Columbia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Helping Missouri and Illinois Victims Pursue a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit
Columbia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrian accidents in Columbia happen more often than most people realize. A distracted driver, a failure to yield at a crosswalk, or a speeding vehicle near the University of Missouri campus can change a pedestrian’s life in an instant. At Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers, we have an office right here in Columbia and fight for pedestrian accident victims across Boone County, throughout Missouri, and across Illinois.
If you or a loved one was injured in a pedestrian accident in Columbia or anywhere in Missouri or Illinois, Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers is ready to fight for the full compensation you deserve. Tyson Mutrux is licensed in Missouri, Illinois, and U.S. Federal Courts, meaning no matter where your accident occurred, we have the legal authority to represent you. No fees unless we win. Call (888) 550-4026 for a free case review today.
Award-Winning Columbia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Recognized for Excellence
Tyson Mutrux has recovered compensation for pedestrian accident victims across Columbia, St. Louis, and throughout Missouri and Illinois. When a driver strikes a pedestrian, the injuries are often catastrophic and the insurance company immediately begins building a case to minimize what they pay. Tyson fights back from day one. Licensed in Missouri, Illinois, and U.S. Federal Courts, Tyson has earned recognition as Best Attorney in Columbia for 2025 by Inside Columbia Magazine, Top 100 Trial Lawyer by The National Trial Lawyers, The Nation’s Top One Percent of Attorneys by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel (2015), Best Car Accident Lawyer in Columbia for 2023 by Expertise.com, Top 10 Car Accident Lawyers in Columbia by Trust Analytica (2024), and holds a Superb 10/10 Rating on Avvo
Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit in Missouri & Illinois
Injured in a Pedestrian Accident? Get Legal Help
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What a Columbia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Recover for Your Damages?
The ultimate purpose of a personal injury claim is for a plaintiff to be made whole again. A major part of this goal is to provide payments for all of a plaintiff’s medical costs. Pedestrian accidents can include horrific injuries that may require hospitalizations, surgeries, and can result in permanent disabilities. A negligent driver is responsible to provide payments for all necessary treatment.
However, in most cases, the extent of a person’s losses goes beyond physical injuries. Severe injuries may also force a plaintiff to miss time at work. When this is the case, a defendant is liable to provide payments for this lost income.
Finally, many serious injuries also have an emotional impact on a plaintiff’s life. This can include consideration for pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, or even general payments for emotional anguish. A Columbia pedestrian accident lawyer may be able to help individuals evaluate their losses and to demand fair payments from at-fault defendants.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Columbia, Missouri
Pedestrian accidents are among the most devastating on Missouri roads. Unlike vehicle occupants, pedestrians have no protection when struck by a car, truck, or motorcycle. Injuries are often catastrophic and the financial and emotional consequences can last a lifetime. In Columbia, pedestrian accidents occur across campus areas, downtown streets, and residential neighborhoods and in nearly every case, the cause traces back to driver negligence.
Excessive Speed
Speeding is one of the leading causes of pedestrian fatalities in Columbia and across Missouri. When a vehicle is traveling above the posted speed limit, the driver has significantly less reaction time and requires a much longer stopping distance. Near the University of Missouri campus, Broadway, and Stadium Boulevard where foot traffic is heavy, excessive speed dramatically increases both the likelihood of a crash and the severity of injuries when one occurs. Under Missouri law, a driver who strikes a pedestrian while speeding is in breach of their duty of care and can be held fully liable for all resulting damages.
Distracted Driving
Texting and driving remains the most common form of distracted driving in Columbia and throughout the United States. Looking away from the road for even two seconds at 30 miles per hour means traveling the length of a basketball court without watching where you are going. Whether the distraction is a phone, a GPS, food, or a conversation with passengers, the result is the same, a driver who is not watching for pedestrians in crosswalks, driveways, or intersections.
Drunk Driving
Driving under the influence significantly impairs the reflexes, vision, and decision-making ability that every driver needs to avoid striking a pedestrian. Alcohol and drugs reduce reaction time, impair depth perception, and diminish alertness to changing road conditions. In Columbia, DUI-related pedestrian accidents occur most frequently on weekends and near entertainment districts. When a driver was under the influence at the time of your accident, that impairment is powerful evidence of negligence in your pedestrian accident claim.
