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Christopher Trainor & Associates - Michigan Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Have you or a loved one been seriously injured in a Michigan pedestrian accident? Christopher Trainor & Associates can help you. Call us today!

Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Michigan

Pedestrian safety has become an increasing concern in Michigan in recent years. In 2020 for example, there was an alarming increase in pedestrian fatalities as they rose by more than 17%. In fact, a total of  more than 1080 fatalities were reported that year as a result of auto-pedestrian collisions across the state

This means that every day in Michigan, pedestrians who are out minding their own business are being struck by vehicles while they are walking near a roadway or crossing at an intersection. Making Michigan roads safer, not only for drivers but for pedestrians and cyclists as well, is a responsibility that falls on all of us.

Due to a major lack of protection, pedestrians who are involved in accidents with automobiles are at a higher risk of sustaining catastrophic injuries that can result in loss of life. If you or a family member has been hit and seriously injured by a motor vehicle, our Michigan pedestrian accident lawyers are here for you. We will work to help you get compensated for your injuries, damages, lost work income, past and future medical bills, pain and suffering, and any other losses related to your accident.

Standing up against what is wrong is not always easy. Since 1989, attorney Christopher Trainor and his team have developed a solid reputation for being one of the leading forces in the Michigan legal field. We have helped injured accident victims and their families secure favorable outcomes in their Michigan personal injury claims. We have earned more than $250 million dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients and we can help you too.

Call us today to schedule a no-cost consultation with one of our skilled Michigan personal injury attorneys or wrongful death attorneys to discuss the specifics surrounding your pedestrian accident and find out if you have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries and losses. We have offices located throughout Michigan including in White Lake, Flint, Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, Grand RapidsSouthfield, Lansing, and Bay City. Call us today to discuss your options.

Michigan Laws Pertaining to Pedestrian Accidents

There are pedestrian laws in Michigan that are designed to keep anyone on foot safe and free from harm. This also includes:

  • A person who has a mobility disability and uses a non-motorized wheelchair.
  • A person who uses a power-driven mobility device.
  • A person on skates, rollerblades, or a skateboard
  • A person on an electric scooter.
  • A person on horseback.
  • A horse and buggy (the driver and each occupant)
  • A person lying down

Michigan law states that if there is a sidewalk along the roadway, pedestrians should be walking or jogging on that sidewalk. If there isn’t a sidewalk for pedestrians to walk on, they are required to walk or run on the edge of the roadway. Michigan law also states that pedestrians are required to walk against traffic or face oncoming traffic so that pedestrians are able to see vehicles as they come towards them.

Sadly, pedestrians and bicyclists are at a serious disadvantage when they are involved in a crash with a vehicle. When a much larger, fast-moving vehicle and a pedestrian collide, the automobile always comes out as the winner. Cars and trucks today have had many advances in technology and safety features but people who are walking, biking, or jogging are still so vulnerable to major injuries and sometimes even death when they are hit by a passenger vehicle or truck.

Statute of Limitations for Michigan Pedestrian Accidents

If you have been injured or a family member has been injured in a pedestrian accident in Michigan, it’s so important to speak to an experienced Michigan motor vehicle accident attorney as soon as possible.

There is a strict statute of limitations for all personal injury claims in Michigan of three years. If you attempt to file a claim after that time period, your case will not be heard and you will be unable to get the compensation that you are entitled to for your injuried.

Determining Fault in a Michigan Pedestrian Accident

After you have retained counsel, your Michigan personal injury lawyer will need to review all of the information about your accident to determine who was at fault for the accident and your subsequent injuries. The sooner you contact an attorney to discuss your pedestrian accident, the sooner your attorney can begin to gather additional evidence while it is still fresh in the minds of witnesses. Your attorney will also look at the following:

  • Police reports
  • Traffic videos or videos from nearby businesses that may have captured the accident
  • Eyewitness accounts
  • Any other evidence that will help determine fault

If the operator of the car or truck was driving carelessly, recklessly, or negligently when the accident took place, your lawyer will seek justice by holding him or her responsible for their negligent behavior.

Comparative Fault in Michigan Pedestrian Accidents

The state of Michigan follows the doctrine of comparative negligence. If you are determined to have contributed to the accident that caused your injuries, your settlement will be reduced depending on how much fault is placed on you. This is as long as you are found to be less than 50% responsible.

Can an Injured Pedestrian Receive No-Fault Benefits After a Michigan Accident?

A pedestrian who is injured in an accident involving a car or a truck in Michigan may be entitled to personal injury protection benefits under Michigan’s no-fault statute. Under this Michigan No-Fault statute, an injured pedestrian can receive no-fault benefits after being injured in an accident regardless of what was at fault as long as the vehicle involved was the major contributing factor responsible for the victims’ injuries.

Pedestrian Accidents

Most Common Places Pedestrian Accidents Occur in Michigan

A vast majority of auto-pedestrian accidents happen at night, and these collisions take place in many different areas. Some of the most common places that pedestrian accidents occur in Michigan are:

  • Urban Areas
  • Intersection and Crosswalk Accidents
  • Parking Lot Accidents
  • Roadsides and Shoulders
  • Parking Lots
  • Shared Paths or Trails

If you have been injured in a Michigan pedestrian accident, contact Christopher Trainor & Associates to discuss your accident and to make sure that your rights are protected from the start.

