Chicago Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you were struck by a vehicle while walking in Chicago or the surrounding Cook, DuPage, Will, and Kane County communities, Ori Law Group can help. Joe and Kristen Ori personally handle every pedestrian injury claim — you will never be handed off to a junior associate or an intake screen. With more than 40 years of combined trial experience and over $150 million recovered for injured clients, we represent people who were hit while crossing a street, walking through a parking lot, or standing at a bus stop, and we prepare every case to be tried, not just settled. We also know the first thing the driver's insurer will do is try to blame you for the crash — and we know how to take that argument apart.
If you were hit by a vehicle while walking, you’re carrying more than your injuries. A pedestrian struck by a car or truck has nothing between their body and two tons of steel, so the injuries tend to be severe — and the driver’s insurance company is already working to make it your fault. At Ori Law Group, Joe and Kristen Ori have spent decades representing people in exactly this position, and they handle every case personally, from the first phone call to the final resolution. You won’t be passed to a junior associate or an intake screen. You’ll work with the two attorneys whose names are on the door.
These crashes happen across the region in predictable places — at downtown Chicago intersections where drivers turn across a crosswalk without looking, at suburban corners in Oak Brook, Naperville, and Joliet, in parking lots and driveways where a driver backs up without checking, and at bus stops and transit crossings throughout Cook, DuPage, Will, and Kane Counties. Wherever it happened, the work is the same: establish that the driver failed in the duty the law places on them under 625 ILCS 5/11-1002, identify every driver, employer, and insurance policy that may be responsible, and document the full extent of your injuries and losses. We move quickly to preserve evidence — traffic-camera and business surveillance footage, the vehicle’s data, signal-timing records, and witness accounts — because in pedestrian cases that footage is often the single piece of proof that defeats a “the pedestrian came out of nowhere” defense, and it is frequently overwritten within days.
Expect the insurer to reach for the jaywalking argument early, because it sounds disqualifying. It isn’t. Under Illinois modified comparative fault, crossing outside a crosswalk reduces a claim only if the driver proves it actually caused the crash, and only to the extent of your share of fault — you can still recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault. A driver who was speeding, distracted, or impaired remains responsible for the harm they caused. And if a broken signal, a dangerous crossing, or a public bus is part of the story, the case may involve a government entity and a much shorter one-year deadline — which is one more reason not to wait.
You have two years under Illinois law to act in most cases, but the practical window is far shorter — surveillance footage is erased, witnesses move, and government claims can expire in a single year. The consultation is free, there’s no upfront cost, and we work on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover for you. Call Joe or Kristen at (312) 621-0000 to talk through what happened and what comes next.
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What to Do After Your Accident
- Call 911 and get medical attention right away, even if you feel fine — a pedestrian struck by a vehicle often has internal or head injuries that adrenaline hides for hours, and a gap in treatment becomes the insurer's argument that you weren't really hurt.
- Stay where you are if it's safe and let the scene be documented — do not let anyone move you unless you're in danger, and wait for police and paramedics.
- Photograph everything you can — the vehicle, its license plate, the crosswalk or intersection, the traffic signal, skid marks, the lighting, and any visible injuries.
- Get the driver's name, license, plate, and insurance information, and if the driver flees, write down or photograph anything you remember about the vehicle.
- Collect names and numbers from witnesses — bystanders scatter fast, and an independent witness is often what defeats a 'the pedestrian came out of nowhere' defense.
- Report the crash to police and obtain the report number, but do not admit fault, apologize, or speculate that you were 'jaywalking.'
- Do not give a recorded statement to the driver's insurance company, and do not accept any quick offer, before talking to an attorney.
- Keep every bill, record, and note about how the injury affects your work and daily life, and report the crash to your own auto insurer — your UM/UIM coverage may apply even though you were on foot.
Common Causes & Types
- Failure to yield — drivers who ignore a pedestrian's right of way in a marked or unmarked crosswalk under 625 ILCS 5/11-1002.
- Distracted and turning drivers — texting, phone use, and inattention — especially drivers turning left or right across a crosswalk who never see the person they're about to hit.
- Dark and low-visibility conditions — dusk, night, rain, snow, and poorly lit corridors where a driver who is paying attention should still slow down.
- Backovers and parking-lot strikes — drivers reversing out of driveways, garages, and parking spaces who fail to check for people behind the vehicle.
- Speeding and impaired driving — excessive speed and alcohol or drug impairment that turn a survivable bump into a catastrophic injury.
- Running red lights and stop signs, illegal turns on red, and failing to stop for a stopped vehicle at a crosswalk.
