Dearborn Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Experienced Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Dearborn, MI

Pedestrians have nothing to protect them against impact during accidents involving motor vehicles, so they often sustain serious injuries. While Michigan’s no-fault insurance rules mean that pedestrians’ auto insurance typically pays for medical bills and a percentage of lost wages, many accident victims are entitled to recover further compensation with the help of a skilled Dearborn pedestrian accident lawyer.

Work With Wigod & Falzon

You can trust the team here at Wigod & Falzon to handle every aspect of your pedestrian accident case. You deserve to work with a Dearborn pedestrian accident attorney who has extensive experience in handling the details of these sometimes complex cases and negotiating fair settlements with insurance companies. That’s just what you’ll find when you work with us.

Why Hire a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?

In 2024, there were 637 total crashes involving pedestrians in Wayne County, MI. Of those, 40 were fatal, and many others produced serious injuries. Reviewing these high localized Wayne County pedestrian crash metrics and high-risk local road safety records demonstrates why immediate legal documentation is required when proving crosswalk liability elements. If you’ve been injured while crossing a busy road like Michigan Avenue or Telegraph Road, you can hire a pedestrian accident lawyer to help you hold the liable party accountable and get compensation for your damages.

A pedestrian accident attorney can help you with every aspect of your claim, including:

• Filing paperwork and keeping track of deadlines
• Determining and proving who was liable for the crash
• Gathering evidence and witness statements to support your claim
• Hiring expert witnesses, if necessary, to testify on your behalf
• Negotiating with insurance companies
• Litigating your case in court, should it go to trial

Hiring an attorney is the most effective way to make sure you get full compensation for your injuries and non-economic damages.

Who Pays for Pedestrian Accidents Under Michigan’s No-Fault System?

Michigan has a no-fault system for dealing with car insurance claims, which means that a pedestrian hit by a car may need to file a claim with their own auto insurance company to get compensated for medical care and lost wages. However, you may still be eligible to file a claim with the liable party’s insurance if one of these circumstances is present:

• You don’t have car insurance
• Your policy won’t cover 100% of your medical care
• You have suffered an injury that causes serious bodily impairment
• You have suffered a permanent disfigurement

Under these circumstances, the liable driver’s insurance policy should pay for any medical care and lost wages not covered by your insurance. Evaluating the statutory provisions clarifies exactly when you can sue a driver for third-party damages under the Michigan no-fault insurance framework to pursue excess economic losses that lie beyond standard PIP caps. You may also be eligible to recover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional anguish, and mental distress.

Comparative Fault Laws and Pedestrian Accidents

If you think you may have been partially to blame for your accident, don’t assume that means you won’t be able to recover any compensation. Michigan is a modified comparative negligence state, which means accident victims are still eligible to seek damages as long as they held 50% or less of the blame for their pedestrian-involved crashes. Ways that pedestrians can wind up being assigned some percentage of fault in their accident cases include:

• Being intoxicated
• Being distracted
• Not using designated crosswalks
• Walking on roads not designated for pedestrian use
• Darting out in front of traffic

If the liable driver’s insurance company is trying to claim that you hold more of the blame for your accident than you believe to be the case, your lawyer may be able to help. They can review the evidence to determine who was truly at fault and make sure you receive 100% of the compensation to which you are entitled.

If you are fairly assigned some percentage of fault, your final settlement amount may be reduced. It can be reduced by the percentage of fault you were assigned. That means if you were initially going to be entitled to $100,000, but you were assigned 20% of the blame for the crash, you’ll only receive $80,000.

FAQs

What Happens if I Accidentally Hit a Pedestrian With My Car?

If you accidentally hit a pedestrian with your car, you need to stop at the scene and call the police to avoid being accused of committing a hit and run. You may also be liable for paying for a portion of the pedestrian’s medical bills and lost wages. Under Michigan’s no-fault car insurance system, the pedestrian’s auto insurance should pay for their medical damages, but if they were severely injured, you may still be liable for some damages.

What Is the Rule for Pedestrian Crossing in Michigan?

The rule for pedestrian crossing in Michigan is that drivers must stop and yield the right-of-way to people crossing the street in marked or unmarked crosswalks at intersections. Pedestrians always have the right-of-way once they are lawfully in the crosswalk, and drivers must maintain due care to avoid a crash, even when pedestrians are outside of designated crosswalks.

Is Michigan Still a No-Fault State?

Michigan is still a no-fault state for car insurance, which means that people injured in accidents have their medical bills and a portion of their lost wages paid for by their own insurance. However, liable parties may still be eligible for paying some damages, particularly if the accident caused severe injuries or permanent disfigurement.

Can Pedestrians Be at Fault for Causing a Crash?

Pedestrians can be at fault for causing a crash if their negligence left the driver without a reasonable amount of time to avoid a collision. There are several circumstances under which pedestrians can be held liable. You may hold full or partial liability if you darted out into traffic, were jaywalking, ignored traffic signals, walked in prohibited areas, or were distracted or impaired.

Hire Dearborn Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

If you were hit by a motor vehicle while crossing the street, you can work with a Dearborn pedestrian accident lawyer to recover compensation for any damages not covered by your PIP insurance.

The team here at Wigod & Falzon has extensive experience in advocating for pedestrians hit by motor vehicles. We’ve been practicing personal injury law for over three decades, and in that time, we’ve developed a clear understanding of how to leverage pedestrian accident laws to get our clients the results they need and deserve. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation today.

Dearborn, MI Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Resources:

• A Detailed Outline on What to Do Natively After a Car Accident in Michigan

• Understanding the Expected Metrics Behind an Average Car Accident Settlement in Michigan

• A Strategic Jurisdictional Checklist of Critical Personal Injury Legal Documents to Provide Your Trial Firm

• The Comprehensive Personal Injury Case Evidence Evaluation Checklist for Local Claimants

• The Core Administrative Steps Involved in Settling an Insurance Personal Injury Claim Successfully

• Understanding the Operational Timelines Behind How Personal Injury Settlements Are Formally Paid Out

• A Comprehensive Statutory Guide to the Detailed Michigan Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Actions