“Look both ways before you cross the street.” This is one of the first lessons one is taught in learning how to navigate the social world. Years later, when behind the wheel of an automobile, the paramount instruction is “keep both eyes on the road.” For both pedestrians and drivers, there is the ever-present need to comply with all traffic signs and rules of the road.
Strangely, however, social norms enter the picture and erode the lessons and systems which have been put in place to maximize personal safety for all persons in the stream of traffic and everyday life. It becomes customary to drive a few miles over the speed limit, and fellow drivers often become aggressive and express frustration with those who simply wish to follow the precise speed limit. Crosswalks with clear “walk” and “stop” signals are often disregarded in favor of a quick jaywalk across the street. A school zone crosswalk or decreased speed limit is quietly ignored when no one appears to be within sight.
When drivers and pedestrians commit these types of subtle breaches of laws, rules, and regulations, personal injuries become an all too real possibility. For people injured in pedestrian accidents, fortunately, the law is there to hold at-fault drivers responsible for disregarding the duty of safe driving and thereby causing harm to others.
Personal Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents
When a driver disregards a stop sign, stop light, or crosswalk and collides with a pedestrian attempting to cross the street, the injuries sustained by the pedestrian can be severe, especially if the vehicle is traveling at even a moderate speed. In all likelihood, the pedestrian will be sent careening to the ground, and they may even become trapped under the car. In addition to minor or major bumps, scrapes, and bruises, the pedestrian’s injuries may include the following:
- Broken bones
- Spinal injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
A short or long-term disability may even be suffered, requiring extensive physical rehabilitation or surgery. Injuries can also take a significant financial toll, with medical bills and lost income due to missed work having a devastating effect on a family’s financial resources.
Advocating for Pedestrian Legal Rights
If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, it is important to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible. At Flaherty Law, LLC, we will work to help you obtain legal damages that will not only allow you to recoup the cost of medical treatment and lost income, but also compensation that reflects your pain and suffering, as well as consequences flowing from any disabilities sustained. In the event there has been a hit-and-run accident, we will work with all relevant authorities to identify the at-fault driver and hold them liable for your injuries. Contact a Will County personal injury attorney today at 815-860-5702 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Sources:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1865&ChapterID=50