Failure to Yield to Pedestrians
Missouri law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and at intersections. Despite this, failure to yield is one of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents in Columbia. Drivers who roll through stop signs, ignore crosswalk signals, or make right turns without checking for pedestrians put lives at risk every day. At protected intersections where pedestrians have a walk signal, a driver who runs the light and strikes a pedestrian faces clear liability under Missouri law.
Poor Visibility and Hazardous Conditions
Adverse weather, poor lighting, and large vehicle blind spots all reduce a driver’s ability to see pedestrians in time to stop. At night or during rain and fog, drivers must reduce their speed and increase their alertness accordingly. Large vehicles including trucks, SUVs, and delivery vehicles have significant blind spots that make pedestrians invisible to the driver in certain positions. When a driver fails to account for these conditions and strikes a pedestrian, that failure to adjust constitutes negligence under Missouri law.
If you were hit by a vehicle in Columbia due to any of these causes, Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers is ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. Call (888) 550-4026 for a free case review today. No fees unless we win.
How a Columbia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Determines Fault After a Collision?
A plaintiff can never collect compensation by merely stating that they suffered an injury in an accident. Victims must be able to show that a defendant’s negligence was the cause of their injuries. If it can be proven that the defendant blatantly violated the rules of the road and struck a pedestrian doing so, the court is likely to find them liable for the victim’s damages.
Missouri follows a pure comparative fault rule. If a jury finds that a pedestrian shares some responsibility for the accident, their compensation is reduced by their percentage of fault. However, they can still recover damages even if they were partially at fault. Mutrux Firm fights to minimize your assigned share of fault and maximize your total recovery.
Damages After a Columbia Pedestrian Accident
A pedestrian accident in Columbia can really put a burden on the individual financially. Your Columbia pedestrian accident lawyer can help you recover the following damages:
If you sustain multiple injuries as a result of the accident, it can cost a significant amount to treat. You might need multiple trips to the doctor and medical procedures, among other treatments. Although the amount you are owed depends on your individual case, you are likely eligible for compensation for these costs.
A pedestrian accident can affect the victim’s ability to work. Therefore, they could be compensated on the wages they have lost as a result. Future wages might also be awarded if your attorney can prove that you are unable to return to work.
It is common for victims of pedestrian accidents to experience both physical and emotional pain as a result. Some of these include mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, PTSD, and diminished quality of life.
Unfortunately, death as a result of a pedestrian accident is all too common. If death occurred as a result of a pedestrian accident, you could be eligible for a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death claim can cover the expenses incurred by the family, and even the costs owed towards the victim if they had survived the accident.
What Are the Most Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries in Columbia, MO?
When a pedestrian and motor vehicle meet, the pedestrian often incurs significant injuries. At The Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers, we understand that this type of event could significantly alter your life, therefore, we want to ensure you are well represented. Although some injuries might be immediately visible, some might not appear until hours or days after the accident occurred. Here are the most common injuries that result from pedestrian accidents in Columbia.
Brain Injuries
When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, it can cause traumatic brain injuries to the individual, as their head might have been struck by the vehicle, or they might have experienced trauma when they were knocked over. A traumatic brain injury might not be immediately apparent, however, symptoms might not appear until later on. Here are some symptoms to keep an eye out for if you were involved in a pedestrian accident in Columbia:
- Headaches
- Concentration difficulties
- Feeling of dizziness
- Vomiting
- Changes in mood
These are only some of the symptoms to look out for. For a more in depth explanation, please check out the National Institute of Health website.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are all too common when a pedestrian accident occurs. These types of injuries are the result of the extreme forces present in a collision, and can even cause paralysis if serious enough. It is important to check for symptoms of spinal cord injuries after a pedestrian accident, such as:
- Numbness
- Neck or back pain
- Trouble walking
- Loss of bladder control
- Breathing difficulty
If a pedestrian accident results in a spinal cord injury, it could cause adverse effects that will likely last a lifetime. Spinal cord injuries could even lead to severe mental health issues as well.
Broken Bones
Broken bones are some of the most common types of injuries as a result of a pedestrian accident in Columbia. Broken bones can significantly alter someone’s life and cause them to have issues with their day-to-day life. In some severe cases, individuals might need to receive surgery to begin the healing process and get on the road to recovery.
Road Rash and Skin Abrasions
Road rash and other skin abrasions can cause infections if not immediately treated. Infections can even prevent some treatments for other injuries you might have sustained as a result of the accident. Therefore, it is critical that any open wounds are treated immediately to prevent any complications in the future.
