Crosswalk Accidents
Our Chicago Attorneys Prove Negligence in Illinois Crosswalk Accidents
When someone is injured or worse in an Illinois crosswalk accident, those who have been harmed may have legal options that include the filing of a personal injury lawsuit with the help of our Chicago pedestrian injury attorneys. If such a lawsuit was filed, its result would largely depend on the specifics of the accident at issue. Those specifics will determine which party was negligent and whether comparative negligence is an appropriate consideration.
Crosswalks in Illinois are governed by basic traffic laws. Pedestrians are allowed to cross the streets of the state inside these crosswalks and when a traffic signal allows them with the opportunity to cross. At intersections where there is no electronic traffic signal, pedestrians are expected to look both ways for oncoming traffic and to cross inside the crosswalk when it’s safe to do so. Once a person is in a crosswalk and has entered it reasonably, that pedestrian has right-of-way relative to other travelers.
This tends to be where Illinois crosswalk accidents occur at the highest rate. Motorists may assume that either they have the right-of-way in a particular situation or they misjudge whether or not their continuation on their path will put the pedestrian in danger. Another leading cause of Illinois crosswalk accidents is when a motorist is distracted and does not see a pedestrian in the street. This type of gross negligence absolutely deserves the attention of an effective accident injury attorney.
IL Crosswalk Accidents – Damages and Comparative Negligence
Generally, the situations described above would lead to a finding that the person that harmed a pedestrian was negligent, and would entitle the pedestrian to obtain damages that compensate him or her for medical costs, lost income and pain and suffering among other forms of compensation. However, there are situations where both a pedestrian and a motorist are at fault for an accident.
When this situation arises, Illinois uses what’s known as the comparative negligence standard. In these cases, the jury will decide which party is responsible for which percentage of the total fault, and if the defendant is liable for any of the harm the plaintiff’s damages are reduced by the amount that he or she was also negligent. These cases tend to arise when a pedestrian was crossing against traffic or suddenly darted into the street without much of an opportunity for the motorist to avoid the collision.
How an Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
Illinois crosswalk accidents, as the statistics indicate, lead to a high rate of injuries and fatalities. If this includes you or someone you love, you need to seek the help of IL personal injury lawyers who have been handling these sometimes-complicated cases successfully for many years. Contact the Chicago law firm Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. today to schedule a free initial consultation
