Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Mount Prospect, Carol Stream, and Rock Island
According to a report issued by the GHSA or Governors Highway Safety Association, roughly thousands of pedestrians throughout the US suffer fatalities every year when struck by motor vehicles. At the Makarone Law Firm legal firm, our personal injury lawyers protect the rights of individuals living in Mount Prospect , Carol Stream, and Rock Island when they’ve suffered injuries in a pedestrian accident. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to compensation for damages as well as your pain and suffering. However, trying to navigate the legalities of filing a claim maybe a difficult preposition and that is why you need a lawyer to assist you.
The Consequences of Pedestrian Accidents
In heavily populated cities like Chicago and its many suburbs, pedestrian vulnerability is exceptionally high. According to CDC statistics for 2017, emergency rooms throughout the US treated over 130,000 pedestrian accident victims. During that same year, there were 6,500 pedestrian fatalities. According to a study of 5,800 pedestrian fatalities that was conducted by the Division of Trauma in Los Angeles, the correlation between the percentage of fatalities and the vehicle speed is as follows:
- The chance of a fatality is 5% at 20 mph
- The chance of a fatality increases to 45% at 30 mph
- The chance of a fatality increases to 85% at 40 mph
Due to the near total lack of protection, pedestrians are extremely vulnerable to serious injury if they are struck by a moving vehicle. And that is why the injuries are severe or catastrophic which may even leave the accident victim disabled on a short or long term basis. The most common injuries that result in pedestrian accidents that involve some type of motor vehicle include:
- Broken bones / fractures
- Internal organ damage
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Fatalities
The Chicago Department of Transportation released a study of driver behavior that was behind a significant number of motor vehicle involved pedestrian accidents. Here are their findings:
- Over 50% of all pedestrian accidents involve a motor vehicle that is turning, a substantial number of which were making left turns
- 48% of all pedestrian accidents were attributed to motorists failing to yield
- 33% of all pedestrian accidents were hit-and-run
- 40% of all hit-and-run pedestrian accidents accounted for fatalities
As personal injury lawyers, the Makarone Law Firm legal firm has also seen an increased in the number of pedestrian accident cases involving alcohol-impaired and distracted drivers.
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries in a pedestrian accident, you can recover compensation for damages such as disability, lost income, medical expenses, and your pain and suffering. For more information or to schedule a FREE consultation, contact the Makarone Law Firm personal injury firm today.