Pedestrian Accident Settlements

Getting hit by a car can lead to life-altering consequences—physically, emotionally, and financially. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we have extensive experience recovering compensation through pedestrian accident settlements. 

Whether you’ve suffered broken bones, spinal cord injuries, or other catastrophic injuries, we understand how important it is to seek compensation. These personal injury claims vary widely depending on the severity of injuries, insurance coverage, and who was at fault. 

Victims often wonder how much compensation they can expect in a settlement for a pedestrian injury. While there’s no universal average settlement, this article breaks down the key factors that affect the value of a pedestrian accident case in Chicago, including medical expenses, lost wages, and future medical bills.

What Is the Average Settlement for a Pedestrian Accident? 

Pedestrian accident settlements can vary dramatically depending on the specifics of the case. While some online sources may cite average settlement ranges between $10,000 and $500,000 or more, these figures are only rough benchmarks. 

The actual value of a pedestrian accident claim depends on several factors. As the real case examples below show, there’s no one-size-fits-all number. Each pedestrian accident case is unique, and these outcomes reflect that.

• $3,200,000 secured for a visually impaired pedestrian who was seriously injured when a garbage truck made an unlawful right turn.
• $2,800,000 awarded to a man struck on the sidewalk by a rideshare driver, resulting in multiple orthopedic injuries.
• $2,250,000 settlement for a college student who was hit by a commercial van while under the influence, leading to extensive trauma.
• $1,100,000 maximum policy payout obtained for a toddler who was hit after entering the roadway near their family home.
• $667,000 recovery for a 34-year-old man struck while walking across a busy street outside of a crosswalk by a vehicle operated by a construction company employee.
• $575,000 obtained for a minor who sustained a fractured leg after a driver reversed out of a residential driveway.
• $499,999 awarded to a pedestrian hit by a delivery vehicle that failed to stop at a posted sign, causing serious lower body injuries.
• $400,000 recovery in a case involving a woman struck while lawfully crossing in a marked crosswalk, requiring knee surgery following the impact.
• $395,000 for an elderly pedestrian hit while walking along the roadside, resulting in a broken collarbone and extended recovery time.
• $250,000 settlement reached under uninsured motorist coverage for a woman injured in a hit-and-run while walking to work. 

Factors Determining the Value of Your Case After Being Hit by a Car

Several elements directly impact how much you can recover after being hit by a car. Insurance adjusters assess each of these when evaluating the claim, which is why it’s critical to ensure every piece of evidence is properly documented and submitted. 

From the nature of your injuries to the conduct of the at-fault driver, each factor plays a role in shaping the outcome of your pedestrian accident settlement.

When you work with a skilled pedestrian accident lawyer, they will build your claim by collecting medical records, interviewing witnesses, and analyzing traffic laws to prove negligence. 

Severity of Injuries: The Primary Driver of Settlement Value

The extent of your injuries plays the biggest role in determining how much you may receive. 

Minor injuries like scrapes or bruises typically result in lower settlements, while severe or catastrophic injuries—such as broken bones, spinal cord damage, or traumatic brain injuries (TBI)—can lead to much higher payouts. 

Documented medical treatment, recovery time, and the long-term impact on daily life are all critical when calculating the value of a pedestrian accident case. Accurate medical records are essential to support the full scope of your damages. 

Calculating Economic Damages

These account for the direct, measurable financial losses stemming from your pedestrian accident. These may include all past and future medical bills tied to your injuries, lost income due to time off work, and diminished future earning capacity if your injuries result in long-term or permanent disability.

For example, a pedestrian who suffers a spinal injury may need multiple surgeries, extended physical therapy, home modifications, and assistive devices—all of which may be recoverable through a claim. 

If the injured party cannot return to their prior occupation, or can only work in a limited capacity, future lost income is a critical part of the damage calculation. A personal injury lawyer works with medical and economic experts to project these losses and ensure that every accident-related expense is accounted for.

Valuing Non-Economic Damages

These damages address the personal impact of the accident—what you can’t measure on a bill. This includes chronic pain, emotional distress, anxiety, PTSD, and the loss of everyday enjoyment. 

If injuries cause visible scarring or permanent disability, those too raise the stakes. Insurers and personal injury lawyers often use a multiplier—based on the severity of injuries—to estimate a fair value for these intangible losses during negotiations.

How Illinois Liability Laws Affect Your Settlement

Under Illinois’ modified comparative negligence rule (735 ILCS 5/2-1116), a pedestrian can still recover compensation even if they were partially at fault for the accident, as long as they are not more than 50% responsible. 

If they are found to be 51% or more at fault (e.g., jaywalking or crossing against a signal), they are barred from recovering damages. If their share of fault is 50% or less, the final compensation is reduced by their percentage of fault.

The Critical Role of Insurance Coverage Limits

Illinois requires all drivers to carry minimum bodily injury liability coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident (625 ILCS 5/7-203). If the at-fault driver only carries the minimum, that may be the most available from their insurer, even in a severe injury case.

Pedestrians may also access their own Underinsured/Uninsured driver (UIM/UM) coverage if they carry auto insurance. This can be crucial in hit-and-run situations or when the driver has insufficient coverage.

Dealing with the At-Fault Party’s Insurance Company

After a pedestrian accident, the at-fault party’s insurance company assigns an adjuster to your claim. While they may seem cooperative, their primary objective is to limit the insurer’s financial liability, not to protect your interests. 

This means they may try to shift blame, question the extent of your injuries, or pressure you into accepting a quick settlement for less than your claim is worth.

Why You Shouldn’t Accept an Insurance Company’s First Offer

Insurance adjusters often extend low settlement offers early in the process, hoping you’ll accept before understanding the full value of your claim. 

These offers rarely account for long-term medical treatment, lost wages, or pain and suffering. Once accepted, the claim is closed—you can’t ask for more later, even if your condition worsens.

Importance of Seeking Medical Attention Promptly

Getting medical care immediately after being hit by a car serves two critical purposes: it protects your health and creates a documented record of your pedestrian accident injuries. This documentation is essential when pursuing a personal injury claim. Delays in treatment may allow insurers to argue that your injuries weren’t serious or weren’t caused by the accident. 

How an Experienced Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Maximizes Your Settlement

A skilled pedestrian accident attorney in Chicago plays a critical role in strengthening your claim and boosting your settlement. They’ll thoroughly investigate the accident scene, gather medical records, witness statements, and wage loss documentation, and build a strong case for liability—even when the driver or insurer tries to shift blame. 

Your attorney can calculate the true value of your losses, including future medical needs and emotional distress, and then negotiate directly with the insurer. If negotiations stall, they’re prepared to take your case to court to fight for the compensation you deserve. 

Our Law Firm’s Approach to Pedestrian Accident Cases

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we understand the devastating impact a pedestrian accident can have, whether you’re dealing with minor injuries or catastrophic trauma like spinal cord damage or a traumatic brain injury.

Our law firm has extensive experience helping injured pedestrians hold the at-fault driver accountable. We’ll guide you through the entire legal process, from gathering evidence at the incident scene to negotiating with insurers and filing a personal injury lawsuit if needed. 

We offer every client a free, confidential consultation and work on a contingency fee basis — meaning you don’t pay us unless we win. Our goal is always to secure a fair settlement that covers both your immediate and long-term accident-related expenses.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation About Your Accident

If you or a loved one was hit by a car in Chicago, the legal team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is here to help. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss your pedestrian accident claim and outline your legal options. You won’t pay a fee unless we recover compensation for you.Call us at (888) 424-5757 or reach out through our online contact form to speak with a Chicago personal injury lawyer today.

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.