Pedestrian accidents occur in many cities across the United States, and Rockford, IL is no exception. These accidents are especially dangerous because there is no protection between pedestrians and vehicles weighing thousands of pounds. In 2022 alone, Rockford pedestrians were involved in 44 crashes resulting in 41 injured parties and 3 pedestrian deaths [1].
If you are involved in an accident with a vehicle as a pedestrian due to a driver’s negligence, then you need a Rockford pedestrian accident attorney to help you file your claim for compensation. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers will guide you through the legal process to strengthen your case and win a settlement to cover your damages.
What to Do Following a Pedestrian Accident in Rockford
Pedestrian accidents can have tragic consequences. Knowing what to do in the immediate aftermath of the incident can position you for a successful claim against the negligent party. The sooner you take action, the easier it will be to build a strong case with the assistance of Rockford personal injury attorneys.
Follow these steps immediately after the accident occurs.
- Check for injuries – Your priority is your health, so examine yourself for any injuries that can be reported to emergency services
- Contact emergency responders – It is crucial to get medical personnel and police on the scene as quickly as possible to take care of your injuries and start an investigation
- Gather information and evidence – A strong personal injury claim is built on evidence, so start gathering data like driver information, insurance information, images of the scene, eyewitness statements, and a copy of the police report
- Contact an experienced personal injury attorney – The resources of Rockford pedestrian accident lawyers will aid you in building a strong case, so get in touch with our law firm as soon as possible to discuss your legal options
- Do not admit fault to anyone – Even if you think the pedestrian accident may have been your fault, do not admit this to anyone or apologize as it may weaken your chances for a successful personal injury case.
Injuries Sustained by Pedestrian Accident Victims
Pedestrians are at serious risk of catastrophic injuries when they are hit by vehicles. If you are lucky, you might only experience some minor bruises and cuts. However, it is also possible for the victim to be killed, forcing the surviving family members to contact Rockford wrongful death lawyers. Here are some of the most common pedestrian accident injuries:
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Nerve damage
- Muscle damage
- Lacerations
- Road rash
- Burns
- Crush injuries
- Neck injuries
- Wrongful death
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
You might think most pedestrian accidents occur at busy intersections, but this is not the case. Nationwide, about 74% of pedestrian fatalities occurred in non-intersection locations, while 63% of fatalities occurred on non-freeway arterials. Only 25% of incidents were at or near intersections [2].
Distracted driving is a top cause of many pedestrian accidents, and if you believe that is the case for your situation, then Rockford car accident lawyers can help.
Other causes include failure to follow traffic signals, drunk driving, failure to obey traffic laws, and driver fatigue.
With larger trucks, blind spots can lead to a pedestrian accident, and in these circumstances, you should call our Rockford truck accident lawyers.
The Importance of Hiring a Rockford Pedestrian Accident Attorney
The sooner you hire a Rockford pedestrian accident lawyer to handle your case, the better. Our team handles all kinds of cases, including uninsured motorists, rejected personal injury claims, car accidents, truck accidents, and more. When drivers fail to uphold their duty of care to pedestrians, the injured victim has the right to pursue a claim for full financial compensation.
You can start with a free consultation with no obligation where we will discuss your case. This is followed by a case investigation where we gather evidence, assess damages suffered, and calculate a compensation package to pursue from all liable parties. If no settlement can be reached after negotiating with the insurance company, our team will represent you in court.
Our pedestrian accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means no out-of-pocket attorney fees upfront. We only deduct payment from the settlement if we win, so there is no financial burden if you choose to work with a Rockford personal injury lawyer from our firm.
Damages Our Rockford Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Can Help You Recover
Pedestrian accidents may result in several types of legal damages. Your Rockford pedestrian accident lawyers will assess these damages to determine a fair amount for your settlement. The four types of damages are:
- Economic damages – Medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and lost future income;
- Non-economic damages – Emotional trauma, physical pain, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life;
- Punitive damages – Awarded as extra compensation only if the defendant behaved with particular malice or recklessness
- Wrongful death – Funeral costs, burial expenses, loss of companionship, and loss of financial support
Financial Compensation Awarded for Rockford IL Pedestrian Accident Claims
The goal of a claim is to recover financial compensation for damages suffered in a pedestrian accident. There is no clear average settlement for these cases, as they come down to numerous factors like medical expenses, lost wages, insurance company coverage, and comparative negligence.
Your Rockford personal injury lawyers will help you determine what is fair in your case.
As an example, our team served a client who was struck by a company car while in Chicago. The driver worked for a national medical supplier and was in town for a meeting. We were able to secure $7 million for the pedestrian who suffered devastating injuries because of the collision.
You Have a Limited Time to File a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit in Rockford, IL
In Illinois, personal injury claims have a statute of limitations of two years. That means accident victims have two years from the date of the incident or the date of discovery to file their claims before they will be unable to recover compensation for damages.
Some exceptions may apply depending on your situation, such as a defendant who has left the state or is unable to be contacted.
This is yet another reason to hire Rockford pedestrian accident lawyers as soon as possible after the incident. You can avoid the problem of the statute of limitations and it will be easier to collect evidence for the case while the incident is still fresh.
Whether the collision was caused by distracted driving, poor road conditions, or a malfunctioning car part, it is easier to collect evidence right after the incident occurs.
Contact a Rockford, IL Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today!
Pedestrian accidents are extremely scary for victims who may suffer devastating injuries. The physical and emotional recovery may be challenging enough, and then you add financial struggles to the mix and everything becomes even more difficult. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can provide legal assistance to build a strong case that will increase your chances of being compensated. Our team is ready to defend your rights under Illinois law and hold negligent drivers responsible while providing you with financial relief.
Give us a call today to get your free case review at 888-424-5757 or fill out the contact form on our website.
Resources: [1] IDOT, [2] GHSA, [3] mystateline
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)