Who Can Be Held Liable
- The driver whose negligence — failure to yield, distraction, speeding, or impairment — caused the crash
- The owner of the vehicle, when a different person was driving it
- An employer, when the driver was working in the scope of employment, including delivery and rideshare drivers
- A bar or establishment that over-served an intoxicated driver under the Illinois Dram Shop Act
- A government entity — the City of Chicago, Cook County, IDOT, or the CTA — responsible for a dangerous crossing, a broken signal, an obstructed sight line, or a missing crosswalk, subject to a strict one-year deadline and notice requirement
- A driver who fled the scene, in which case your own uninsured motorist coverage may stand in for the missing insurance
Injuries We Handle
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal cord and back injuries
- Catastrophic and permanently disabling injuries
- Broken bones, pelvic fractures, and orthopedic trauma
- Internal organ and chest injuries
- Burns and road-rash lacerations
- Facial and dental injuries
- Emotional distress and post-traumatic stress
Illinois Law & Deadlines
Damages You Can Recover
- Past and future medical expenses, including surgery, rehabilitation, and long-term care
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and loss of a normal life
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Disfigurement and permanent disability
- Loss of consortium for a spouse
How the Legal Process Works
- Free consultation & investigation
We review your case, gather the police report and medical records, identify the driver and every insurance policy in play — including your own UM/UIM coverage — and explain your options at no cost.
- Evidence preservation
We move fast to secure traffic-camera and business surveillance footage, the vehicle's data, witness accounts, and signal-timing records before they disappear.
- Treatment & claim build-up
While you focus on recovery, we document the full extent of your injuries and losses and handle every call from the insurance adjuster.
- Demand & negotiation
We present a demand backed by evidence and the right-of-way law, and negotiate with the insurer for the full value of your claim.
- Litigation, if needed
If the insurer won't be fair, Joe or Kristen files suit and prepares your case for trial in the county where it belongs.
| At-fault driver's insurer | Your UM/UIM coverage | |
|---|---|---|
| Who pays | The driver's liability policy | Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage |
| When it applies | The driver is identified and insured | The driver fled the scene, is uninsured, or carries too little coverage |
| What you must prove | The driver was at fault | The driver was at fault and lacked adequate coverage |
| Common pedestrian scenario | Driver failed to yield in a crosswalk | Hit-and-run, or the driver's minimum policy can't cover your injuries |
Illinois Crosswalk Right-of-Way Law — and Why 'Jaywalking' Doesn't End Your Case
Illinois law puts the duty to watch out for people on foot squarely on drivers. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-1002, a driver must yield the right of way and stop for a pedestrian crossing within a crosswalk — marked or unmarked — when the pedestrian is on the driver's half of the roadway or close enough to be in danger. A driver also may not pass another vehicle that has stopped at a crosswalk, because that stopped car is often hiding a person about to step out.
The most damaging myth in these cases is that crossing outside a crosswalk — what people call "jaywalking" — bars your claim. It does not. Even when a pedestrian was crossing somewhere other than a marked crosswalk, that fact triggers Illinois modified comparative fault under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, not an automatic loss. You can still recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and your recovery is reduced only by your share of fault — and only if the driver can actually prove your crossing was a proximate cause of the crash. A driver who was speeding, texting, or running a light doesn't get a free pass just because you weren't between the painted lines.
Insurance adjusters lean on the jaywalking label precisely because it sounds disqualifying. We treat it as what it is: one disputed factor in a fault analysis, not the end of the conversation.
Insurance Companies Will Blame the Pedestrian — Here's How We Counter That
In almost every pedestrian case, the driver's insurer reaches for the same script: you came out of nowhere, you weren't visible, you were on your phone, you were jaywalking. The goal is to shift enough fault onto you to cut or kill the claim under the comparative-fault rule. Knowing the playbook is how we beat it.
- 'You came out of nowhere' — answered with traffic-camera footage, surveillance video, and witness accounts showing where you actually were and that the driver had time to stop.
- 'You weren't visible' — answered with the lighting, signal timing, and sight-line evidence — a driver's duty to keep a proper lookout doesn't disappear at dusk.
- 'You were jaywalking' — answered with the right-of-way law and the proximate-cause requirement — your crossing reduces a claim only if it actually caused the crash.
- The quick lowball offer — made within days, before the full extent of your injuries is known, and designed to close the claim cheaply with a signed release.
When a Dangerous Crossing or a Government Vehicle Is Involved
Not every pedestrian crash is just a driver's fault. A broken or mistimed walk signal, an obstructed sight line, a missing crosswalk, or a crossing the city knew was dangerous and never fixed can make a government entity responsible — the City of Chicago, Cook County, IDOT, or the CTA. A pedestrian struck by a CTA bus or a municipal vehicle is in the same category.