Mental Health
There’s no denying it. A pedestrian accident can cause immense mental trauma. In serious cases, a pedestrian accident victim might find it difficult to shift their thoughts away from the memory of the accident, causing anxiety and depression. Your mental health is just as critical as your physical health, therefore, it is important that you seek treatment.
Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Crashes in Missouri and Illinois - What Are Your Legal Options?
When a driver flees the scene of a pedestrian crash, the path to compensation changes significantly. Instead of pursuing the at-fault driver directly, you must often rely on your own insurance coverage or other available sources. Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers handles hit-and-run pedestrian cases across Columbia, St. Louis, Chicago, and throughout Missouri and Illinois and knows exactly how to maximize your recovery even when the driver is never identified.
What to Do Immediately After a Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Crash?
Call 911 immediately and seek medical attention even if injuries seem minor. Report every detail you can remember about the vehicle, driver, and direction of travel to the responding officers. Look for witnesses and ask whether anyone captured footage on a phone, doorbell camera, or nearby business surveillance system. Photograph the scene, your injuries, and any physical evidence before it is disturbed. Preserve your clothing and any damaged personal belongings as evidence.
A police report is required to file an uninsured motorist claim in both Missouri and Illinois after a hit-and-run. Filing that report immediately is one of the most important steps you can take.
Missouri Hit-and-Run Laws and Your Insurance Options
In Missouri, leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offense under RSMo 577.060. Drivers are legally required to stop, provide their information, and assist injured persons. When a driver flees and is never identified, Missouri pedestrian victims have the following options:
You may file a claim under your own auto insurance policy’s uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage can pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering caused by an unidentified or uninsured driver. If you do not own a vehicle, you may be covered under a household family member’s policy. Because Missouri follows a pure comparative fault rule, even if you were partially at fault for the crash, you may still recover reduced compensation through your uninsured motorist coverage.
Illinois Hit-and-Run Laws and Your Insurance Options
In Illinois, a hit-and-run driver is treated as an uninsured motorist for all insurance purposes. If you were struck as a pedestrian and the driver fled, you can file a claim under your own auto insurance policy’s uninsured motorist coverage even though you were not in a vehicle at the time. Illinois law requires insurers to offer uninsured motorist coverage, and the Illinois Supreme Court has confirmed that insured pedestrians and cyclists struck by hit-and-run or uninsured drivers are entitled to these benefits.
To qualify for uninsured motorist coverage in Illinois you must have an auto insurance policy that includes this coverage, file a police report promptly, and demonstrate that the driver was at fault and cannot be identified or was uninsured. If you do not have your own auto insurance, you may be covered under a household family member’s policy. In some cases, the Illinois Crime Victim Compensation Program may provide an additional source of assistance.
Why You Need a Lawyer for a Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Claim?
Insurance companies in both Missouri and Illinois routinely dispute hit-and-run pedestrian claims. They may argue that the driver was not truly unidentified, that no physical contact occurred between the vehicle and the pedestrian, or that the pedestrian was at fault for the crash. These disputes can significantly delay or reduce your compensation.
Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers handles every aspect of your hit-and-run pedestrian claim. We obtain and preserve police reports, witness statements, and surveillance footage, navigate the uninsured motorist policy requirements and deadlines in both Missouri and Illinois, negotiate aggressively with your insurance company, and file a lawsuit if the insurer refuses to pay what your claim is worth.
If you were injured in a hit-and-run pedestrian crash in Columbia, St. Louis, Chicago, or anywhere in Missouri or Illinois, contact Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers today. No fees unless we win. Call (888) 550-4026 for a free case review.
Reach Out to a Columbia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrian accidents can inflict some of the most severe personal injuries that you may ever have to endure. Even a low speed collision with a moving vehicle can break bones, cause severe cuts, and inflict traumatic brain injuries. Many of these injuries may never fully heal and have a permanent effect on your quality of life.
As a result, pedestrian accident cases can demand payments for not just medical bills, but also for lost income and emotional trauma.
A Columbia pedestrian accident lawyer could help you to prove a defendant’s negligence in pedestrian accident cases. This can include discovering evidence of a conviction in traffic court as well as showing that a general instance of negligence places blame of an accident on a defendant. Contact an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer today to schedule a consultation.
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Have you been injured because of a car crash, truck crash, motorcycle crash or by other negligent acts of another? Our Missouri and Illinois Injury Lawyers can help you!
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FAQ
Our Columbia pedestrian accident team has helped clients navigate some of the most common questions about their cases and rights.