Every step you take should feel safe. Whether walking in your neighborhood or crossing a busy Michigan street, you have the right to feel secure.
Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents happen far too often, leaving victims with life-altering injuries, financial burdens, and emotional distress.
If you’ve been involved in a pedestrian accident in Michigan, you’re likely feeling overwhelmed by medical bills, loss of income, and the overall impact on your life. You don’t have to face this alone.
At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that a pedestrian accident can have. We’re here to stand by your side and help you secure the compensation you deserve.
Our team has extensive experience handling pedestrian accident cases in Michigan, and we’re dedicated to ensuring you recover fully – not just physically but also financially. We’ll work tirelessly to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and that you receive fair compensation for your injuries.
How Can Our Michigan Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Build an Effective Case?
Every pedestrian accident victim deserves full compensation for their injuries at our law firm. Here’s how we can help you get the settlement you deserve:
- Investigating the Accident: We thoroughly investigate the scene of the accident, gather witness statements, and review any available camera footage to build a strong case.
- Handling Insurance Companies: Insurance companies often try to offer settlements that don’t cover the full extent of your damages. We negotiate with them to ensure you receive the compensation you need for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
- Building a Strong Case: We work with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and other specialists to prove the full extent of your injuries and the other party’s negligence.
Your road to recovery doesn’t have to be a lonely one. Our experts are there to be with you every step of the way, fighting to ensure you get the best possible result for your case.
How Our Michigan Pedestrian Accident Law Firm Will Fight for You?
When pursuing compensation for injuries or damages resulting from a pedestrian accident, insurance companies representing the at-fault driver often go to great lengths to avoid covering your medical costs. They may argue that the pedestrian was careless, such as stepping into the crosswalk at an inappropriate time or failing to observe oncoming traffic before crossing.
In the consequences of such an accident, it’s crucial to call emergency services immediately to assess the situation. Emergency medical personnel will provide urgent care to evaluate the extent of your injuries.
At the same time, police officers will document the incident and prepare an accident report, which often serves as crucial evidence to establish the driver’s fault. Our dedicated legal team is skilled at gathering and analyzing this evidence, building a compelling case to prove the driver’s negligence.
Our experienced attorneys at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm are committed to helping pedestrian accident victims in Michigan secure the full compensation they deserve. If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident in the Chicago area, contact our legal experts to discover how we can support you and your loved ones through this challenging time.
You only pay us if we successfully win your case.
What Causes Michigan Pedestrian Accidents?
You might think, “What went wrong?” after a pedestrian accident. The truth is that pedestrian accidents are often caused by factors beyond your control.
Here are some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents in Michigan:
- Distracted Driving: This is one of the leading causes of pedestrian accidents. Drivers texting, eating, or even adjusting their GPS can take their eyes off the road for just a few seconds, which is all it takes for an accident to happen. Michigan has passed strict laws against distracted driving, but many drivers still engage in risky behavior behind the wheel. Check out more on Michigan’s distracted driving laws here.
- Speeding: When drivers exceed the speed limit, they have less time to react to pedestrians. High-speed collisions are more likely to result in severe injuries or even fatalities. In Michigan, speeding is a common factor in urban and rural pedestrian accidents, especially in areas with low visibility or heavy traffic.
- Hit-and-Run Accidents: Unfortunately, not all drivers stop after hitting a pedestrian. Hit-and-run cases are particularly devastating because the victim is left alone to deal with their injuries and damages. Michigan law imposes severe penalties on drivers who flee the scene of an accident, but this doesn’t always deter reckless individuals. If you’re the victim of a hit-and-run, you may be eligible for compensation, even if the driver is never found.
- Failure to Yield at Crosswalks: Michigan law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks. However, many drivers fail to follow these rules, resulting in serious accidents. Even when a pedestrian is on the right, it doesn’t always guarantee a driver will stop. If you’ve been hit in a crosswalk, you may have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries.
While some accidents are simply unavoidable, many are caused by driver negligence. At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, we’re committed to holding those drivers accountable for their actions.
If you’ve been injured, you don’t have to face this challenge alone.
Michigan Laws That Protect You as a Pedestrian
Michigan takes pedestrian safety seriously, and several laws are in place to protect you. These laws establish clear guidelines for both drivers and pedestrians.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Right-of-Way Laws: Michigan law requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections. This means that vehicles must stop for you if you’re legally crossing the street. If a driver fails to yield and causes an accident, they can be held responsible for your injuries.
- Comparative Fault Law: Michigan follows a comparative fault rule, which means that even if you were partially at fault for the accident, you can still recover damages. However, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of your fault. For example, if you were 20% at fault, your compensation would be reduced by 20%. Understanding this law is essential when building your case.
- Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance: If you’re hit by a car as a pedestrian, Michigan’s no-fault insurance laws allow you to file a claim for medical expenses and lost wages, regardless of who was at fault. This system helps you get the care you need without waiting for the other driver’s insurance to act. We can help you navigate these laws and file a claim under Michigan’s no-fault system.
What to Do Immediately After a Pedestrian Accident in Michigan
If you’ve been hit by a car, your priority should be your health and safety. Here’s a step-by-step guide on what to do immediately after a pedestrian accident:
- Call 911: Always report the accident to the police, even if your injuries initially seem minor. A police report will be crucial for any future legal claims.
- Seek Medical Attention: Even if you feel okay, it’s important to see a doctor. Some injuries, like concussions or internal bleeding, may not show symptoms right away.
- Gather Evidence: If you can, take pictures of the accident scene, including the car that hit you, your injuries, and any other relevant details. Get the contact information of any witnesses.
- Avoid Speaking to Insurance Adjusters: Insurance companies may try to get you to settle quickly for less than your case is worth. It’s best to avoid speaking with them until you’ve talked to a lawyer.
Your actions immediately following an accident can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation. If you need help understanding your rights, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation.
Pedestrian accidents often lead to severe, life-altering injuries, even when the vehicle involved is moving at a slow speed. Shockingly, a collision at just 30 mph can be fatal for a pedestrian, demonstrating just how vulnerable individuals are in these situations.
For those who survive, the impact can still result in catastrophic injuries, such as:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Damage to internal organs or internal bleeding
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries leading to partial or complete paralysis
Recovering from such injuries is a long and painful journey, often involving months or even years of rehabilitation. Pedestrians may face the possibility of losing a limb, enduring cognitive impairments, dealing with permanent paralysis, or suffering a loss of essential senses like sight or hearing.
Additionally, psychological effects, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), can become a harsh reality for many victims. This combination of physical trauma, coupled with overwhelming medical expenses and lost wages, can lead to emotional distress, depression, and a future filled with uncertainty.
Proving Liability in a Michigan Pedestrian Accident Case
Proving who was at fault in a pedestrian accident is a critical part of your case. Here’s how we go about establishing liability:
- Gathering Evidence: We collect crucial evidence from the accident scene, including police reports, photos, and witness testimonies.
- Expert Testimony: We work with accident reconstruction experts who can testify about how the accident occurred and who was at fault.
- Fighting Claims of Comparative Fault: If the other party tries to blame you for the accident, we’ll work to refute those claims and protect your right to compensation under Michigan’s comparative fault law.
Michigan’s Pedestrian Accident Hotspot
Pedestrian accidents can happen in various settings across Michigan, each with risks and contributing factors.
- Busy Downtown Areas: In bustling cities like Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Lansing, pedestrian accidents occur at intersections and crosswalks. Heavy vehicles and high foot traffic significantly increase the likelihood of accidents in these urban centers.
- Suburban Neighborhoods: Suburban communities, particularly around schools and residential zones, often see pedestrian accidents, especially in the early morning and late afternoon when children are commuting to and from school or when residents are returning home from work.
- Rural Highways: Accidents involving pedestrians can also occur on rural highways and roads, where drivers might not expect to encounter people walking. Poor visibility, inadequate lighting, and lack of sidewalks make these roads more dangerous for pedestrians.
- Tourist Hotspots: Popular tourist destinations in Michigan, such as Mackinac Island and Traverse City, experience an uptick in pedestrian accidents during peak seasons. The influx of visitors unfamiliar with the area increases the chances of accidents.
- University Zones: College campuses like the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Michigan State University in East Lansing are prone to pedestrian accidents. Accidents can become more frequent as more students walk or bike, particularly around campus intersections.
- Commercial Districts: Pedestrian accidents are common in busy commercial areas, such as downtown Ann Arbor and other shopping districts, where pedestrians and vehicles interact frequently. The mix of shoppers, workers, and heavy traffic creates a higher risk of collisions.
Talk to Our Lawyers Today and Get the Compensation You Deserve!
If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident, don’t wait to get the legal help you need. At CEO Lawyer, we have a proven track record of successfully handling pedestrian accident cases in Michigan.
We understand the challenges you’re facing, and we’re here to guide you through every step of the legal process.
We offer a free consultation to discuss your case and explore your options. There’s no obligation, and you won’t pay a thing unless we win.
Our team has helped numerous clients recover significant settlements for their injuries, and we’re proud of our success. We’ve built a reputation for fighting hard for our clients, and we’ll bring that same dedication to your case.
Don’t let an accident define your future. Contact us today, and let us help you get the compensation you deserve. Reach out online or call us at (616) 612-2707 to start your case today.
