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Injured in a Chicago pedestrian accident? Conboy Law fights for the compensation you deserve. Call (312) 376-4291 for a free consultation.
Pedestrian accidents often cause severe injuries because people have no physical protection against the force of a motor vehicle. Even crashes at relatively low speeds can result in life-changing or fatal injuries. Understanding the most common pedestrian accident injuries can help you recognize the seriousness of your condition and your legal rights.
Illinois law requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians and to use reasonable precautions when a pedestrian may be confused, incapacitated, or a child (625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1).
If someone else's negligence caused your injuries, Conboy Law can help. Call (312) 376-4291 today for a free consultation.
Why Are Pedestrian Injuries Often So Severe?
Pedestrian injuries are often more severe than injuries sustained by vehicle occupants because pedestrians have no seat belts, airbags, or vehicle frame to absorb the force of a collision.
In many cases, victims are struck by a moving vehicle before being thrown onto the hood, windshield, pavement, or nearby objects, causing multiple traumatic injuries from a single accident.
The severity of a pedestrian's injuries often depends on factors such as the vehicle's speed, the type of vehicle involved, the point of impact, and whether the victim suffers secondary impacts after the initial collision.
The Most Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Pedestrian accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, from broken bones to permanent disabilities. Because the human body absorbs the full force of the impact, victims often require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
Traumatic brain injuries are among the most serious injuries suffered in pedestrian accidents. A victim may sustain a concussion, skull fracture, or severe brain injury after striking a vehicle, the roadway, or another object. These injuries can affect memory, speech, concentration, mobility, and overall cognitive function.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The force of a pedestrian accident can damage the spinal cord, leading to partial or complete paralysis. Even less severe spinal injuries may result in chronic pain, reduced mobility, and lifelong medical treatment.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Pedestrians commonly suffer fractures to the legs, hips, pelvis, ribs, arms, wrists, and collarbones. Some fractures heal with conservative treatment, while others require surgery, physical therapy, or multiple procedures.
Internal Injuries
Blunt-force trauma can cause internal bleeding and damage to vital organs such as the lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys. Because these injuries are not always immediately apparent, prompt medical evaluation is essential after any pedestrian accident.
Neck and Back Injuries
Whiplash, herniated discs, muscle strains, and other neck and back injuries frequently occur when pedestrians are thrown by the force of a collision. Depending on the severity, these injuries may result in long-term pain and limited mobility.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Sprains, strains, torn ligaments, and damaged tendons are common after pedestrian accidents. Although these injuries may appear minor initially, they can lead to lasting pain, stiffness, and reduced physical function if left untreated.
Road Rash and Lacerations
When pedestrians are dragged or thrown across the pavement, they may suffer severe abrasions, deep cuts, and extensive skin damage. Serious cases can result in infections, permanent scarring, nerve damage, or the need for skin grafts.
Facial and Dental Injuries
A pedestrian may suffer broken facial bones, jaw fractures, broken teeth, eye injuries, or permanent facial scarring after striking a vehicle, the ground, or nearby objects during a collision. These injuries often require reconstructive surgery and long-term dental or medical treatment.
Crush Injuries
Pedestrians may suffer crush injuries if they become trapped beneath a vehicle or pinned against another object. These injuries can severely damage muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and internal organs, often requiring emergency surgery.
Amputations
Some pedestrian accidents result in traumatic amputations at the scene or injuries so severe that surgical amputation becomes necessary. Victims often require prosthetic devices, extensive rehabilitation, and lifelong medical care.
Psychological Trauma
The emotional impact of a pedestrian accident can be just as serious as the physical injuries. Many victims experience anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or a lasting fear of walking near traffic after a serious collision.
What Factors Affect the Severity of Pedestrian Accident Injuries?
No two pedestrian accidents are exactly alike. The severity of a victim's injuries depends on several factors, including the force of the impact, the type of vehicle involved, and the circumstances surrounding the collision.
- Vehicle Speed: Higher vehicle speeds generate greater impact forces, increasing the risk of catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and multiple fractures.
- Type and Size of the Vehicle: Collisions involving commercial trucks, buses, SUVs, and other large vehicles often cause more severe injuries because of their greater size, weight, and ground clearance.
