Edwardsville Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Edwardsville, IL

If you were struck by a vehicle while walking in Edwardsville, the injuries you’re facing may be severe. Broken bones, head trauma, internal bleeding, spinal cord damage. Pedestrians have no barrier between themselves and a two-ton vehicle.

You don’t have to fight this battle alone. Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols has represented injured clients across Illinois since 1938. Our Edwardsville, IL pedestrian accident lawyer will protect your rights and pursue every dollar your case is worth.

Why Choose Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols for Pedestrian Accident Cases in Edwardsville, IL?

Attorneys Who Have Recovered Millions for Injury Victims

Our firm handles pedestrian accident cases as part of a broader personal injury practice that spans car crashes, truck collisions, premises liability, workplace injuries, and wrongful death. That range of experience matters because pedestrian accidents often overlap with other areas of law. A pedestrian struck in a parking lot might have a premises liability claim against the property owner. A pedestrian killed by a commercial vehicle may involve federal motor carrier regulations.

Zachary A. Pashea focuses on representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases. He has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients, handling everything from railroad worker injuries to product liability and toxic tort disputes. Zach is licensed in Illinois, Missouri, and Colorado, and holds admissions to U.S. District Courts in the Southern and Central Districts of Illinois and the District of Colorado. He attended Lindenwood University and earned his J.D. from SIU School of Law in Carbondale. In 2017, the 3rd Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee recognized him with the Pro Bono Rising Star Award.

Joe C. Pioletti represents clients in personal injury, wrongful death, workers’ compensation, and criminal defense. Joe is a graduate of Eureka College and Southern Illinois University School of Law. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and practices across multiple federal district courts in Illinois and Indiana. When a pedestrian accident involves a hit-and-run or a driver facing criminal charges, Joe’s background in both civil and criminal law gives our firm a strategic advantage.

Over 80 Years Serving Illinois

The firm was founded in 1938. Over more than eight decades, we’ve built a reputation for representing real people against insurance companies and negligent parties. We know how adjusters work, we know how they undervalue claims, and we know how to push back.

You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

Pedestrian accident cases at our firm are handled on contingency. No retainer, no hourly fees. If we don’t recover compensation for you, you owe us nothing.

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“Attorney Irubiel Ferrer was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. He walked us through the process and what to expect going forward. He was also very responsive to any further questions. During daunting times, Irubiel Ferrer made it clear through both word and action he was in our corner and we’re very thankful for that.” – Mike Cheeseman

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Types of Pedestrian Accident Cases We Handle in Edwardsville

Pedestrian accidents happen in a variety of settings, and each scenario raises different questions about liability, evidence, and damages. We represent pedestrians injured in situations including:

• Crosswalk accidents. Drivers in Illinois are required to yield to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks. When a driver runs a red light, rolls through a stop sign, or fails to check before turning, the pedestrian pays the price. These are some of the most straightforward liability cases we handle.
• Intersection collisions. Intersections along Route 157, Illinois Route 159, and throughout downtown Edwardsville see regular pedestrian traffic. Left-turning drivers who fail to scan for pedestrians, and right-turning drivers who focus only on oncoming traffic, cause a disproportionate number of these crashes.
• Parking lot accidents. Distracted drivers backing out of spaces or cutting through parking rows at excessive speed injure pedestrians in shopping center lots, grocery store parking areas, and office complexes. These crashes may involve both the driver and the property owner if the lot was poorly designed, lacked adequate signage, or had obstructed sightlines.
• Hit-and-run incidents. One in four pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in 2023 was struck by a hit-and-run driver, according to federal data. If the driver who hit you fled the scene, you may still have options for recovery through uninsured motorist coverage or other avenues. We investigate these cases aggressively to identify the responsible party.
• Distracted driving crashes. Drivers texting, scrolling, or otherwise looking away from the road are a leading threat to pedestrians. These drivers often don’t brake at all before impact, which makes the resulting injuries catastrophic.
• Drunk and impaired driving crashes. Alcohol involvement was a factor in 46% of all pedestrian fatalities in 2023, according to NHTSA pedestrian data. When an impaired driver strikes a pedestrian, the injured person may be entitled to both compensatory and punitive damages.
• Truck accidents. Pedestrians struck by delivery trucks, garbage trucks, or tractor-trailers face extreme injury severity. The size and weight of commercial vehicles make survival difficult and recovery prolonged.
• School zone and residential accidents. Children walking to school or playing near residential streets are particularly vulnerable. Speed limits in school zones exist for a reason, and drivers who ignore them can face both civil liability and criminal penalties.

