The reasons behind the Illinois Complete Streets Policy are no surprise to Illinois pedestrian accident attorneys. Pedestrians and bicyclists need to safely share the streets of Illinois with motor vehicles. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois Complete Streets Policy requires that construction projects which begin after July 1, 2008 give “full consideration” to bicycle and pedestrian ways. New streets that are built or roadways that are substantially altered will need to incorporate bicycle and pedestrian ways unless the Secretary of Transportation approves an exception due to excessive cost or absence of need.
These measures will, hopefully, reduce the number of pedestrian injuries in Illinois but they will not eliminate them. Unfortunately, accidents will continue to happen and pedestrians will continue to get hurt and seriously injured. It is, therefore, important for pedestrians to understand what legal actions are available to them to help them recover costs associated with their injuries.
Illinois Pedestrian Accident Lawsuits
Pedestrians are among those at greatest risk of using Illinois streets. Anything that hits them can cause harm, whether it is a city cab weaving in and out of traffic, a truck with a distracted driver on a flat stretch of road of a bicyclist who loses control of his bike. No matter who the defendant may be, a plaintiff must prove the following elements in order to be successful in a personal injury or wrongful death case:
- The defendant owed a duty of care to the pedestrian. People who use a roadway have a general duty of care to those who share the roadway with them.
- The defendant breached that duty of care by failing to act like a reasonable person would have given similar circumstances. For example, if a driver was texting, speeding or drunk then he or she was likely not exercising the same duty of care that a reasonable person would given similar circumstances.
- The defendant’s actions caused the pedestrian’s accidents. The pedestrian’s injuries must have been incurred during the accident that happened as a result of the defendant’s actions.
- The plaintiff is entitled to recover damages because the above elements have been met.
Illinois Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
It is important to hire an experienced attorney who will work with you at each stage of your case. Your attorney should be both a tough negotiator and a skilled litigator who will zealously fight for your rights and carefully explain your options as your case progresses.
Dolan Law Offices represents pedestrian accident victims throughout Illinois and the greater Chicagoland area, including Cook County, DuPage County, Lake County, McHenry County, and Will County, and the towns of Aurora, Addison, Chicago Heights, Joliet, Hillsdale, Plainfield, Rolling Meadows, Des Plains, Schaumburg, Palatine, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Hanover Park, Streamwood, Prospect Heights, Wheeling, Wheaton, Waukegan, Inverness, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Elgin, Bartlett, Itasca, Bloomingdale and Oak Park.
Please contact us today for a free consultation. The Chicago pedestrian accident attorneys of Dolan Law Offices will not collect a fee from you unless your case results in a monetary verdict or settlement.
