Attorneys Fighting For Injured Pedestrians In Chicago
Every year, thousands of people are injured in accidents. Whether it is being hit by a car or falling on a sidewalk that wasn’t properly shoveled, you have rights that protect you from suffering. Berg & Berg Attorneys at Law has been helping injured clients throughout Illinois since 1991, and our attorneys have 75 years of combined legal experience. We have built a strong reputation throughout Chicago as being a firm you can trust.
Holding Negligent Parties Accountable
Whether you are injured by a vehicle or because of faulty property, you may recover damages for any injuries you have suffered. In order to do so, we must prove negligence. This means that the person failed to take reasonable action or care in that specific circumstance, which ended up harming others. To prove this we must show:
- The person at fault failed to act accordingly, through action or inaction.
- They caused an accident or injury.
- They harmed you or others as a result.
It’s possible that more than one party may be held liable. Potential parties include the driver of a vehicle or the party responsible for maintaining the sidewalk or road. It’s important to note that as a pedestrian, it is also your job to act responsibly by obeying all traffic signs and practicing caution when crossing the street.
What Are Your Rights As A Pedestrian?
Being a pedestrian can make you feel powerless. But you do have rights under Illinois law. For instance:
- Pedestrians have the right of way when crossing the street in a marked unmarked crosswalk. Drivers must yield right of way and stop completely.
- When a pedestrian is crossing on their side of the street (regardless of where they cross), drivers are required to exercise “due care,” which means taking all reasonable actions to avoid hitting them.
- If a pedestrian has a visible disability, drivers must yield right of way when that pedestrian is trying to cross the street. They are also permitted to cross the street at any point if there is not a physically accessible intersection.
Too often, pedestrians are blamed for their own injuries, which is why the “due care” provision is so important. It reminds drivers that they are still responsible for pedestrian safety even when pedestrians don’t perfectly follow the rules.
Common Causes Of Chicago Pedestrian Accidents
The main cause of pedestrian accidents is driver negligence. This includes:
- Drunk and/or distracted driving
- Speeding and aggressive driving
- Failure to keep a lookout for pedestrians
- Failure to yield right of way
- Selfish behaviors like trying to “beat the light” or make a last-second turn at an intersection
- Failure to adapt to changing traffic or weather conditions
Proving fault is critical after a pedestrian accident. Don’t let the driver or the insurance company blame you for someone else’s negligence behind the wheel. When you contact our firm, we begin an immediate and thorough investigation into the crash to determine how it happened and to gather evidence against the at-fault driver.
Call To Talk To An Experienced Attorney For Free Today
Whether or not you are sure you have a case, we can help you decide what the next steps will be. Our attorneys are fluent in Spanish, and, for your convenience, we offer free consultations. Contact our Chicago office today at 773-596-6654 or fill out our contact form. Se habla español.