Pedestrian Accidents

If you live in Cook, Will or DuPage County, Illinois, chances are, at least occasionally, you find yourself walking to get to where you need to go. In many ways, walking offers a great alternative to driving or taking public transportation. However, there are also significant risks associated with being a pedestrian, especially in an urban area like Cook County. At the Fotopoulos Law Office, we proudly represent accident victims and their families in personal injury claims, helping them recover the compensation they need to start moving on with their lives after a traumatic accident. Attorney John S. Fotopoulos is a former Cook County Circuit Court judge who not only understands the law and how it applies to his clients’ cases but also recognizes the difficult situation his clients are in after an accident. From missed work to astronomical medical bills to ongoing physical limitations, Attorney Fotopoulos can ensure that you are fairly compensated for what you’ve been through.

Accidents involving pedestrians are not the most common type of motor vehicle collision; however, they are one of the deadliest. According to the most recently available data from the Illinois Department of Transportation, while pedestrian accidents make up just 1.3 percent of all traffic accidents, they are responsible for 15.8 percent of all fatal crashes and almost 6 percent of all injury accidents. In fact, in 2020 alone, 60 people were killed in pedestrian collisions, and another 2,879 were seriously injured.

Not surprisingly, pedestrian accidents are more common in busy urban environments. Drivers are also more likely to hit a pedestrian in the evening hours and during inclement weather when there is limited visibility. Aside from these two factors, other common causes of Cook County pedestrian accidents include:

• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI),
• Distracted driving, and
• Speeding or other forms of aggressive driving.

These are just a few of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents; there are many others.

Pedestrian accidents can happen in a split second, without any notice. However, these tragic accidents don’t “just happen”; they are almost always the result of at least one party’s negligence. Of course, after a collision, it is common for the driver to blame a pedestrian. Illinois courts use the “modified comparative negligence” framework for determining which accident victims can recover for their injuries.

Under a modified comparative fault system, an accident victim’s total recovery amount is reduced by their own percentage of fault. However, if a pedestrian is 50 percent or more at fault, they are precluded from recovering at all. Thus, if the driver who hit you is successful in shifting the blame onto you, it will reduce your total recovery amount or, in some cases, even prevent you from recovering for your injuries altogether. This is why it is important to have an experienced Cook County personal injury attorney by your side throughout the process. At the Fotopoulos Law Office, we have extensive hands-on experience bringing cases on behalf of pedestrians and their families. We can help you understand your rights and effectively pursue the compensation you need, deserve and are entitled to.

If you or someone you love was recently hit by a car as a pedestrian, reach out to the Fotopoulos Law Office for immediate assistance. We want to help connect you with meaningful compensation for everything you’ve been through. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with a Cook County car accident lawyer, reach out to the Fotopoulos Law Office at 708-942-8400. You can also connect with us through our online contact form. Calling is free, and because we accept all personal injury cases on a contingency basis, we will not charge you for our representation unless we can recover compensation on your behalf. We handle cases in Cook County, Will County, DuPage County, and throughout Central Illinois.