When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, whether crossing a street, walking on the sidewalk or in a parking lot, the injuries are often severe. Victims may suffer long-term complications, have extended time off of work, or be prevented from returning to work at all. Other incidents may result in the death of a loved one. The financial consequences may seem overwhelming to the injured party and their family. When tragedy strikes, it is important to contact experienced personal injury counsel as soon as possible to preserve one’s legal rights. Damon Young is a Peoria injury lawyer who has represented clients since 2003. He has experience handling such cases and is ready to assist you. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with an attorney.
Peoria lawyer vigorously protecting pedestrians struck by a moving vehicle
Illinois drivers have a duty to obey traffic laws and operate their vehicles safely. In many circumstances, pedestrians have the right-of-way to cross city streets. Inattentive drivers may fail to notice posted signs or simply ignore these rules. In other cases, a roadway accident may result in injuries to pedestrians walking or jogging on sidewalks. For obvious reasons, those involved in these types of accidents often suffer significant injuries. These may include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, paralysis, or wrongful death. Long-term or permanent damage to an injured party can lead to exorbitant medical bills and may even prevent the victim from ever returning to work. Lost wages during recovery or the loss of one’s future potential earnings can be devastating to a person’s finances. If the injury was caused by the negligence or intentional misconduct of the driver, the victim and their family may recover damages.
Shortly after an accident occurs, a victim will be contacted by the driver’s insurance company. It is important to remember that insurance adjusters are motivated to minimize their financial exposure in response to an accident. They will often attempt to pressure victims into a premature settlement. In cases where medical bills and lost wages are causing money trouble for families, agreeing to a quick settlement may seem attractive. Doing so before the damages can be reasonably estimated, however, can preclude full recovery. It is important, therefore, to contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible after an accident occurs. Counsel will manage communications with the insurance company directly on your behalf. Your counsel will also investigate the accident, establish proof of the defendant’s responsibility, and work to understand your prognosis for recovery. Using this information, the lawyer will prepare a demand letter seeking adequate compensation for the losses suffered. If a settlement cannot be reached, a lawsuit will be filed.
Particularly in pedestrian accidents, the investigation into the incident is extremely important. Someone who has been struck may not be able to recount the details of the incident and there may be conflicting accounts from the driver involved. It may be possible in some cases to contact nearby businesses and obtain surveillance video of the crash. Locating eyewitnesses who may have captured the accident on their cell phones could also be important. An attorney who is knowledgeable about such cases will request police reports, the driver’s cell phone records, or GPS information. Evidence that the driver was speeding or texting at the time of the incident, for example, could make the difference in establishing the operator’s liability. Your choice of counsel is, therefore, crucial.
Damon Young is a Peoria pedestrian injury attorney representing clients throughout Central Illinois. He has experience helping pedestrians who have been injured in car collisions. Working with clients since 2003, he understands the need to thoroughly investigate all accidents. Damon is dedicated to achieving the results his clients have come to expect. He takes a personalized, hands-on approach, to every case. Damon will not back down from insurance company pressure to settle and will not hesitate to take a case to trial if a settlement offer cannot be reached. If you or a loved one has been injured by a car, then contact our office today to schedule an initial consultation.
Pedestrian accident lawyer providing high levels of customer service to victims in Peoria, Illinois
Damon knows that an injury to a loved one can seriously impact a family. We work hard to navigate the legal process on our clients’ behalf to ensure that those responsible will be held accountable. Damon strives to respond quickly to client questions and concerns during the case. He will meet at the hospital or your home as needed while you recover. He communicates directly with your physicians to keep abreast of your medical situation. He will retain all necessary experts to fully understand how a pedestrian accident may impact you in the future to quantify the damages you have suffered. If you need assistance, contact our office to speak with a personal injury lawyer.
In addition to Peoria, our lawyer also serves clients in the Illinois cities of Bloomington, Eureka, Galesburg, Morton, Normal, Pekin, Springfield, and Washington.
