Bloomington is a city built for walking. From the B-Line Trail running through downtown to the crosswalks along Kirkwood Avenue, residents and visitors alike often walk to their destinations, trusting that nearby motorists will pay attention and follow the rules of the road. Unfortunately, not all of them do. 

When drivers speed, text behind the wheel, run red lights, or get behind the wheel while impaired, pedestrians pay the price. Unlike vehicle occupants, you have no seatbelt, airbag, or steel frame to absorb the force of a collision. A single crash can leave you with broken bones, brain injuries, spinal damage, or worse. 

If you’ve been hurt in a pedestrian accident, you may have the right to pursue compensation from the driver responsible. Habig Injury Law advocates for injured pedestrians across Bloomington and the surrounding area, helping clients pursue the settlement or verdict they need to rebuild their futures.

Pedestrian accident claims aren’t like fender-benders. They tend to involve severe injuries, extensive medical bills, and insurance companies that will do everything they can to limit what they pay you. That’s why injured pedestrians in Bloomington turn to Habig Injury Law.

• Skilled Representation: We have years of experience handling pedestrian accident claims. Without a lawyer, it’s easy to make mistakes that can hurt your case, like giving a recorded statement, missing a filing deadline, or accepting a low offer before you know the full extent of your injuries.
• Background in Serious Injury Cases: Pedestrian accidents can change your life. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, fractures, and internal injuries are all common outcomes. Our Bloomington pedestrian lawyers understand the long-term impact of these injuries and account for future medical bills, lost earning capacity, and ongoing care needs.
• Thorough Claim Investigation: We gather police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, medical records, and accident reconstruction analysis to establish what happened and who’s responsible. A thorough investigation supports liability arguments and gives you the best chance at recovering the damages you’re owed.
• Aggressive Insurance Negotiation: Insurance companies have one goal: pay as little as possible. They’ll dispute fault, question your injuries, and pressure you to accept a settlement before you know the full value of your case. We handle all communications and negotiations with insurers and won’t accept inadequate offers.
• No Fee Unless We Win: We handle pedestrian accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront attorney fees. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you, so you have nothing to lose by calling a personal injury attorney today.

Pedestrian accidents don’t happen randomly. They happen because drivers make choices that put others at risk. Common examples of negligence include:

• Distracted Driving: Texting behind the wheel is one of the most dangerous behaviors on the road. At 55 mph, a driver looking at a cell phone for five seconds travels the length of a football field without watching where they’re going. GPS use and general inattention at intersections and crosswalks, including busy spots like the Kirkwood Avenue corridor.
• Speeding: Speed reduces a driver’s reaction time and dramatically increases the severity of a collision. A pedestrian struck at 40 mph is far less likely to survive than one struck at 20 mph. Drivers who exceed posted speed limits on roads like East Third Street or College Mall Road give themselves little time to stop when someone steps into a crosswalk.
• Failure to Yield: Drivers are required by law to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Many don’t. Crosswalk violations and turning accidents at intersections are a leading cause of pedestrian injuries in Bloomington.
• Drunk or Drug-Impaired Driving: Impaired drivers have slower reaction times and impaired judgment. Driving under the influence is a leading factor in fatal pedestrian crashes and puts everyone on Bloomington’s streets and trails at risk.
• Poor Visibility Conditions: Nighttime accidents, bad weather, and inadequate lighting all reduce a driver’s ability to see pedestrians. Walkers on the B-Line Trail or along dimly lit stretches of residential streets are particularly at risk after dark.
• Backing-Up Accidents: Parking lot incidents and driveway accidents catch pedestrians off guard. Drivers backing out of spaces near College Mall or side streets throughout Bloomington may not see someone walking behind their vehicle until it’s too late.

When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, the human body absorbs the full force of the impact. The injuries that result are frequently severe, and many have consequences that are either fatal or last a lifetime.

• Traumatic Brain Injuries: A pedestrian thrown to the ground or struck in the head can suffer a traumatic brain injury. These injuries aren’t always immediately apparent, which is why prompt medical evaluation after any pedestrian accident is critical. Long-term effects can include memory loss, difficulty concentrating, personality changes, and an inability to return to work.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Spinal cord damage can result in partial or complete paralysis. Victims may face a lifetime of rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, and around-the-clock care. The financial and personal toll of a spinal cord injury is enormous, and your compensation needs to account for all of it.
• Broken Bones and Orthopedic Injuries: Fractures are among the most common pedestrian accident injuries. Many require surgery, hardware implantation, and extended physical therapy. Some victims never fully regain their prior range of motion or strength, leaving them with lasting mobility limitations.
• Internal Injuries: The force of a vehicle impact can damage internal organs and cause internal bleeding that isn’t visible from the outside. These injuries can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated quickly.
• Soft Tissue Injuries: Ligament tears and soft tissue damage can cause chronic pain that lingers long after the accident. These injuries are sometimes dismissed by insurance companies, but their impact on your daily life can be substantial.
• Psychological Trauma: The aftermath of a pedestrian accident isn’t only physical. Many victims develop post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and emotional distress that affects their relationships, their ability to work, and their quality of life. Psychological trauma is a real and compensable part of your insurance claim.

