Pedestrians can suffer devastating injuries when they are struck by careless drivers. Broken bones, head injuries, and back injuries are all examples of severe types of harm that can occur. Fortunately, victims may file pedestrian accident lawsuits against at-fault motorists.
Pedestrian accident lawsuits can take weeks to months to years to complete. Defendants and their insurance companies may employ various strategies to delay cases and shift blame onto plaintiffs. Our attorneys can help victims fight defendants and recover the compensation they deserve.
If you were injured because of a pedestrian accident in Rockford, IL, get help pursuing the payment available to you. Get in touch with our experienced Rockford pedestrian accident lawyers by calling the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502. Our attorneys can review your case for free.
Elements of a Rockford, IL Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit
Each pedestrian accident lawsuit is unique. There are many legal strategies and analyses that may be utilized to recover compensation in your case. However, in every lawsuit, the plaintiff must show that each of the following elements has been satisfied:
- The defendant was under a duty of care
- The defendant did not act in accordance with their duty of care
- You were hurt because of the defendant’s breach of duty
- You sustained damages because of the injuries you suffered
During your free case review, our Rockford pedestrian accident lawyers can determine whether these necessary elements have been established in your case. Afterwards, our team can help choose the appropriate course of action.
Common Locations Where Pedestrian Accidents Occur in Rockford, IL
Pedestrian accidents can occur anywhere. However, there are certain places where such accidents happen more frequently than others. The following are common locations where pedestrian accidents occur in Rockford, IL:
Intersections
Many pedestrian accidents occur at intersections. When drivers fail to obey traffic signals or fail to yield the right-of-way, devastating collisions can occur with pedestrians attempting to cross roadways. Our Rockford pedestrian accident lawyers can help victims of such accidents prove that negligent drivers are at fault.
Urban Areas
Urban areas are also locations where many pedestrian accidents occur. These are typically areas with a higher amount of pedestrian traffic. Accordingly, motorists who act negligently in urban areas are more likely to cause crashes with pedestrians.
Parking Lots
Parking lots are another location when many pedestrian accidents happen. Parking lots are usually areas where pedestrians are walking to and from their vehicles. Accordingly, when drivers fail to check their surroundings before pulling into and out of parking spaces, harmful collisions with pedestrians can occur. Our Rockford pedestrian accident lawyers can help victims of such accidents take the appropriate steps toward compensation.
Proving Fault for a Pedestrian Accident in Rockford, IL
In order for your pedestrian accident lawsuit to succeed, you must prove that it occurred because of the defendant’s negligent behavior. There are multiple forms of evidence that can be utilized to accomplish this task. The following are common types of evidence used by our Rockford pedestrian accident lawyers:
Witness Testimony
You should always attempt to retrieve contact information for potential witnesses to your pedestrian accident if possible. Witnesses can offer either written or oral testimony that points to the cause of your collision. For example, an eyewitness may state that the defendant ran a red light before running into you. In that case, testimony from the eyewitness could be used to prove that the defendant is at fault. Our attorneys can offer support when reaching out for witness’ potential cooperation.
Accident Reports
After any injurious pedestrian accident, a police officer should come to the scene to draft an accident report. Officer’s reports can contain several pieces of information that explain how accidents occurred. For instance, an accident report may contain statements from drivers, crash diagrams, or personal notes from officers regarding how collisions happened. Therefore, these reports are often among the first pieces of evidence reviewed by insurance companies and attorneys when determining fault. Our Rockford pedestrian accident lawyers can help recover and review a copy of the official accident report in your case.
Physical Evidence from the Scene
Physical evidence from the scene of a pedestrian accident is another type of evidence that can be used to prove fault. For instance, pieces of a broken headlight can be matched with a defendant’s vehicle to prove that they were the car who hit the plaintiff. Further, open liquor bottles found in a defendant’s vehicle may be used to show that they were impaired when a collision occurred. The assistance of our attorneys can be helpful when collecting and preserving any physical evidence from the scene of your pedestrian accident.
However, some evidence may be hard to preserve or otherwise bring into court. In such cases, alternative means of documentation are allowed.
Photos from the Scene
Additionally, photos from the scene of your pedestrian accident may also be used to prove that the defendant is at fault. For example, some defendants may offer alternative theories of fault by suggesting that their collisions were caused by poor weather or inadequate road conditions. In such cases, photos from the scenes of their accidents showing proper weather and adequate road conditions could be used to disprove defendants’ arguments and establish that they are to blame.
Accordingly, you should always take photos at the scene of your pedestrian accident if you can. Our Rockford pedestrian accident lawyers can help review any photos you took during your free case review.
Expert Witness Testimony
Lastly, expert witness testimony is a common type of evidence used to prove fault for pedestrian accidents. Witnesses are considered experts if they have the requisite education, training, and experience in particular fields. These types of witnesses are usually used to explain complex theories of fault. For example, after a pedestrian accident that occurs at an intersection, an accident reconstruction expert may be summoned to show why a careless driver is responsible for the crash. Our experienced attorneys can call on the right experts to support your claim.
If You Suffered a Pedestrian Accident in Rockford, IL, Our Attorneys Can Help
If you were hurt because of a pedestrian accident, seek assistance from our experienced Rockford pedestrian accident lawyers by calling the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502 to review your case for free.
Resources