Illinois Legal Requirements for Pedestrian Accident Claims

Under the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-1002 through 11-1007.1), drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and exercise due caution to avoid striking any pedestrian on a roadway. But pedestrians also have obligations. Walking against a signal, jaywalking, or darting into traffic can affect your claim.

That’s where modified comparative negligence comes in. Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, if you are found partially at fault for the accident, your compensation is reduced by your share of responsibility. If your fault exceeds 50%, you recover nothing. Insurance adjusters routinely argue that a pedestrian was partially responsible, even when the driver clearly caused the crash. It’s a common tactic, and it works unless you have an attorney who knows how to counter it.

The statute of limitations for pedestrian injury claims in Illinois is two years from the date of the accident. For wrongful death cases, the deadline is two years from the date of death under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180). If the at-fault driver was a government employee operating a government vehicle, a one-year notice requirement under the Illinois Tort Immunity Act (745 ILCS 10) may apply.

Illinois does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. The state eliminated damage caps for medical malpractice in 2010, and there is no general cap on pain and suffering awards in negligence cases. That means the full scope of your injuries and losses can be presented to a jury.

What Damages Are Recoverable in Edwardsville Pedestrian Accident Cases?

Pedestrian injuries are almost always more severe than what vehicle occupants suffer in a comparable crash. There’s no seatbelt, no airbag, no steel frame absorbing the impact. That severity translates directly into higher medical costs, longer recovery periods, and greater overall damages.

Economic damages include every quantifiable cost tied to your injury. Emergency room treatment, ambulance transportation, surgical procedures, hospital stays, follow-up appointments, prescription medication, and physical rehabilitation are all recoverable. If your injuries require ongoing care, such as chronic pain management or assistive devices, those future costs are included. Lost income covers wages missed during recovery. Diminished earning capacity applies if your injuries permanently reduce your ability to work in your prior field or at your prior capacity.

Non-economic damages address the less tangible but equally real consequences of the injury. Pain and suffering compensates for the physical discomfort you experience during treatment and beyond. Emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress are common after a pedestrian accident. Disfigurement and scarring from road rash, surgical incisions, or amputations carry their own compensable weight. Loss of enjoyment of life applies when your injuries prevent you from participating in activities that defined your daily routine before the crash.

Punitive damages may be available if the driver was intoxicated, fleeing from law enforcement, or engaged in other extreme misconduct at the time of the crash. Illinois law now permits punitive damages in wrongful death and survival actions following a 2023 amendment. These damages are not meant to compensate you. They exist to punish conduct that goes beyond ordinary negligence.

According to NHTSA data, 7,314 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes across the United States in 2023. Another 68,244 were injured. On average, a pedestrian was killed every 72 minutes and injured every 8 minutes. Seventy-four percent of those fatal crashes occurred in dark conditions, and 76% happened at non-intersection locations. These numbers underscore just how dangerous it is to be a pedestrian on American roads, and how important it is to hold negligent drivers accountable when a crash occurs.

Contact Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols

We offer free consultations for pedestrian accident cases in Edwardsville, IL. You pay nothing upfront, and we only collect a fee if we recover money on your behalf. Our attorneys will listen to what happened, evaluate your claim, and give you a direct, honest answer about your legal options.

Contact us to schedule a consultation. We respond to every inquiry promptly.