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THE ILLINOIS HAMMER
Chicago Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Being a pedestrian makes you particularly vulnerable on the roads. Unlike most motor vehicle occupants, pedestrians don’t have a car to shield them from an impact. If a motor vehicle hits you as a pedestrian, you might suffer severe, long-lasting injuries and emotional trauma.
You want justice, and you don’t need to seek it alone. A trusted Chicago pedestrian accident lawyer can handle your claim’s legal complexities so you can focus on healing while securing your future.
The Illinois Hammer Injury Attorneys are ready to fight relentlessly to win the compensation you need while handling your case with the compassion you deserve. Contact us online or call 888-742-6637 today for a free case evaluation.
The Illinois Hammer Is Here to Get Justice for Chicago’s Pedestrians
With more than 30 years of work in Illinois personal injury law, The Illinois Hammer team has the knowledge and experience to skillfully and assertively handle your Chicago pedestrian accident claim. We’re dedicated to maximizing our clients’ compensation, winning over $500 million in settlements and verdicts.
We’ll do whatever it takes—and work as hard as it takes—to win your case. We’re passionate about standing up to insurance companies and leveling the playing field for injury victims. We’re not afraid to demand fair treatment and fight to get it, even if it means taking them to court.
Our authentic approach to representation includes providing client support beyond traditional legal services. We’re with you every step of the way, and if we can do something to ease your concerns, we will. We can help you find medical providers and assist you with securing same-day pre-settlement loans for injury expenses.
We’re confident that we’re the best fit to help you. That’s why we offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. If you’re unhappy with our services, you can take your case elsewhere with no strings attached.
“I had a great experience working with the law offices of Dworkin and Maciariello; they were very knowledgeable and were available whenever I had questions about my case. They really go to bat for you and got my settlement done in a timely manner. I recommend them to any and everyone that needs a lawyer.”
– Ronney S.
Understanding Liability in Chicago Pedestrian Accident Lawsuits
The party responsible for a pedestrian accident is liable for the victim’s injuries, and demonstrating their negligence is essential to winning your case. In most cases, the liable party is a reckless driver who ran into a pedestrian. If the accident involved a commercial truck, the driver’s employer may also be liable.
Non-vehicle pedestrian accidents can involve falls caused by unsafe walking surfaces or collisions with other pedestrians or bicyclists. Construction companies and contractors can be liable for creating unmarked hazards to pedestrians, and property owners might be open to a premises liability claim for failing to fix unsafe conditions.
Under Illinois’ modified comparative negligence law, the parties involved in an accident are assigned liability based on their share of responsibility for the incident. Claimants who were more than 50 percent responsible for the accident cannot recover any damages. Those who are 50 percent or less to blame can recover their damages. However, their compensation will be reduced proportionately by their share of the blame.
Compensation Available in a Chicago Pedestrian Accident Claim
Depending on the injuries you suffered and how they’ve impacted on your life, you might be able to seek various damages after a pedestrian accident. Generally, you can pursue compensation for your economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damage compensates for those losses with a fixed monetary value. They include current and future medical expenses, lost wages or diminished earning potential, repair or replacement costs for damaged property, and others.
Non-economic damages are more subjective in nature and cover how the accident and injuries impact one’s life. Such losses include pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and quality of life changes like loss of enjoyment of activities.
Punitive damages might also be available. While rare, they are awarded to penalize egregious or intentional behavior and deter future misconduct.
For example, if a driver has hit you while in a crosswalk, you might be able to seek compensation for your medical treatment, any pay you lost while out of work, and any lingering effects on your day-to-day life resulting from your injuries. If the driver was intoxicated or intentionally hit you, punitive damages may also be on the table.
Pedestrian accidents have the potential to result in catastrophic injuries or even death. If your loved one died after being injured in a pedestrian accident, you might be able to seek compensation for grief, sorrow, and other benefits through a wrongful death claim. Our compassionate attorneys can handle every step of the legal process, allowing you to focus on healing.
Determining the Value of a Chicago Pedestrian Accident Claim
The type and severity of your injuries will have the biggest impact on the value of your claim, with the worst injuries and damages typically resulting in the most compensation. The longer and more intensive your treatment is, the higher your medical bills and lost income will be. Injuries to the brain or other vital body parts can greatly impact your well-being and future earning potential.
Every case is unique. There’s no easy way to determine the worth of a pedestrian accident claim in a vacuum, but a skilled attorney can analyze the factors involved in your case and give an educated estimate of the value of your claim.
Why Should You Have a Lawyer Negotiate Against the Insurance Company For You?
A Chicago pedestrian accident lawyer can handle settlement negotiations, evaluating any offers based on deep experience. Our attorneys are hardened negotiators who are well-versed in insurance company tactics and how to counter them.
Insurers will often attempt to lowball injury victims early on with offers far below what their damages are worth. We can steer you away from such offers and push for compensation that accurately reflects the damages you’ve suffered.
When we start negotiations, we come prepared. We will thoroughly investigate your accident to build the strongest possible case, meticulously documenting your injuries and proving liability as leverage to compel better offers. We pride ourselves on fighting relentlessly—we’ll hammer the insurance companies until they agree to pay you what you deserve.
What About The Cost of Hiring a Lawyer?
We know that injury victims are often out of work and struggling to handle mounting medical bills while keeping their families afloat. We’re passionate about standing up for injury victims, and we do whatever we can to make justice accessible regardless of your financial circumstances.
That’s why we don’t charge anything upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t owe us anything unless and until we win your case. When we obtain a settlement or verdict, we keep a pre-agreed percentage of the compensation as our fee. Therefore, our success is aligned with your recovery, and we’ll do whatever it takes to get you the maximum possible compensation.
Statute of Limitations for Pedestrian Accident Claims in Illinois
Illinois has a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury lawsuits, which shrinks to a one-year deadline when the defendant is a government entity or employee.
The statute has some exceptions, including situations where the injury victim is a minor or legally incapacitated. The law then delays the two-year deadline until the victim turns 18 or the incapacity resolves.
Two years can fly by fast. Evidence can disappear and witnesses’ memories can fade. It’s important to get started as soon as possible after your accident to preserve key evidence and give your attorney plenty of time to prepare the strongest claim possible.
Get Expert Legal Assistance from our Chicago Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
If you’ve been hurt in a pedestrian accident, the top legal team at The Illinois Hammer Injury Attorneys is ready to fight hard until you get the compensation you deserve. We fight fervently to secure substantial settlements, with a track record that includes several seven-figure victories.
Contact us online today or call 888-742-6637 for a free case evaluation. You call, we hammer.
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134 North LaSalle Street
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