Champaign Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

A Champaign pedestrian accident lawyer can help you seek compensation if you’ve been injured due to a negligent driver. Pedestrian accidents in Champaign, Urbana, and throughout Central Illinois often result in severe injuries, leading to costly medical bills, lost wages, and long recovery periods. Consulting with an experienced attorney can protect you from financial hardships while ensuring your rights are upheld.

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to guiding pedestrian accident victims through the legal process, whether your injury occurred at a crosswalk, intersection, or along a busy roadway. Our team is ready to fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.

Champaign Pedestrian Accident Statistics

Fortunately, fatal pedestrian accidents in Champaign are fairly rare. In 2022, only one person was killed in a pedestrian accident, although 27 were injured that same year. [1]

Still, even one pedestrian accident is too many. Our goal is to serve victims and hold at-fault parties responsible for their actions to make the community of Champaign safer for all.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Most pedestrian accidents involve motor vehicles. There are many causes, including speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, poor road conditions, disregarding traffic signals, and failure to check blind spots.

If you are hit by a vehicle, it is crucial to contact a pedestrian attorney, as the responsible party may also seek legal representation with a Champaign car accident attorney.

Some pedestrian collisions may even involve larger vehicles like trucks. Our champaign truck accident lawyers have found these incidents are particularly detrimental to victims because of the sheer size of the vehicle, so injuries tend to be far more severe.

Common Injuries Sustained by Pedestrian Accident Victims

A pedestrian accident can be life-threatening to the injured party, especially with larger vehicles traveling at high speeds. Some common injuries sustained by victims of pedestrian accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Lacerations
• Broken bones
• Internal bleeding
• Ongoing physical pain
• Soft tissue injuries
• Paralysis
• Amputations
• Death

Where Do Most Common Pedestrian Accidents Occur?

A pedestrian accident can technically happen anywhere and anytime, but some circumstances result in a higher frequency of these accidents.

Crosswalks are the most common location for pedestrian collisions, especially if drivers fail to follow traffic signals. [2] Busy intersections, large parking lots, and private driveways are other typical locations. [3]

The most dangerous times for pedestrian accidents are at night and during rush hour.

What to Do After Being Injured as a Pedestrian

Taking the right steps after getting hit by a vehicle is vital to protect yourself physically and financially. Here is what you should do in the immediate aftermath.

• Call 911.
• Seek medical attention for severe injuries.
• Collect information from the accident scene.
• Speak to witnesses.
• Ask for a copy of the police report.
• Contact a Champaign personal injury lawyer.

Proving Liability in a Pedestrian Accident Case

To recover compensation from your negligence claim, you must prove another party is liable. This is not as simple as it sounds because the burden of proof lies with the claimant to demonstrate that someone else’s negligence led to the collision.

We can offer legal assistance to help you prove liability, which will require the following conditions to be met.

• Duty of reasonable care – The at-fault party had a level of responsibility to keep pedestrians safe.
• Breach of duty – The at-fault party’s actions violated that duty of care.
• Proof of injuries – Evidence is available that confirms you were physically or emotionally hurt in the accident.
• Proof of damages – Evidence of damages suffered can be presented with your claim to justify fair compensation.

The Pedestrian’s Contribution to an Accident

The legal definition of a pedestrian in Illinois is “any person afoot or wearing in-line speed skates, including a person with a physical, hearing, or visual disability.”

Pedestrians are responsible for ensuring their own safety. Like drivers, they must follow certain traffic laws.

For example, pedestrians can only cross streets at crosswalks if there are adjacent intersections with traffic signals. They cannot cross an intersection diagonally unless a crosswalk indicates it is an option.

Right-of-way laws also play a role in determining fault in a pedestrian accident. Those on foot have the right of way in designated crosswalks, but drivers have no obligation to yield to pedestrians on the other side of the road unless traffic signals dictate it.

Essentially, it is a pedestrian’s responsibility to exercise caution and use marked crosswalks when crossing the street. After that, it is up to the driver’s ability to follow traffic signs and pedestrian laws to keep you safe.

Damages Our Champaign Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Can Help You Recover

If you get injured as a pedestrian due to distracted driving or a driver’s failure to adhere to pedestrian safety laws, then you could file a claim to recover full compensation for damages suffered. There are two types of damages: economic and non-economic.

Economic damages include current and future medical bills, lost wages, and property damage.

Non-economic damages may include loss of quality of life, post-traumatic stress disorder, emotional suffering, and physical pain.

In some extreme cases with malicious intent, punitive damages could play a role, though these are designed to punish the at-fault party further, as opposed to compensating for victims’ damages.

Financial Compensation to Expect When Filing a Pedestrian Accident Claim

The key point about a fair settlement in a personal injury case is there are no guarantees for the amount of compensation you may receive. Many factors impact the amount of damages awarded, so it is important to consult one of our lawyers to get the maximum compensation.

Some of these factors include the extent of your physical injuries, actual medical expenses, potential future medical treatment, the role of negligence, comparative fault, and the emotional impact of the injury.

One of our previous clients in Chicago was struck by a truck and sustained life-altering injuries that permanently affected their mobility. They sought legal help from our dedicated team. We won a $3,000,000 settlement that took all their damages into account after intense negotiations with the insurance company. Our firm has a long track record of successfully winning settlements for accident victims, and we can do the same for you.

The Statute of Limitations for Pedestrian Accident Cases in Champaign

The general rule for personal injury claims in Illinois is that you have two years to file from the incident date. This is also the case if a pedestrian collision leads to a wrongful death, in which case surviving family members should contact a Champaign wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible.

If malicious intent is involved in a wrongful death case, survivors could have up to five years to file their claim.

The Importance of Hiring Experienced Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

One question you may have about the claims process is whether to negotiate with the insurance company on your own. The answer is no. An insurance company will use every tactic imaginable to undermine your case and justify a lower offer for the settlement.

Not only will our lawyers provide sound legal guidance during negotiation, but they will also help you gather evidence, strengthen your claim, and provide legal representation if the case goes to court. Going through this legal process alone nearly guarantees you will not receive the compensation you deserve.

Are Champaign Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Expensive?

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. That means we only receive payment if we win your case, and then only out of the compensation package. When you agree to work with us, you won’t spend a dime upfront, and our payment will only come from a successful settlement.

This protects you from additional financial difficulties during the legal process and offers our attorneys more incentive to win pedestrian accident cases.

Contact Our Champaign Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Today!

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers know what it takes to win pedestrian collision cases. Whether you are facing lost wages or ongoing medical bills from the injuries caused by the accident, our team can build a strong case increasing your chance of recovering damages. Our track record speaks for itself, and we are committed to protecting your rights under Illinois law. Together, we can hold the at-fault driver responsible for the accident.

Fill out our contact form today to schedule a free consultation, or call us at 888-424-5757 to discuss the merits of your case and determine the best path forward.

Resources: [1] IDOT City Summary Crash Report, [2] CDC – Pedestrian Safety, [3] National Safety Council – Road Users

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.