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Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents, by their very nature, typically involve far more serious injuries than most other types of accidents. Approximately 5,000 people are killed every year in pedestrian accidents, nearly 20 percent in hit-and-run accidents. Many more survive the accident but are injured. Young children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to pedestrian accidents.
The most common injuries involve pedestrians' head, legs, and arms. Often, pedestrians sustain very serious injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Paraplegia
- Quadriplegia
- Coma
- Fractured bones
If you are the victim of a pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to recover compensation including medical expenses, pain and suffering, wage loss, future medical care and loss of a normal life. If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident, you may be able to make a claim under your own automobile insurance policy.
In order to recover for injuries sustained in a pedestrian accident, you must be able to prove that some person's negligent or reckless driving caused the accident. The defendant's attorney will often argue that the pedestrian's own negligence caused the accident, especially in cases where the pedestrian was not in a designated crosswalk.
If the accident occurred while you were on the job, you may have grounds for a workers' compensation claim as well.
Here are some things you should do if you've been injured in a pedestrian accident:
- Seek immediate medical attention.
- Ensure that a police report is made as soon as possible after the accident, and request a copy of the police report.
- Obtain the name and address of the driver involved in the accident, the name of their insurance company, their policy number, their driver's license number and plate number.
- Obtain the names, addresses, and phone numbers of anyone who witnessed the accident.
- Take photographs of the scene of the accident.
- Take photographs of your visible injuries.
- Do not speak with the driver, his or her insurance company or investigator, or any witnesses.
- Keep a log of all of your medical treatment and bills as well as your physical complaints.
- Attend any traffic court hearings for citations issued to the driver pertaining to liability.
- Be aware that if you accept any money for your injuries or sign a release, you may be waiving your right to receive substantial additional compensation.
- Retain an attorney who is experienced in the area of pedestrian accidents at your earliest opportunity to protect your rights.
If you or a family member has been involved in an accident as a pedestrian, rest assured that Drake & Collopy, P.C. has the experience and knowledge in pedestrian accident litigation to give your claim the best chance for success. Contact us online or call us at 312.345.0220, or toll free at 1.888.372.5355, for more information or to schedule a free consultation.
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