- Point of Impact: The location where the vehicle strikes the pedestrian can significantly influence the type and severity of the injuries. For example, impacts to the head or torso are more likely to result in life-threatening injuries.
- Age and Health of the Pedestrian: Children and older adults are generally more vulnerable to serious injuries because of their physical development, bone density, and overall health. Pre-existing medical conditions may also affect recovery.
- Road and Weather Conditions: Rain, snow, poor visibility, icy roads, and other hazardous conditions can increase the force of a collision or contribute to secondary impacts that worsen a pedestrian's injuries.
- Whether Secondary Impacts Occurred: Many pedestrians are not only struck by a vehicle but are also thrown onto the hood, windshield, roadway, or nearby objects. These additional impacts often result in multiple traumatic injuries.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Pedestrian Accident?
A serious pedestrian accident can leave victims facing significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be entitled to recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of normal life
Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule (735 ILCS 5/2-1116). You may still recover compensation if you were 50% or less at fault for the accident, but your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are more than 50% responsible, you generally cannot recover damages.
How Pedestrian Accident Injuries Can Affect Your Daily Life
A serious pedestrian injury can affect nearly every aspect of your life long after the accident. Beyond the physical pain, many victims experience financial hardship, emotional distress, and significant lifestyle changes throughout their recovery.
Ability to Work
Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be unable to return to work for weeks, months, or permanently. Some victims are no longer able to perform the same job or earn the income they did before the accident.
Daily Activities
Simple tasks such as walking, driving, shopping, exercising, or caring for yourself may become difficult or impossible while recovering from serious injuries. Some victims require ongoing therapy or assistive devices to regain mobility.
Family Responsibilities
Serious injuries can make it difficult to care for children, maintain your household, or support your family. Loved ones often assume caregiving responsibilities, creating additional emotional and financial challenges.
Emotional Well-Being
Many pedestrian accident victims experience anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or a fear of crossing streets or walking near traffic. Emotional recovery may take as long as physical healing.
Loss of Independence
Severe injuries may prevent you from living independently or completing everyday tasks without assistance. Some victims require long-term rehabilitation, mobility aids, home modifications, or ongoing personal care.
How Can Our Chicago Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Help?
Recovering from a pedestrian accident can be overwhelming, especially while dealing with serious injuries and insurance companies. Our Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers manage every aspect of your claim while you focus on your recovery.
Our lawyers also ensure your claim is filed before the applicable Illinois statute of limitations expires. Missing this legal deadline could prevent you from recovering compensation, making it important to seek legal guidance as soon as possible.
- Investigate the Accident: Our lawyers collect police reports, surveillance footage, witness statements, accident scene evidence, and other critical information to determine how the collision occurred and who was responsible.
- Gather Medical and Expert Evidence: We work with medical professionals, accident reconstruction specialists, and other experts to document the full extent of your injuries and the long-term impact they will have on your life.
- Identify Every Liable Party: Depending on the circumstances, multiple parties may be responsible for your injuries. Our legal team investigates every potential source of liability to maximize your recovery.
- Calculate the Full Value of Your Damages: Our attorneys carefully evaluate your current and future losses, including medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, rehabilitation costs, and diminished earning capacity.
- Fight for Maximum Compensation: Whether through settlement negotiations or litigation, our Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers aggressively advocate for the full compensation you deserve under Illinois law.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and lower-extremity injuries are among the most common injuries suffered in pedestrian accidents because pedestrians absorb the full force of a vehicle collision.
Yes. Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which allows you to recover compensation if you were 50% or less at fault for the accident. However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
The filing deadline depends on the circumstances of your case. Speaking with an experienced attorney as soon as possible helps protect your legal rights and ensures important evidence is preserved.
Every case is unique. The value of your claim depends on factors such as the severity of your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, future care needs, pain and suffering, and other damages.
If you suffered serious injuries because of another party's negligence, an attorney can help protect your rights, investigate the accident, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Speak With Our Chicago Pedestrian Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Pedestrian accident injuries can have lasting physical, emotional, and financial consequences. If someone else's negligence caused your injuries, you should not have to face the legal process alone.
At Conboy Law, our Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers are committed to helping injured victims recover the compensation they deserve. We will investigate your accident, identify every liable party, and aggressively pursue the best possible outcome for your case.
We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we win. Call (312) 376-4291 today for a free consultation.
