As a pedestrian, the safest location is off the street, but crossing when permitted should not come with the risk of an accident. However, a driver can still hit you, whether on the street or alongside it.
A pedestrian accident can cause severe harm, as the impact from a vehicle is significantly greater than that of a person. If you or a loved one has been injured by a vehicle, consult a Chicago pedestrian accident lawyer from Kaveny + Kroll. Our dedicated personal injury attorneys can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Pedestrians who follow safety rules—crossing only when permitted, staying within crosswalks, and remaining on curbs—should generally be safe. However, a driver’s actions or inattention to their surroundings can still lead to collisions, resulting in serious injuries.
A driver can become distracted by a phone or in-vehicle displays, failing to notice a pedestrian in time. Additionally, reckless behavior such as speeding and swerving can endanger pedestrians.
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or while fatigued, further increases the risk of pedestrian accidents. Impairment can prevent a driver from properly observing the road and reacting promptly to avoid an accident.
The injuries resulting from a vehicle striking a pedestrian, even indirectly, can be severe. The disparity in size, weight, and speed between a moving vehicle and an unprotected person often leads to catastrophic and life-threatening harm. Injuries can include:
A secondary impact with the ground, if the pedestrian is thrown, can also cause additional trauma. Serious injuries can require hospitalization and long-term medical care. In severe cases, they can lead to permanent disability, limiting a victim’s ability to work and support themselves.
These consequences form the foundation for a legal claim, which our Chicago-based attorneys can assist you with to help you seek the compensation you deserve following a pedestrian accident.
An injury claim requires you to identify who caused the accident and whether that person should be held legally responsible, usually because of their negligence. Negligence occurs when a person fails to uphold a legal duty through unreasonable action, leading to damages such as:
In most cases, pedestrians are not responsible for accidents, particularly if the accidents occur in designated areas meant to protect them, such as crosswalks and sidewalks. However, if you are struck in a location where you are not supposed to be, such as a freeway, you can be considered partially negligent for contributing to the accident. If you are found partially responsible in court, your compensation can be reduced according to your percentage of fault or eliminated entirely under 735 Illinois Compiled Statutes § 5/2-1116.
Your claim can also face resistance if too much time passes before filing, as the statute of limitations under 735 Illinois Compiled Statutes § 5/13-202 is only two years. Filing beyond the two-year deadline can result in losing your right to seek compensation, so consulting a Chicago pedestrian accident attorney promptly should be a priority.
You do not have to handle the process of recovering from an accident and pursuing a lawsuit alone. You can rely on the assistance of a Chicago pedestrian accident lawyer from Kaveny + Kroll—where we put the personal in personal injury.
We provide experienced representation and personalized attention throughout the entire legal process. Our firm offers the dedication of a small practice combined with the experience of a larger firm. Contact us today to learn how we can assist you with your pedestrian accident claim.
Recovery for an 8-year-old girl whose four-limbs were amputated after a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of an infection, leading to severe septic shock.
Recovery for wrongful death of a husband and father of three due to undiagnosed aortic dissection in emergency department 2 days earlier.
Recovery for a 37-year-old man who suffered the partial amputation of both of his legs and one of his arms after a hospital failed to give him antibiotics for a serious infection (Featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin).
Recovery for a brain-injured newborn after doctors failed to timely deliver the baby by cesarean section.
Verdict for the wrongful death of a 40-year-old wife and mother of six children and her unborn seventh child after she suffered respiratory arrest due to pneumonia while in the hospital.
Recovery for an infant who suffered brain damage and developed cerebral palsy due to a delayed cesarean section after indications that the baby was not tolerating the labor well.
Recovery for the wrongful death of a 64-year-old man and the debilitating injuries of a 62-year-old woman—both from southern Illinois—arising from a multi-vehicle pile-up on a highway in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Verdict for the wrongful death of a 25-year-old helmet-wearing cyclist who was struck and killed by a truck.
Recovery for a 55-year-old Chinese immigrant whose leg was crushed by a Chicago Transit Authority bus making too-tight-a-turn at a downtown intersection. The 55-year-old woman was within the crosswalk at the time of the Chicago accident.
