Common Causes of Illinois Pedestrian Accidents

 Posted on October 27,2021 in Personal Injury

Opting to go without a vehicle with the goal of leading a more eco-friendly, economically efficient, and active lifestyle is an admirable decision that is becoming increasingly widespread in urban areas of the United States. With this in mind, it is important for drivers and pedestrians alike to be aware of what is expected when sharing roads. 

Recent estimates suggest that pedestrian accidents have greatly increased in the past few years. While choosing to ride a bike or walk to work and social events may fit well into an individual’s lifestyle, pedestrians should understand what dangers they may face on the roads and what actions they can take to better avoid being involved in a pedestrian accident.

What Factors Most Often Lead to a Pedestrian Accident?

Certain dangerous behaviors, on both the driver and pedestrian part, are more likely to contribute to a pedestrian accident than others. 

Driver behavior that frequently leads to injured pedestrians often involves driver negligence or inattentiveness. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of any accident involving a motor vehicle and is especially apparent in those which include pedestrians. Since 2009, there has been a substantial increase in pedestrian accidents that include cell phone usage, one of the most common forms of distracted driving. Other forms of commonly seen distracted driving include eating while driving and applying make-up. 

Aggressive driving has also proven to play a significant role in pedestrian accidents, specifically in busy cities. When drivers choose to drive aggressively, they are more likely to make dangerous maneuvers and violate traffic laws.

Unfortunately, alcohol frequently plays a role in pedestrian accidents. It is not uncommon for both drivers and pedestrians involved in this type of accident to have a high blood alcohol level at the time of the crash. It is possible for the pedestrian to be held partially accountable for this type of collision. 

Pedestrians are also responsible for following road laws and acting with an expected level of care when sharing the road with vehicles. Ignoring “walk” signals at intersections, disrupting the flow of traffic, darting in front of a vehicle, and failing to use marked crosswalks are just some of the ways that a pedestrian may be responsible for their injuries. 

Contact Our Cook County Pedestrian Accident Attorney

When negligence plays a role in a  pedestrian suffering injuries in an accident with a motor vehicle, they may be eligible to recover compensatory damages. In some cases, it is possible that more than one party is at fault, including the driver of the vehicle and the pedestrian. An injured pedestrian may be able to receive compensation related to medical expenses, loss of wages, and pain and suffering.

At Adler Law Offices, LTD, our Mount Prospect personal injury attorneys advocate for injured victims and their families to pursue compensation after an accident. To arrange a free consultation and learn more about how we can help, call 312-236-2700 today.

Sources:

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/mind-boggling-pedestrian-deaths-surged-2020-despite-fewer-cars-road-n1267910

https://www.ghsa.org/resources/Pedestrians20