Pedestrian Accident Due to Driver Negligence

 Posted on December 06, 2013 in Personal Injury

With the holiday season upon us, there will undoubtedly be an influx of cars on the road and increased traffic surrounding shopping centers and malls everywhere. Dealing with crowds at this time of year can be stressful, and the large amount of people out and about can make for hectic conditions. While it is always a good idea to use caution on the roadways in order to avoid an accident, it is especially true in the coming months to be aware of other cars and pedestrians as we navigate around local retail establishments, completing tasks on our holiday to-do list.

This issue of pedestrian-related car accidents comes up relatively frequently in Illinois and, more specifically, the Chicago area. A Chicago news story from the beginning of the month reports an unfortunate story about two pedestrians being hit by a driver, who was later attacked. At the national level, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that a pedestrian is injured by a vehicle every eight minutes. This type of accident is usually found to be the driver's fault as the result of driver negligence. In common terms, negligence essentially means that the individual (in this case, the driver) was not exercising a reasonable amount of care when acting (or, in this case, driving). Some common scenarios involving driver negligence are when:

• The driver fails to properly yield to a pedestrian at a crosswalk;
• The driver runs a red light or a stop sign;
• The driver is distracted from properly operating the vehicle, which may involve a cell phone, the radio, or a passenger;
• The driver disregards posted speed limits;
• The driver is under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.

As you can imagine, car accidents involving pedestrians can cause injuries ranging from a bump or bruise, or, in the worst case, death. Other, and likely more common injuries, include fractured or broken bones, head injury, neck and/or back trauma, and lacerations, with surgery often being required. These injuries and the resulting hospital care can result in loss of income, pain and suffering, and hospital expenses among other damages.

Being involved in an accident is an unfortunate event, but when your life is negatively affected due to someone else's negligence, it is time for an attorney to get involved. An experienced Illinois accident attorney can help you in protecting your rights and representing your best interests against the opposing party and an insurance company. Contact us today to discuss your case.