Recovery for a 34-year old property adjuster in Dallas, Texas, left severely burned after being electrocuted by a dangerously-low-hanging electrical wire on a roof, about which the company had received complaints but failed to correct.
Recovery for three college students killed in an apartment fire when one fell asleep smoking. Apartment did not have working smoke detectors at the time.
Recovery for the wrongful death of a 24-year-old truck driver who was killed in an Adams County heptane gas explosion, leaving behind a wife and a 3-year-old daughter.
Recovery for a 29-year-old who suffered skull fractures, a traumatic brain injury, an 18-day coma, and partial quadriplegia after his pickup was broadsided by another vehicle, which was attempting to flee from a reckless and unnecessary police chase involving a minor traffic infraction (Featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin).
Verdict resulting from an improper police chase. Fleeing suspect hit car driving through an intersection with mother in front seat and minor daughter in rear. Mother was killed. Entire accident was caught on a nearby CTA bus videocam (Featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin).
Verdict for a 58-year-old public school principal whose reputation was damaged after she was wrongfully arrested, wrongfully charged, and wrongfully prosecuted following a fight involving six students at her school in which she merely called 9-1-1.
Verdict for a paralyzed 24-year-old female injured at O’Hare International Airport (highest compensatory verdict awarded to an individual in Illinois, and top five in U.S., excluding punitive damages).
Recovery for a 34-year old property adjuster in Dallas, Texas, left severely burned after being electrocuted by a dangerously-low-hanging electrical wire on a roof, about which the company had received complaints but failed to correct.
Recovery for a Rolling Meadows high school football player who became a quadriplegic after he was tackled by a teammate into an unpadded, 25 foot-high steel post located 11.5 feet from the sideline of the school’s practice field.
Verdict for a 33-year-old veteran forced to undergo seven surgeries after his left foot was degloved when it was run over by a forklift while working at an international technology show at McCormick Place.
Recovery for a 34-year old property adjuster in Dallas, Texas, left severely burned after being electrocuted by a dangerously-low-hanging electrical wire on a roof, about which the company had received complaints but failed to correct.
Recovery for a 42-year-old Chicago construction worker whose leg was shattered when he fell 20 feet after the steel beam on which he was working collapsed.
Currently seeking recovery on behalf of clients who have filed lawsuits against Abbott Laboratories, Inc. (“Abbott”), Mead Johnson & Company and Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (“Mead Johnson”). Babies born to these plaintiffs developed necrotizing enterocolitis (“NEC”) after they were fed infant formula manufactured by Abbott or Mead Johnson. NEC is a serious gastrointestinal problem that mostly affects premature babies and can lead to permanent injury or death.
Received financial compensation for the families of plaintiffs who were prescribed the pain medication Vioxx manufactured by Merck. The drug was found to cause heart attacks and strokes and has subsequently been withdrawn from the marketplace.
Verdict obtained on behalf of homeowners who lived near the Sterigenics facility and contracted various forms of cancer as a result of ethylene oxide (“EtO”) emissions into the environment by Sterigenics and its parent company, Sotera Health.
Verdict for a paralyzed 24-year-old female injured at O’Hare International Airport (highest compensatory verdict awarded to an individual in Illinois, and top five in U.S., excluding punitive damages).
Recovery for a 55-year-old Chinese immigrant whose leg was crushed by a Chicago Transit Authority bus making too-tight-a-turn at a downtown intersection. The 55-year-old woman was within the crosswalk at the time of the Chicago accident.
Recovery for a 31-year-old woman who suffered permanent brain damage after she was struck by public transit bus while jogging.
Verdict against school district for sex abuse of two minor children by gym teacher off school grounds.
Kaveny + Kroll has filed suit against Northwestern University due to its failure to protect a student who was knowingly experiencing suicidal ideation and planning. The student jumped from a fourth story window and suffered two punctured lungs, multiple broken ribs, damage to internal organs, and traumatic brain injury. The case remains pending.
