Dedicated Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Fighting for Chicago’s Injured
Walking should be safe. Yet every year, hundreds of Chicago pedestrians suffer serious injuries or lose their lives when struck by vehicles. At Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand the devastating impact these accidents have on victims and their families.
When drivers fail to watch for pedestrians, the consequences can be life-altering. If you or a loved one has been injured while walking in Chicago, the pedestrian accident attorneys at Willens & Baez are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Get a free consultation with Willens & Baez on your pedestrian accident claim. We don’t charge lawyer fees until we win for you. Call us at (312) 957-4166 today.
Pedestrian Accidents in Chicago: Understanding the Crisis
Chicago has seen a troubling rise in pedestrian accidents in recent years. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), pedestrian fatalities have increased by 9.5% from 2023 to 2024, with 219 fatal pedestrian crashes reported in 2024 alone. In Cook County and the surrounding areas, pedestrian fatalities rose 6.7% from 135 in 2023 to 144 in 2024.
The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) reports that 84% of traffic deaths in Chicago involve reckless behavior by people behind the wheel, putting pedestrians at particular risk.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that a pedestrian is killed approximately every 70 minutes in the United States. Pedestrian deaths in 2022 were the highest they’ve been since 1981.
Chicago’s Most Dangerous Areas for Pedestrians
Some areas in Chicago are particularly hazardous for pedestrians. These high-risk areas include:
- CBD, or the Central Business District
- Major intersections in the Loop, Near North Side, and Near West Side
- A two-mile stretch of 79th Street
- Michigan Chicago to Oak
- Dearborn Ohio to Huron
- Columbus/Fairbanks Water to Ontario
- Canal Jackson to Washington
- Jackson Clark to Wabash.
Research shows that nearly 78% of Chicago pedestrian crashes happen at intersections, with 80% of serious injury and fatal pedestrian accidents occurring at these junctions. This rate is higher than the national average.
Common Causes of Chicago Pedestrian Accidents
Understanding why pedestrian accidents occur is crucial to preventing them and to proving the liable party in your accident claim. The most common causes include:
1. Distracted Driving
Drivers distracted by smartphones, navigation systems, or other activities pose a serious threat to pedestrians. According to the NHTSA, distracted driving claimed 3,275 lives nationwide in 2023.
When drivers take their eyes off the road for just five seconds while traveling at 55 mph, they cover the entire length of a football field essentially blindfolded, creating a deadly risk for pedestrians crossing streets.
2. Failure to Yield Right-of-Way
Under Illinois legislation, motorists must halt and give way to people on foot in crosswalks, whether they have markings or not.
The Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-1002a) states that motorists must stop and concede passage to any pedestrian in a crosswalk who is on the same side of the road as the vehicle.
3. Speeding and Aggressive Driving
Excessive speed dramatically increases both the likelihood of pedestrian accidents and the severity of injuries when they occur. AAA Foundation research shows that a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 23 mph has approximately a 10% chance of being killed, while those odds increase dramatically at higher speeds.
4. Left-Turn Accidents
Vehicles making left turns frequently strike pedestrians in crosswalks, often causing catastrophic injuries or fatalities. Left turn accidents are particularly dangerous because drivers are often focused on oncoming traffic instead of watching for pedestrians.
5. Driving Under the Influence
Impaired drivers have slowed reaction times and impaired judgment, making them particularly dangerous to pedestrians. Alcohol and drugs significantly delay a driver’s ability to process information and respond to people crossing streets.
6. Poor Visibility and Weather Conditions
Limited visibility due to inadequate street lighting, inclement weather, or visual obstructions contributes to many pedestrian accidents. Chicago’s variable weather conditions, including snow, rain, and fog, can make it difficult for drivers to spot pedestrians.
Injuries Common in Pedestrian Accidents
When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle weighing thousands of pounds, the injuries are often severe and life-altering:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Multiple bone fractures
- Internal organ damage
- Severe lacerations and road rash
- Amputations
- Psychological trauma
- Wrongful death.
Pedestrian injuries often require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and often result in permanent disability. The financial burden from medical bills, lost income, and ongoing care can be overwhelming for victims and their families.
Your Rights After a Chicago Pedestrian Accident
As a pedestrian accident victim in Illinois, you have important legal rights. You may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disability and disfigurement
- Loss of normal life
- Wrongful death damages (for families who have lost loved ones).
Illinois operates under a “comparative negligence” system, which means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident, as long as you were less than 50% responsible.
Why Choose Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C. for Your Pedestrian Accident Case?
Selecting proper legal counsel after a pedestrian injury can significantly impact both your healing process and financial well-being.
Unmatched Experience and Results
Our founding attorney Matthew Willens has earned nationwide acclaim and recognition from Illinois legal professionals as among the finest personal injury attorneys in the state. His elite status is confirmed by his membership in the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, which includes only the top 1% of lawyers.
Over the past three decades, Matthew Willens and his team have obtained numerous million-dollar-plus recoveries for clients in various injury cases. The National Law Journal named one of his personal injury case outcomes among America’s Top 100 Verdicts, a remarkable distinction in the legal field.
Insider Knowledge of Insurance Company Tactics
What truly sets us apart is our unique perspective. Matthew Willens previously held an executive position at an insurance company, and his partner David Baez began his legal career defending insurance providers against injury claims.
This insider knowledge gives Willens & Baez a tremendous advantage when negotiating with insurance companies. As our clients often say, “It’s like they know the other side’s playbook!”