These claims carry a far shorter fuse. Under the Illinois Tort Immunity Act, 745 ILCS 10/8-101, you generally have only one year — not two — to bring a claim against a local government entity, and there are notice requirements on top of that. Miss it and an otherwise strong case is gone. If a public agency, a public bus, or a dangerous public crossing may be involved, the case needs a lawyer's attention right away.
Local Resources
Why Choose Ori Law Group
Ori Law Group is a women-owned, two-attorney trial firm in Oak Brook. When you call, you reach Joe or Kristen — not a paralegal, not an intake AI, not a rotating cast of junior associates. Joe Ori has concentrated in personal injury for more than 25 years and has been named to Super Lawyers every year since 2013; Kristen Ori leads our litigation and was recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star. Together they bring over 40 years of combined trial experience and more than $150 million recovered, and they prepare every pedestrian case to be tried, not just settled. Because we are a boutique, we take the time these cases demand — the rapid hunt for surveillance footage, the careful fault analysis, the answer to every insurer attempt to blame the person who was hurt. Our Oak Brook office is convenient to Chicago and the entire Cook, DuPage, Will, and Kane County region.
Case Results
Recovered for a retired Chicago police officer who sustained back and neck injuries in an auto accident.
Recovered for a 72-year-old man who sustained head and neck injuries in an auto accident.
Awarded to a minor who sustained a pelvic injury in a school bus accident.
Recovered for a police officer who sustained leg injuries after being struck while on foot on a public roadway.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See more results →
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident claim in Illinois?
You generally have two years from the date you were struck (735 ILCS 5/13-202). But if your claim is against a government entity — the City of Chicago, the CTA, Cook County, or IDOT for a dangerous crossing or broken signal — the deadline is shorter, generally one year, with a strict notice requirement under 745 ILCS 10/8-101. Deadlines for injured minors, including child pedestrians, are generally tolled until age 18. Because evidence like surveillance footage disappears fast, it's best to act well before any deadline.
I was crossing outside a crosswalk. Do I still have a case?
Often yes. Crossing outside a marked crosswalk — what people call jaywalking — does not automatically bar your claim. Under Illinois modified comparative fault (735 ILCS 5/2-1116), you can still recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and only the portion of fault the driver actually proves was a cause of the crash reduces your recovery. A driver who was speeding, distracted, or running a light is still responsible for the harm they caused.
What does Illinois law say about a driver's duty to pedestrians?
Under 625 ILCS 5/11-1002, a driver must yield and stop for a pedestrian crossing within a crosswalk — marked or unmarked — when the pedestrian is on the driver's half of the road or close enough to be in danger, and a driver may not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. Most pedestrian cases turn on whether the driver met that duty.
What if the driver fled the scene in a hit-and-run?
You may still have a path to compensation. Illinois requires uninsured motorist coverage on every auto policy under 215 ILCS 5/143a, and that coverage typically applies even when you were on foot. If the driver who hit you fled or can't be found, your own UM coverage can stand in for the missing insurance. We help you pursue both the driver, if they're identified, and your own coverage.
Can I sue the City of Chicago if a dangerous crossing caused my accident?
Sometimes. A broken or mistimed signal, an obstructed sight line, a missing crosswalk, or a crossing the city knew was dangerous can make a government entity liable. These claims are subject to the one-year deadline and notice rules of the Tort Immunity Act (745 ILCS 10/8-101) and they are harder to bring, which is exactly why they need a lawyer's attention right away.
What does it cost to hire Ori Law Group?
There is no upfront cost. We handle pedestrian injury cases on a contingency basis — we are paid a percentage of your recovery only if we win or settle your case, and your consultation is free. You pay nothing out of pocket to get started.
What is my pedestrian accident claim worth?
Every case is different. Because a pedestrian has no protection in a collision, these cases often involve serious injuries — brain trauma, spinal injuries, multiple fractures — and the value reflects medical bills, lost wages, future earnings, pain and suffering, disfigurement, and loss of a normal life. After reviewing your case, Joe or Kristen will give you an honest assessment.
Will Joe or Kristen personally handle my case?
Yes. As a two-attorney boutique firm, Joe and Kristen work directly with you from the first consultation through resolution. Your calls reach the lawyers actually working your file.
Do I have to come to your Oak Brook office for a consultation?
No. We meet clients by phone, by video, at our Oak Brook office, or at your home or hospital — whichever works for you. Joe or Kristen personally handles every consultation throughout Cook, DuPage, Will, and Kane Counties.
Legally reviewed by Joseph and Kristen Ori · Last reviewed June 24, 2026. This page is attorney advertising and is for general information only — it is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship.
Hit by a Vehicle While Walking? Let's Talk.
Free, confidential consultation — call (312) 621-0000. No upfront cost, and Joe or Kristen handles your case personally.