include the following:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken or fractured bones
- Concussions
- Whiplash
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Head injuries
- Severe cuts or lacerations
- Lacerations or issues that lead to amputation
- Emotional trauma and stress
- Soft tissue injuries
- Partial or full paralysis
- Crush injuries (resulting from immense pressure on the body)
- Wrongful death
Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer for Pedestrian Accident Cases
When it comes to a personal injury case, especially one involving vehicles, it’s critical that you work with an attorney that you can trust to fight for you. At Franks Gerkin Ponitz & Greeley, our lawyers are dedicated to helping each one of our clients to the best of our ability. With our extensive knowledge of personal injury law, our team can not only help you understand your rights and the legal details of your case, but we can also guide you throughout your different legal proceedings. We’ll also work with you to collect evidence so that we can build the strongest case possible for your situation.
When involved in any kind of personal injury case, it’s crucial that you have solid evidence to represent your side of the story and the hardships you’ve had to endure as a result of your accident. By working with our team of expert attorneys at Franks Gerkin Ponitz & Greeley, you can find some peace of mind knowing that your case is in the right hands. We’ll fight for the best possible outcome and the settlement you deserve.
Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in DeKalb County, IL
Being injured at the hands of another is never a simple situation. Luckily, there are options out there for you to try and recover some of the damages you lost due to your accident. At Franks Gerkin Ponitz & Greeley, we offer expert, empathetic legal representation and advice for a variety of different personal injury cases. If you or a loved one have been the victim of a pedestrian accident in Northern Illinois, contact our office to learn more about our services or to request a consultation.