Client-Centered Approach
Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers understand that a pedestrian injury case can take over a person’s life. That’s why we provide dedicated, caring support throughout the legal process. Our approach is simple but effective: prepare for war, hope for peace.
The attorneys at Willens & Baez prepare each case as if it will go to trial, which often motivates insurance companies to offer fair settlements. We do everything possible to relieve our clients’ burdens, including:
- Offering free initial consultations
- Coming to your home or hospital if you can’t travel to our offices
- Being available outside normal business hours
- Never charging legal fees unless we win your case.
Understanding Chicago Pedestrian Laws
Willens & Baez has extensive knowledge of Chicago’s pedestrian laws which is essential for establishing liability when pedestrian accidents occur.
Right-of-Way at Crosswalks
People walking on foot typically have priority passage in crosswalks across Chicago and the entire state of Illinois, regardless of whether the crosswalks have markings.
At intersections with stop signs, pedestrians have the right-of-way over vehicles stopped in obedience to the signs. Drivers must yield to pedestrians within or entering the crosswalk at either edge of the roadway.
Pedestrian Responsibilities
Though foot travelers frequently have priority passage, they must also fulfill certain legal obligations. Pedestrians should:
- Not suddenly leave a curb or place of safety and walk into the path of a moving vehicle
- Yield to vehicles when crossing outside of marked or unmarked crosswalks
- Obey pedestrian signals at intersections with traffic lights
- Use sidewalks when available (if no sidewalk is present, pedestrians should walk on the left side of the road facing traffic).
Penalties for Drivers Who Fail to Yield
Motorists who fail to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks can face fines ranging from $50 to $500. In 2016, Chicago law enforcement handed out over 1,000 tickets to drivers who didn’t halt for people crossing at designated walkways, both marked and unmarked.
Steps to Take After a Pedestrian Accident
If you’ve been injured as a pedestrian, taking the right steps immediately after the accident can protect your health and legal rights:
- Seek immediate medical attention, even for seemingly minor injuries.
- Report the accident to police and obtain a copy of the police report.
- Document the scene by taking photos of the accident location, your injuries, and any relevant traffic signals or road conditions.
- Gather witness information from anyone who saw the accident.
- Avoid discussing fault with the driver or insurance representatives.
- Keep detailed records of all medical treatment and expenses.
- Contact our experienced pedestrian accident attorneys as soon as possible.
Chicago’s Efforts to Improve Pedestrian Safety
Chicago has implemented several initiatives to reduce pedestrian accidents and improve safety:
- The Chicago Pedestrian Plan aims to make Chicago “the safest city in the country for pedestrians.”
- Vision Zero Chicago is a comprehensive program working to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries.
- CDOT has implemented left turn traffic calming measures at high-risk intersections, resulting in a 24% reduction in crashes.
- Crosswalk enforcement initiatives involve undercover police officers posing as pedestrians to catch and cite drivers who fail to yield.
While these efforts are making progress, pedestrian accidents remain a serious problem in Chicago, requiring continued vigilance from both pedestrians and drivers.
The Statute of Limitations for Pedestrian Accident Claims
Illinois law typically allows victims two years from when a pedestrian accident occurred to file personal injury lawsuits. However, if your claim involves a government entity (such as a city bus or a poorly maintained sidewalk), you may have a much shorter timeframe to file a claim – sometimes just one year.
If you fail to file within these time limits, you may permanently forfeit your chance to receive any compensation. That’s why it’s crucial to consult with our pedestrian accident attorneys as soon as possible after your accident.
Contact a Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C. Chicago Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers has an impressive track record of success in pedestrian accident cases and other motor vehicle accident cases, including:
- $15,808,277 verdict for a 12-year-old girl who suffered a traumatic brain injury when struck by a YMCA van.This landmark case earned national recognition by being included in the prestigious Top 100 Verdicts nationwide.
- $1,500,000 settlement for the family of a 26-year-old IDOT employee who was fatally struck by a truck while working on I-294.
- $1,350,000 settlement for a 60-year-old visitor to Chicago who was struck in a rental car parking lot, suffering a cracked pelvis requiring surgery. Despite modest medical bills, our attorneys demonstrated the serious nature of his injuries and secured this substantial compensation.
- $1,250,000 settlement for a 50-year-old woman who was hit by a bus while legally using a crosswalk.
- $130,000 settlement recovery for a counseling professional, age 50, who needed surgical intervention for a wrist fracture after a vehicle backing up hit him in a River Forest parking area.
- $100,000 settlement (full policy limits) compensation (maximum insurance coverage) for an educator, 45, who suffered mild brain trauma when struck crossing Belmont Street, plus extra funds through his personal underinsured motorist policy.
- $100,000 settlement (full policy limits) for a 60-year-old custodian who suffered a pelvis fracture when struck by a left-turning vehicle while in a crosswalk in Calumet City.
- $100,000 settlement (full policy limits) for a man who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being struck by a car while crossing the street.
- $100,000 settlement for a minor child who was injured when struck by a vehicle while crossing the street.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident in Chicago, don’t face the legal process alone. The skilled attorneys at Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C. are ready to fight for your rights and secure the compensation you deserve.
WE OFFER:
- Free, no-obligation consultations
- No legal fees unless we win your case
- Home or hospital visits if you’re unable to travel.
GET IN TOUCH NOW:
Act promptly to secure the necessary legal assistance that will safeguard your long-term interests. With Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C., you’re choosing attorneys with a proven record of turning challenging cases into substantial victories. Call us today at (312) 957-4166.
