Pedestrian Accidents

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Cars and trucks can strike people walking around town just about anywhere. However, in our years taking pedestrian accident cases in Southern Illinois, there are a few factors that have led to many of our clients being struck by cars, which include:

• Speeding—As one's speed goes up in a car, their reaction time decreases accordingly. This is why speed limits usually are lower in areas where there is a lot of pedestrian activity. For instance, in public parks usually speed limits are set at around 15 MPH, and there are also typically speed bumps regularly placed to slow drivers down. The first question we always ask as pedestrian accident lawyers is, "Was the driver speeding?" If the driver was indeed speeding, he or she is at fault without question.
• Distracted Drivers—Distractions have never been more of an issue on roads in Illinois. While Illinois prohibits drivers from using mobile phones while behind the wheel, drivers often ignore this law and still text, post to social media, or check mail while driving. If a distracted driver was the reason for your accident, you probably have a legitimate case. Proving negligence in these types of cases sometimes requires that we subpoena the defendant for their cell phone records.
• Disobeying Traffic Signs—Traffic signs are a critical safety measure for pedestrian traffic. When drivers disobey cross-walk signs and traffic signals, it creates a dangerous situation for pedestrians.
• Drinking and Driving—Drunk drivers pose a great danger to anyone on the road, let alone pedestrians. If your incident involved a drunk driver, a Southern Illinois drunk driving accident lawyer who understands all the laws that pertain to DWIs can make a big difference in your case.
• Poor Road Conditions—When it snows or rains, drivers are obligated to take additional precautions when driving their vehicles. That means slowing down and making 100% sure they are aware of their surroundings. Rain also creates visibility issues with seeing pedestrians on the road, as well as road markings. Unfortunately, many drivers do not consider these factors and end up striking pedestrians.

What Are Common Pedestrian Accident Types?

Without the protection and safety that is available to those inside an automobile, pedestrians are in a vulnerable position on the road. Therefore, the bodily injuries that result are often catastrophic in nature, including spine and neck, traumatic brain injuries, and more.

The attorneys at Hassakis & Hassakis have taken all types of pedestrian accident cases with injures ranging from minor to severe. Some common cases we have taken include:

• Crosswalk accidents - Occurs when a pedestrian is legally in a crosswalk and a driver fails to give them the right-of-way
• Parking lot accidents - Occurs most often when a parking lot is busy; a driver may pull into or out of a parking space and strikes a pedestrian while in reverse.
• Loss of control accidents - Occurs when a driver has lost control of the vehicle and may run up on the sidewalk, hitting a pedestrian.
• Hit and run accidents - Occurs when a pedestrian has been struck and the responsible driver does not remain at the scene.
• Distracted driving accidents - Occurs when a driver is distracted in some way (such as texting and driving) and is not paying attention when a pedestrian is crossing.
• Bad weather accident - Occurs when bad weather (such as ice or rain) makes conditions treacherous and the driver does not take the necessary precautions (such as adjusting speed or turning on wipers) to avoid hitting a pedestrian.