A pedestrian crash in Lake County can change everything in a heartbeat when you do not have a steel frame or airbags to shield you. We have won more than $100,000,000 for our clients over the last 75 years. Choose Charlie.
After a crash, your pedestrian accident lawyer in Lake County at Therman Law can explain what to expect from the claims process while you deal with medical treatment or insurance calls.
Your Lake County personal injury lawyer will be here when you are ready to reach out.
Why Pedestrians Are Vulnerable in Chicago and Suburban Areas
When drivers rush or glance away, people on foot face the full force of the impact. Cars move with far more speed and weight than a person can absorb. In Chicago and nearby suburbs, busy corridors and wide turn lanes make simple crossings feel risky.
Speeding and High-Traffic Intersections
Speed cuts down a driver’s time to see you and stop. At large intersections, late turns and yellow-light sprints keep cars moving while you step off the curb. Crosswalk signals can leave short windows, and a rolling start by the first car can pull others through behind it.
Heavy traffic also hides you from view. A tall SUV or delivery van can block a driver’s line of sight until the last second. If a crash happens at a signal, your pedestrian accident attorney in Lake County from Therman Law can connect timing data with camera clips to show how the sequence unfolded.
Lack of Sidewalks and Poor Infrastructure
Missing sidewalks force you onto a shoulder or the edge of a travel lane. Faded paint at a crosswalk makes it harder for drivers to register the crossing. Wide, rounded corners invite fast turns that cut across the space you need to walk.
Work zones and snow piles can block corners and push foot traffic into the street. Poor lighting reduces contrast, and dark clothing blends into the roadway. If you walk these routes often, note the problem spots and report them so your way home is safer.
Children and Older Adults Face Extra Risk
Short signal windows and crossings with long distances can leave you stuck in the lane if your pace is slower. Parked cars, tall hoods, strollers, and mobility aids also make it harder for you to see until a driver is already turning.
If a crash happens near a school or senior center, note the bell schedule and where crossing guards stand. A quick photo of flashing beacons or school-zone signs can help show why a turning motorist should have waited or why their speed should have been lower.
Common Situations That Lead to Pedestrian Accidents
Across Lake County, pedestrian crashes happen in familiar situations. You have likely seen corners where a driver rushes a turn or ignores a walk signal.
Here are the conditions that come up again and again:
- Crosswalk violations at marked intersections
- Left turns that fail to yield to people in the crosswalk
- Right-on-red turns without a full stop
- Signal violations that send cars through a red light as you step off the curb
- Parking lot collisions near storefronts and cut-through lanes
- Backing vehicles leaving driveways or angled spaces
- Bus stop crowding with passing drivers squeezing the lane
- School zone conflicts that occur when drivers ignore crossing guards or posted limits
- Mid-block curbside pickups by rideshare or taxi vehicles or delivery vans that block sight lines
- Multi-lane “multiple threat” situations where one car stops and another does not
These setups often make it plain who had the duty to wait and who had the right of way. Under Illinois law, including 625 ILCS 5/11-1002, drivers must yield to people in marked crosswalks, so a short video or a clear photo can settle the question of who is at fault.
With help from your Lake County car accident lawyer, our organized evidence reduces the likelihood of disputes and helps you get paid sooner.
Legal Protections for Pedestrians in Illinois
Illinois traffic laws give you clear rights in crosswalks and at intersections. Those rules decide who had to wait and who could proceed. In a claim, they guide how police reports and insurers assign fault and pay losses.
Right-of-Way Duties for Motorists
When a driver turns right or left, they must look for people in the crosswalk and yield until it is safe. Illinois law, including 625 ILCS 5/11-1004, makes that duty explicit during turns at lights and stop signs. A green light allows a turn only after the crosswalk is clear.
Marked crosswalks are easy to spot, but corners without paint still count as crosswalks in many settings. Drivers must slow down and wait until the lane ahead is open. Video from a store or a dash cam often shows whether a turn cut through the crosswalk.
Penalties for Failing to Yield to Pedestrians
Tickets can follow for failing to yield, and insurance carriers read those citations as signs of fault. Illinois law, including 625 ILCS 5/11-1008, also covers places where cars cross the sidewalk, like driveways or building entrances, and drivers must stop before crossing and yield to people already there.
Severe pedestrian crashes can bring long-term rehab and, in the worst cases, a loss of life. In a fatal case, a wrongful death lawyer in Lake County from our firm can explain which family members may file and how the law values lost income and care at home.
When you show that the driver ignored a duty to yield, the civil claim can recover medical costs and lost income, plus other damages tied to the crash.
Request Help From a Lake County Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Now
After a serious crash, you want help that moves quickly and meets you where you are. With your Lake County pedestrian accident attorney at Therman Law, we will act fast to secure nearby video and lock down witness names while they are still available.
If you are ready to take the next step, you can contact us today to start your claim and protect your right to full and fair compensation.
