If you were hit by a vehicle while walking in Des Plaines, a personal injury case may feel overwhelming. Working with a pedestrian accident lawyer in Des Plaines can help you focus on healing while your claim is handled carefully. Our team has 75 years of combined experience.
Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., helps injured pedestrians and families after crosswalk collisions, hit-and-run crashes, rideshare impacts, commercial vehicle strikes, and fatal incidents.
Our personal injury lawyer in Des Plaines can help you start building a strong case after you’ve been injured. Choose Charlie after you’ve been injured.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Des Plaines
The steps you take in the hours and days after a crash can affect your case value and timeline. Focus on safety first, then protect your claim with documentation.
Here’s what to do:
- Get medical care immediately and follow treatment plans.
- Call the police and obtain the Illinois Traffic Crash Report number.
- Photograph the scene, vehicles, crosswalks, signs, and your injuries.
- Collect witness names, phone numbers, and any video sources.
- Preserve clothing, shoes, and damaged items as evidence.
- Avoid recorded statements or broad medical releases to insurers.
Liability and Damages in an Illinois Pedestrian Accident Case
Every case requires proof of negligence: duty, breach, causation, and damages. We examine whether the driver failed to yield, sped, drove distracted, turned without clearing the crosswalk, or violated a traffic control device. Surveillance, vehicle data, and phone records often fill gaps in the story.
Damages typically include medical expenses, wage loss, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, loss of normal life, scarring or disfigurement, and future care needs. For fatal crashes, wrongful death and survival claims allow families to pursue funeral costs, support losses, and other harms.
Multiple parties may share fault. Employers can be liable for on-the-clock drivers. Government entities may face claims for dangerous roadway design or inoperative signals, subject to special rules. Our pedestrian accident lawyers in Des Plaines identify all responsible parties to maximize recovery.
How Comparative Fault Works in Illinois
Illinois uses a modified comparative fault rule (51% bar). If you are 50% or less at fault, your recovery is reduced by that percentage. If you are 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover.
Fault arguments often arise when a pedestrian crosses mid-block, enters the roadway outside a crosswalk, or wears dark clothing at night. Even then, drivers still must exercise due care. We use expert analysis and evidence to challenge inflated fault claims.
Insurers may push shared fault to reduce payouts. We counter with scene measurements, lighting studies, witness accounts, and human factors testimony to present a clear timeline and visibility analysis.
Evidence That Strengthens Your Case
Pedestrian cases benefit from fast preservation of physical and digital evidence. Early action can secure proof that may otherwise disappear in days or weeks.
Evidence our pedestrian accident lawyers in Des Plaines can help you gather includes:
- Storefront, doorbell, dashcam, and traffic camera footage
- Phone records and vehicle event data recorders (EDR)
- 911 audio and dispatch logs
- Scene measurements, skid marks, and debris fields
- Weather, lighting, and sightline assessments
- Medical documentation and treating provider opinions
We send preservation letters, gather sworn statements, and, when needed, work with accident reconstructionists. This approach supports liability, causation, and the full scope of your damages.
Deadlines and Special Rules That Can Shorten Your Time to File in Des Plaines
Most Illinois pedestrian injury claims must be filed within two years of the crash. Wrongful death actions generally share the same two-year period, measured from the date of death. Property damage claims can have different deadlines.
If a local public entity or employee is involved, you may have only one year to sue under the Illinois Tort Immunity Act. Claims against the State of Illinois can follow Court of Claims procedures with notice and filing requirements. Minors and those under legal disability may receive extended time, but do not assume extra time applies without confirmation.
Since evidence can fade quickly and deadlines can vary, it’s smart to speak with a pedestrian accident attorney in Des Plaines as early as possible. We monitor all applicable time limits and take steps to protect your claim.
How a Des Plaines Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Builds Your Claim
We start with a focused intake, then collect records, photos, and video while memories are fresh. Our team analyzes the fault, identifies all coverage, and consults with your doctors to understand the prognosis and future care.
Next, we quantify losses. That includes medical bills, time off work, job impact, and daily limitations. We prepare a settlement package that blends facts, law, and visuals to communicate the full human impact of your injuries.
If negotiations stall, we file suit and move into discovery. We take depositions, challenge defense theories, and prepare for trial. Throughout, we advise you on offers and strategy so you can make informed decisions.
What We Do and What It Costs
With our team, your initial consultation is free. If you hire us, we work on a contingency fee. You pay no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you.
We advance case costs such as records, filing fees, and expert work, which are typically reimbursed from the outcome. Our fee agreement is clear and written, so you know exactly how payment works before any commitment.
We keep you updated with regular status reports. You’ll always know where your case stands and what comes next.
Contact Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Des Plaines
You don’t have to manage insurance calls, medical billing, and legal deadlines alone. When you need a pedestrian accident lawyer in Des Plaines, Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., is here for you.
Reach out for a free consultation. We’ll review your case, outline a plan, and move quickly to protect your rights under Illinois law. Let us focus on your claim, so you can focus on getting better.