When a driver’s negligence leaves you injured, Indiana law lets you pursue compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Depending on the situation, you may be able to claim:

• Medical Expenses: Your medical costs are usually the biggest loss in a pedestrian accident claim. This includes emergency treatment, surgeries, hospitalization, rehabilitation, prescription medications, and any future medical care your injuries require. We work to make sure your compensation accounts for the full scope of your treatment, not just the bills you’ve already received.
• Lost Wages and Reduced Earning Capacity: If your injuries kept you out of work during recovery, you can seek compensation for those lost wages. If your injuries permanently affect your ability to work or earn at the same level you did before the accident, your personal injury claim can include that reduced earning capacity as well.
• Pain and Suffering: Compensation isn’t limited to out-of-pocket expenses. You can claim damages for the physical pain your injuries caused, the emotional distress you’ve experienced, and the loss of enjoyment of life that comes with being unable to do the things you did before the accident.
• Property Damage: If personal belongings were damaged in the accident, such as a phone, bicycle, or other items you had with you, those losses can be included in your claim.
• Wrongful Death Damages: If you lost a family member in a pedestrian accident, Indiana law allows surviving family members to seek wrongful death damages. These can include funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship and guidance.

Knowing who’s responsible for your injuries is one of the most important parts of a pedestrian accident claim. Depending on the circumstances, liable parties may include:

• Negligent Drivers: Traffic law violations, distracted driving, speeding, failure to yield, and impaired driving are all forms of negligence that can establish a driver’s liability for your injuries. When a negligent driver breaks the rules of the road and you get hurt as a result, they can be held accountable.
• Third-Party Liability: With some accidents, other parties may share liability. An employer can be held responsible if the driver was working at the time of the crash, while the vehicle owner may be liable if they allowed an unfit driver to use their vehicle. Government entities can also face liability when poorly maintained roads, missing signage, or inadequate lighting on Bloomington streets or trails contributed to the accident.

Indiana follows a modified comparative fault rule. This means that if you’re found partially at fault for the accident, your compensation can be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re found to be 51% or more at fault, you can’t recover compensation at all. Insurance companies know this and will aggressively try to pin blame on you, which is why you want a Bloomington pedestrian accident lawyer in your corner.

• Seek Immediate Medical Attention: Even if you feel relatively okay at the scene, get evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible. Some injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and internal bleeding, don’t produce obvious symptoms right away. A prompt diagnosis also creates a medical record that connects your injuries to the accident.
• Report the Accident: Call law enforcement and make sure an official accident report is filed. A police report documents the crash, identifies the parties involved when possible, and can support your claim if liability is disputed.
• Document Evidence: If you’re physically able, take photos of the scene, your injuries, the vehicle that struck you, and any relevant road conditions or signage. Collect contact information from witnesses before they leave. Save all medical records, bills, and any correspondence related to your injuries.
• Avoid Speaking With Insurance Adjusters Alone: The at-fault driver’s insurance company may contact you quickly with questions or a settlement offer. Don’t give a recorded statement and don’t accept any offer before speaking with an attorney. Early settlement offers rarely reflect the full value of your claim, and anything you say to an adjuster can be used to minimize your payout.
• Contact a Bloomington Pedestrian Accident Lawyer: Getting a personal injury attorney involved early gives you the best chance at a full recovery. We can secure evidence, calculate your losses, and negotiate with the insurer for a fair settlement.

Slip and fall accidents can lead to injuries that need immediate medical care and ongoing treatment. Generally speaking, the impact of a fall varies depending on how hard you land, the surface involved, and in some cases your age and overall condition. Common injuries include:

• Broken Bones: Slip and fall incidents frequently result in fractures to the wrists, arms, ankles, or hips. Depending on their severity, these injuries may require surgery, casting, and extended recovery time.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries: A fall can cause you to strike your head on a hard surface. After suffering a concussion or more severe brain injury, you can start to experience headaches, memory issues, and long-term cognitive problems.
• Back and Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the back or spine can result in chronic pain, limited mobility, or, in severe cases, partial or complete paralysis.
• Soft Tissue Injuries: Sprains, strains, and tears to muscles and ligaments can cause ongoing pain and restrict movement, sometimes requiring physical therapy or surgical treatment.
• Hip Injuries: Hip fractures are particularly serious injuries and may require surgery and extensive rehabilitation, especially for older adults.
• Knee and Joint Injuries: Many slip and fall injury victims land on their knees or elbows.Damage to the knees or other joints can affect your stability and ability to walk, stand, or perform routine tasks.

At Habig Injury Law, we represent injured pedestrians across Bloomington and Central Indiana and fight to recover the full compensation they’re owed. From the B-Line Trail to Kirkwood Avenue to East Third Street, we know this community, and we know what’s at stake when one of its members gets hurt. You also pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, call our Bloomington personal injury law firm at (317) 642-3813.