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While walking, jogging, or simply crossing the street, pedestrians are often left extremely vulnerable to oncoming motor vehicles. When pedestrian accidents do unfortunately occur, they can be catastrophic for victims and their families.
If you suffered injury due to the negligence of another person, a compassionate Calumet City pedestrian accident lawyer could help. Specifically, a skilled personal injury attorney could work with you to pursue compensation—and the justice you deserve—from those responsible for your injuries.
Each year, far too many pedestrians are killed or injured due to negligent and reckless drivers, and even those who survive such accidents may face devastating injuries. Plaintiffs in Calumet City pedestrian accident cases often seek compensation for injuries such as:
Even before contacting a Calumet City pedestrian accident attorney, it is best to speak to a medical professional immediately following an accident to ensure appropriate treatment and a full diagnosis of any injuries. For a civil claim to be successful, having full and proper documentation of all injuries resulting from the incident in question is usually crucial.
Virtually all pedestrian accident cases involve an act of legal negligence in the form of careless or reckless behavior by a third party. Common examples of how a driver could be considered negligent include:
Injured individuals should speak to a dedicated attorney to help determine the exact cause of their accident and whether their case has merit.
In many civil cases, the defendant might attempt to mitigate their personal liability by taking advantage of the comparative negligence rule. This rule allows courts to determine the amount of fault each party contributed to an accident and reduce a plaintiff’s recoverable damages accordingly. For example, if a pedestrian jaywalks or violates any other pedestrian traffic laws, they may bear partial responsibility for being struck by a speeding vehicle.
Under Illinois state law, plaintiffs may have their damages reduced based on the percentage of fault they bear, and they cannot recover at all if they bear 51 percent or more of the total liability for their accident. Even if an injured individual believes they contributed to the accident that caused their injuries, though, a committed pedestrian crash lawyer from Calumet City may be able to help them minimize their personal liability and maximize their damage award.
An injured individual may be eligible to recover many types of damages due to their injuries from a collision. Most of these damages center around monetary losses, such as hospitalization costs, medical bills, surgery, pain medication, physical therapy, residential rehabilitation, and present and future lost wages.
In addition to monetary losses, however, injured individuals may also be able to recover non-economic losses as well. For instance, injured individuals could recoup compensation for pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
Under especially egregious circumstances, the injured pedestrian may even be eligible for punitive damages which is aimed to punish the negligent party involved in the crash. A seasoned Calumet pedestrian accident lawyer could evaluate the strengths of a particular case and determine what damages an injured individual may be able to seek.
Unfortunately, many individuals may suffer injuries due to the reckless behavior and actions of a negligent driver. If this happens to you, a seasoned Calumet City pedestrian accident lawyer could fight to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Call today to speak to an attorney to schedule a consultation.