Soft-Tissue Injuries in Kankakee Pedestrian Accidents

There were more than 3,300 pedestrian accidents in Illinois in 2020 alone, according to the state Department of Transportation, or roughly nine accidents every day. Those involved in pedestrian accidents often suffer catastrophic injuries, and in many cases these injuries have permanent effects. These permanent effects are often the result of injuries to muscles, ligaments, tendons, skin, and other soft tissues in the body. Soft-tissue injuries may not sound as serious as a head injury or spinal cord injury, but they can significantly impact critical bodily functions and your ability to move, dampening your quality of life.

What makes many pedestrian accidents especially tragic is that many of them are the result of driver error. If you were hit by a negligent driver while walking along the street, the Kankakee pedestrian accident attorneys of Spiros Law, P.C. want to hear from you. We have defended the rights of injured pedestrians since 2005, and we are known as one of central Illinois’ premier personal injury firms. Our Kankakee pedestrian accident lawyers have recovered millions of dollars for our clients so they can pay their bills and get the treatment they need. To learn more about how we may be able to help with your case, call (815) 929-9292 or visit our contact page for a free consultation.

What Are “Soft Tissues” in the Body?

Essentially, your body’s soft tissues are the parts of you that are not your bones, internal organs, and nervous system. They include your skin, connective tissues like ligaments and tendons, your muscles, and your blood vessels (veins and arteries). Because soft tissues are not as durable as bones and are not protected by other parts of your body like your internal organs are, those involved in pedestrian accidents frequently suffer major injuries.

Common Soft-Tissue Injuries from Pedestrian Accidents

Some of the most common soft-tissue injuries stemming from pedestrian accidents in Kankakee include:

• Sprains and strains – Sprains and strains are soft-tissue injuries that affect your ligaments and muscles or tendons, respectively. Ligaments are made of fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones, while tendons are similar fibrous structures that connect bones to muscles. If a ligament, tendon, or muscle becomes stretched or tears, the resulting injury can be extremely painful and significantly limit your mobility. In some cases, a sprain or strain may permanently impact your mobility even after it has healed.
• Contusions – A contusion is the medical term for a bruise caused by a hard blow that affects a muscle, ligament, or tendon. More mild contusions often heal relatively quickly, but a severe contusion can permanently damage the underlying tissues.
• Lacerations – A laceration is the medical term for a tear in the skin or that extends to underlying soft tissues. The impact from a car accident can cause tears in the skin or muscle tissues, and a pedestrian might also sustain additional lacerations if they go flying after being struck and land hard on the ground.
• Joint injuries – Joints are a focal point of soft tissues in the body, as they are made up of interconnected muscles, ligaments, and connecting to various bones. Being hit by a car can cause severe joint injuries, and in many cases those who have been injured have permanent effects on their mobility and range of motion.
• Road rash – If a pedestrian is struck by a car at a high speed, the pedestrian may be flung into the air and land hard on the ground, leading to abrasions and road rash injuries to the skin. Road rash can be quite painful, and the wounds can become infected without proper treatment.
• Burns – A car’s exterior can be quite hot in certain weather conditions, and pedestrians can burn themselves if they come into contact with the body of the car. Pedestrians can also suffer burn injuries after a collision if they touch or land on a hot road surface or sidewalk.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Kankakee, IL

Many pedestrian accidents are caused by some form of driver negligence, such as:

• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Distracted driving
• Drowsy driving
• Speeding or driving too fast for road conditions
• Not yielding the right-of-way at intersections or traffic lights
• Drivers not accounting for bad weather or low visibility at night

Compensation in an Illinois Pedestrian Accident Case

It is difficult to know what a pedestrian accident case might be worth until an attorney can look more closely at your particular case. However, you can get some idea of how much money you might be able to recover by adding up the value of all the things you can be compensated for, such as:

• Your medical bills
• Your lost wages and reduced future earnings
• Your pain and suffering
• Your emotional distress
• Your diminished quality of life
• Your damaged personal property

What to Do If You Have Been Hit by a Car

Once you have called 911 to report the accident, here is how you can protect your right to compensation after being hit by a car:

• If possible, get the name of the driver who hit you along with their address, driver’s license number, license plate number, and insurance information.
• Use your phone to take pictures of your injuries, the car that hit you, and anything in the area that might have contributed to the crash. Ask someone else to take pictures for you if your injuries are too severe.
• Look for any potential eyewitnesses or traffic cameras that may have recorded the accident.
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible and save all your medical records.
• Do not give any statements to an insurance company without talking to a lawyer first.
• Hire a pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible.

How Long Do You Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit?

The Illinois statute of limitations on personal injury claims gives you two years from the date of an accident to file a lawsuit, otherwise your case will be automatically dismissed. Talk to a lawyer as soon as possible so you have plenty of time to build your case.

Contact a Kankakee Pedestrian Accident Attorney Now

The Kankakee pedestrian accident lawyers of Spiros Law, P.C. are committed to helping our clients recover fair compensation for their soft-tissue injuries and any other losses they have sustained in an accident that wasn’t their fault. Call (815) 929-9292 or visit our contact page now to speak with one of our attorneys.