Understanding the Rights of Pedestrians in Illinois

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Pedestrian Accidents

In 2015, the most recent year for which data is available, there were over 5,000 motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians in Illinois, with 4,666 of these accidents resulting in injuries and 150 accidents resulting in pedestrian fatalities. Pedestrians are especially vulnerable in collisions, and being struck by a car, truck, bus, or other vehicle can result in severe, debilitating injuries.

In order to avoid these types of accidents, both drivers and pedestrians should understand the laws governing pedestrians in Illinois.

Right of Way and Pedestrian Responsibilities

When pedestrians are legally crossing the road within a crosswalk, drivers must yield the right of way to them. This means they must stop their vehicles while  pedestrians walk on their half of the road, or when they are approaching from the other half of the road. Drivers must also yield right of way to pedestrians on sidewalks.

Pedestrians are required to follow traffic signals and cross roads within crosswalks, where they exist, and they should not suddenly enter the road and put themselves in the path of a vehicle.

If pedestrians cross a road somewhere other than at a marked crosswalk, or at an intersection which does not have a marked crosswalk, they must yield right of way to vehicles on the road. Pedestrians should always walk on sidewalks, or if there is no sidewalk, on the road’s shoulder or as close to the outside edge of a road as possible.

Drivers are required to yield to pedestrians with disabilities, including people using motorized wheelchairs or other assistive mobility devices. People with disabilities are allowed to cross roads outside of marked crosswalks if an intersection is not physically accessible to them; however, when doing so, they must yield right of way to vehicles.

Drivers’ Duty of Care

Drivers of motor vehicles have the responsibility to take care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian, and they must warn pedestrians with their horn when necessary. When yielding right of way to pedestrians within a crosswalk, they must come to a stop to allow a person to cross through his or her half of the road. When a vehicle is stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the road, other vehicles are not allowed to pass them from behind.

Contact a Lake County Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident as a pedestrian or driver, the skilled attorneys of Salvi & Maher, LLP can help you receive compensation for your injuries. Contact a Waukegan pedestrian accident attorney today at 847-662-3303 to schedule a free, personal consultation.

Sources:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=062500050HCh%2E+11+Art%2E+X&ActID=1815&ChapterID=49&SeqStart=124700000&SeqEnd=126300000

http://www.idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Resources/Safety/Crash-Reports/crash-facts/2015%20Crash%20Facts%20with%20cover.pdf