Most Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Michigan

Pedestrian accidents can happen in the blink of an eye and have devastating consequences for the person walking, riding, or jogging. The most common causes of pedestrian accidents in Michigan are as follows:

  • Distracted driving
  • Texting while driving
  • Adjusting GPS or another navigational tool
  • Driving while intoxicated on alcohol or drugs
  • Reckless driving
  • Failure to yield the right of way
  • Ignoring traffic lights or signs
  • Impatient drivers
  • Aggressive drivers
  • Speeding
  • Driving too fast in inclement weather conditions
  • Night driving
  • Careless driving
  • Wearing dark clothes at night
  • Road construction
  • Vehicles making left turns
  • Multi-lane or Arterial roads
  • Drivers not paying attention in parking lots
  • Failure to use care that any other reasonable and careful person would use

In large and busy cities, aggressive driving and distracted driving are two of the main causes of a majority of pedestrian accidents that occur in Michigan. Unsurprisingly, alcohol-impaired drivers are the biggest danger to Michigan pedestrians. Approximately 47% of fatal pedestrian accidents in the United States involve alcohol. Either the driver is intoxicated or the pedestrian is intoxicated.

Most Common Injuries Related to Michigan Pedestrian Accidents


Some of the most common pedestrian accident injuries that we see at Christopher Trainor & Associates include but are not limited to the following:

  • Soft Tissue Damage - These include cuts, bruises, sprains, strains, dislocations.
  • Lower Extremity Injuries - In pedestrian accidents that are not fatal, the victim’s lower extremities are the most commonly injured areas of the body.
  • Broken Bones and Fractures - This includes fractures to the face, hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, legs, ankles, and spine. Major breaks in the bones can result also. This includes compound fractures where the bone penetrates and punctures the skin. Amputation can result if the break is too severe.
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) - Head injuries or injuries to the brain affect how the brain works. TBI often results in the victim having lifelong disabilities and is a major cause of death in the United States.
  • Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) - This involves damage to the bundle of nerves and cells that send and receive messages and signals from the brain to other parts of the body. This is caused by a sudden and traumatic blow to your spine that compresses, dislocates, fractures, or crushes one or more vertebrae.

Pedestrians are vulnerable to these types of injuries and so many more. The injured victim and their family should not have to navigate the complex and complicated Michigan personal injury legal system without the help of a knowledgeable and proven personal injury lawyer on their side. Call Christopher Trainor & Associates today to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team.

Who is Most at Risk?

A vast majority of pedestrian accidents involve senior citizens over the age of 65. They accounted for approximately 20% of all pedestrian fatalities in recent years.

Young children are also at a greater risk of catastrophic injuries or death when they are involved in a pedestrian vs. automobile accident. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 5 children who are under the age of 15 died as a result of the injuries they sustained in the pedestrian accident.

Safety Tips for Pedestrians to Avoid Being Injured in an Accident

Pedestrians must practice certain behaviors when they are out and about on foot, on a bike, scooter, skateboard, or other non-motorized means of transportation to be safe. Here are some really important pedestrian and bicycle safety tips:

  • Always use a designated crosswalk when crossing the street.
  • Always be mindful of your surroundings while you are in a parking lot, especially if small children are with you.
  • Always walk against traffic when walking on roads that are paved and stay as far away from the cars as possible.
  • Always wear bright, reflective colors or very visible and noticeable clothing when you are going to be walking at dusk or night.
  • Always wait for the appropriate traffic lights and signals before you cross the street.

Insurance adjusters or the driver of the car that hit you may attempt to place blame on you by accusing you of not practicing behavior that is safe for pedestrians. This is yet another reason why it’s crucial to have an aggressive and experienced Michigan pedestrian accident lawyer on your side.

What is the Value of My Claim?

In Michigan, when you are hit by a vehicle while in a crosswalk, or the victim of another type of pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to two different types of benefits from the insurance companies:

First-Party Benefits- These account for any medical expenses, both current and future, related to your accident. It also includes reimbursement for missed work as well as for any income lost because you are unable to work for an extended period of time. You are also allotted a daily stipend to assist with household work that you are not able to complete on your own after your injuries.

Third-Party Benefits- These account for any non-economic losses like pain and suffering. It also includes benefits for permanent injuries that impair the body’s ability to function or cause disfigurement resulting in a decreased quality of life or even death.

Why Choose Christopher Trainor & Associates?

The Law Offices of Christopher Trainor & Associates has served injured residents of Michigan with integrity since 1989. We offer our clients aggressive legal representation and courtroom advocacy when our clients have been negatively impacted by another’s negligence or misconduct. Our highly qualified team of personal injury attorneys has been successful in obtaining several multi-million dollar jury verdicts and settlements. We have obtained more than $250 million dollars in compensation for our clients.

If you have been injured or someone you loved has died as a result of a pedestrian accident that was caused by a driver’s careless, reckless or negligent actions in or around  White Lake, Flint, KalamazooAnn Arbor, Grand Rapids, Southfield, Lansing, or Bay City, contact Christopher Trainor & Associates as soon as possible.

With more than 30 years of Michigan personal injury law experience and hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for our clients, we are confident that we can help you too. Call us today at 248-886-8650 to discuss your accident and obtain a free case evaluation.

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White Lake
Main 

9750 Highland Road
White Lake, MI 48386
248-886-8650White Lake
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Flint 

336 W First Street
Flint, MI 48502
810-234-5678Flint
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Kalamazoo 

251 North Rose St., Ste 200-6013
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
269-447-2200Kalamazoo
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Ann Arbor 

2723 South State St. Ste 250-15096
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-882-2646Ann Arbor
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Grand Rapids, MI 49503
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Southfield, MI 48075
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Lansing, MI 48933
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401 Center Ave, Ste 25
Bay City, MI 48708

989-262-0787Bay City
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