At Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., we help injured pedestrians and families in Oak Park pursue compensation after serious crashes.
Since 2002, our Oak Park pedestrian accident lawyers have represented injured people throughout Illinois, bringing more than 75 years of combined legal experience and a record of over $100 million recovered for our clients.
If you or someone you love was hurt while walking, contact our Oak Park personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation.
Pedestrian Accident Claims in Oak Park: What You Need to Know
Pedestrian accident claims often depend on where the crash happened, what traffic controls were present, whether the pedestrian had the right-of-way, and whether the driver was speeding, distracted, or failed to stop.
In Oak Park, these crashes may happen near schools, residential streets, CTA and Metra stops, parking lots, and busy roads such as Lake Street, Harlem Avenue, Madison Street, Roosevelt Road, and Austin Boulevard. Even at lower speeds, a pedestrian can suffer broken bones, head injuries, spinal trauma, internal injuries, or long-term mobility problems.
Our job is to investigate what happened, identify every available insurance policy, and document the full effect the crash has had on your health, work, family, and daily life.
Why Choose Our Oak Park Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
After a pedestrian crash, the driver’s insurance company may start working quickly to reduce its exposure. Adjusters may question where you crossed, what you saw, what you were wearing, or whether you were distracted. We step in to protect you from unfair blame and make sure the facts are developed properly.
Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. is not a volume-based billboard firm. We are a responsive, client–service–focused law firm that takes the time to understand your injuries, answer your questions, and keep your case moving.
Our firm also brings insight from Charlie Therman’s background working on the insurance side. We understand how insurers evaluate injury claims, where they look for weaknesses, and how to build a stronger case from the start.
How Illinois Law Affects Your Claim
Illinois pedestrian accident cases are shaped by several legal rules. These rules can affect fault, deadlines, and the amount of compensation available.
Pedestrian Right-of-Way Rules
Illinois law requires drivers to stop and yield to pedestrians in certain crosswalk situations. This includes marked crosswalks and, in many cases, unmarked crosswalks at intersections.
That said, pedestrian cases are fact-specific. The location of the crossing, traffic signals, lighting, visibility, driver speed, and witness accounts can all affect how fault is evaluated.
Comparative Fault in Illinois
Illinois follows a modified comparative fault rule. If you are 50% or less responsible for the crash, you may still recover compensation, but your recovery can be reduced by your percentage of fault.
If you are found more than 50% responsible, you cannot recover compensation. Because of this, insurance companies often try to blame pedestrians for the crash. We push back with evidence, witness statements, video, scene analysis, and Illinois traffic law.
Filing Deadlines
Most Illinois personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash. Some cases have different deadlines.
If a public entity is involved, such as a village vehicle, public bus, school district vehicle, or unsafe public property condition, a shorter filing period may apply. In many claims against local public entities, the deadline can be one year.
Our Oak Park pedestrian accident attorneys identify these issues early so your claim is not put at risk.
Dealing With Insurers and At-Fault Parties
Insurance adjusters may sound helpful, but their job is to limit what the insurance company pays. They may ask for a recorded statement, request broad medical authorizations, or offer a quick settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries.
You are not required to handle those conversations alone. We can deal directly with the insurance companies, protect your rights, and make sure any demand for compensation is supported by medical records, wage information, evidence of fault, and a clear explanation of how the crash has affected your life.
If the insurance company denies fault or makes an unfair offer, we are prepared to file a lawsuit and move the case forward in court.
Compensation Available in a Pedestrian Accident Case
A pedestrian accident claim should account for more than the first hospital bill. Serious injuries can affect your ability to work, care for your family, move comfortably, sleep, drive, exercise, and take part in everyday activities.
Depending on your case, compensation may include the following:
- Emergency medical care
- Hospital bills
- Surgery
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Medication
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning ability
- Transportation expenses
- Home help or household services
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of normal life
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
In limited cases involving especially reckless conduct, punitive damages may also be considered under Illinois law. We will explain what damages may apply based on the facts of your case.
Time Limits and Special Rules in Claims Against Public Entities
Most pedestrian accident injury claims in Illinois have a two-year filing deadline, but cases involving public entities can move much faster. If your crash involved a village vehicle, public bus, school vehicle, government employee, public roadway condition, or unsafe municipal property, special rules may apply.
These claims can involve shorter deadlines, stricter procedures, and legal defenses that do not apply in ordinary injury cases. We review potential public-entity involvement early so we can protect your claim and identify every party that may be responsible.
This may include drivers, vehicle owners, rideshare companies, delivery companies, contractors, roadwork crews, property owners, or public agencies.
Talk With an Oak Park Pedestrian Accident Attorney Who Puts You First
At Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., we help injured people understand their rights, get medical care when needed, and pursue the compensation available under Illinois law.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you. If you do not have health insurance, we can also discuss whether treatment through medical providers who accept liens may be available in your situation.
If you are looking for a pedestrian accident attorney in Oak Park, Choose Charlie. Contact us today for a free consultation.
