Chicago Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Over $4 Billion in Compensation Recovered for Clients

Power Rogers is a nationally recognized civil trial law firm with a regional reputation for securing record results on behalf of victims and families.

Our firm has recovered over $4 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients – that’s $900 million more than our closest competitor since the year 2000, according to the Chicago Lawyer Annual Settlement Survey. We have also set and broken numerous records for the largest recoveries, including:

• The largest personal injury award to a single family ($100 million)
• The largest medical malpractice verdict in Illinois history ($55.4 million)
• The largest bicycle accident recovery in Illinois history ($17.5 million)

If you were injured or your loved one was harmed or killed while walking, our Chicago pedestrian accident attorneys are available to discuss how we may be able to help. We offer FREE consultations and serve victims across Illinois and beyond.

Illinois Laws Protecting Pedestrians

625 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 5/11-1002 makes it clear that pedestrians have the right of way when using a crosswalk. In particular, Illinois law directs that:

• If there is no traffic control signal at the crosswalk or if it isn’t working, any oncoming vehicle must come to a complete stop and allow the pedestrian to cross the street when they are on the same half of the road, or when the pedestrian is close enough to the driver’s half to be in danger if the driver continues to move.
• Pedestrians can only enter a crosswalk when their movement will place them in the path of a moving vehicle close enough to be an immediate hazard.
• Oncoming vehicles cannot overtake and pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to allow a pedestrian to cross.
• Drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians when there is a flashing red signal or stop sign in place at a marked crosswalk or intersection.

A Closer Look at Chicago Area Pedestrian Accidents

According to the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), people who walk in Chicago are 12 times more likely than people in vehicles to be injured or killed in a traffic crash.

Data from CDOT and the Active Transportation Alliance provide a picture of the factors behind pedestrian accidents and the elevated risks of injury and death:

When & Where

According to Chicago’s Vision Zero plan, over 55% of all pedestrian crashes in the Chicago area happen in high-crash corridors, including eight communities that collectively account for 36% of fatal crashes despite accounting for just 20% of Chicago’s geographic area. These High Crash Areas include Belmont-Cragin, Near West Side, Austin, Near Northwest Side, West Side, Downtown, Englewood, and Washington Park.

Other statistics about where and when pedestrian crashes happen in Chicago:

• Roughly a third of all pedestrian fatalities happen in marked crosswalks.
• In 2019, there were 40 pedestrian deaths in Chicago, 13 of which happened in the months of July and August.
• Most Chicago-area pedestrian crashes happen in Cook County, DuPage County, Lake County, and Kane County, followed by Will County, McHenry Country, and Kendall County.

Pedestrian Crash Causes

• About 70% of all fatal pedestrian crashes involve one of the five dangerous driving behaviors identified in Chicago’s Vision Zero plan. That includes speeding, running a red light, failing to yield at a crosswalk, drunk driving, and distracted driving.

• 70% of pedestrians killed in traffic were struck by SUVs, large vehicles, or commercial trucks.
• Nearly 40% of pedestrian fatalities were hit-and-run accidents.

Liability in Pedestrian Accident Lawsuits

Victims and families who suffer losses in pedestrian accidents can bring personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits against the individuals and / or entities they allege to be at fault. Depending on the facts of your case, this could be someone whose negligence was a substantial cause of your crash. Examples include:

• Negligent drivers who strike pedestrians in crosswalks or parking lots.
• Commercial truckers and trucking companies responsible for truck v. pedestrian crashes.
• Contractors, developers, or other parties on construction sites that create pedestrian hazards.
• Premises owners who fail to address unsafe property conditions on their land, including hazards that pose slip and fall risks.
• Other pedestrians or bicyclists who fail to safely share sidewalks and walkways.

In some cases, it may be possible for victims to recover damages from at-fault defendants who are strictly liability for injuries. In Illinois, strict liability is most common in personal injury cases involving defective products or dog bites / animal attacks. In strict liability cases, victims do not need to prove negligence; however, they do need to prove other essential elements of a claim.

Our attorneys at Power Rogers can evaluate the most appropriate options for seeking a financial recovery based on the prevailing facts of your case.

Your Right to Compensation After a Pedestrian Accident

Pedestrians are more likely to suffer serious and fatal injuries in traffic crashes than motor vehicle occupants. When victims sustain spine injuries, brain injuries, broken bones, or other catastrophic damage, full compensation becomes all the more important.

At Power Rogers, we fight to help clients secure the compensation they need to pay for losses they’ve incurred up to the time a case is resolved and any losses they are likely to incur beyond the conclusion of their case due to permanent or long-term injuries. This can include compensation for:

• Hospital and ER bills
• Rehabilitation, therapy, and future medical expenses
• Lost income and lost future earnings
• Physical pain and suffering
• Permanent disability / loss of quality of life
• Other emotional and economic damages

Examples of Our Case Results

• $39.9 million recovery over a fatal rear-end trucking collision in Lafayette, Indiana.
• $38.25 million settlement for a truck accident victim who suffered a spinal cord fracture resulting in paralysis.
• $33.4 million verdict over negligent security and failure to prevent the intentional homicide of two victims and injury to another by a disgruntled former client.
• $17.5 million settlement for a bicycle accident victim struck by a negligent tractor-trailer driver. This is the largest bicycle accident recovery, settlement or verdict, in Illinois history.
• $9 million recovery for a minor struck by a train at the intersection of 123rd Street and Lombard Lane in the Village of Alsip, Cook County, IL, resulting in brain injury and other serious injuries.

Have questions about a possible pedestrian accident lawsuit? Call (312) 313-0202 to speak with a Chicago pedestrian accident lawyer from Power Rogers. Consultations are free and confidential.