The #1 St. Louis Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

After a pedestrian crash in St. Louis, the first priority is medical care.

A pedestrian should seek immediate medical attention, even if symptoms seem manageable at first.

Some brain injury, spinal, internal, and soft-tissue symptoms may worsen after the initial shock.

Steps to take after a pedestrian accident include:

1. Call 911 and report the crash. Ask local law enforcement how to obtain the police report number.
2. Get medical treatment. Follow all discharge instructions and keep records of follow-up care.
3. Collect driver information. Save the driver’s name, license plate number, insurance details, and vehicle information.
4. Document the accident scene. Photograph the vehicle, crosswalk, road conditions, traffic signals, visible injuries, clothing, shoes, and damaged personal items.
5. Identify witnesses. Save witness contact information and any statements from people who saw the crash.
6. Preserve evidence. Keep damaged clothing, glasses, phones, bags, mobility devices, or other property.
7. Avoid detailed statements to insurers. Do not give a recorded statement to the driver’s insurance company before understanding your rights.
8. Speak with a pedestrian accident attorney. A lawyer can help preserve evidence, communicate with insurers, and track deadlines.

Gathering Evidence for a Pedestrian Accident Case

Evidence is important in a pedestrian accident case because the insurance company may dispute fault, causation, injury severity, or damages.

A thorough investigation can help show how the crash happened and whether the driver, employer, public entity, or another party may be legally responsible.

Important evidence may include:

• Police reports and crash diagrams
• 911 calls and dispatch records
• Bodycam, dashcam, surveillance, or traffic camera footage
• Photos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, crosswalk, lighting, skid marks, debris, and traffic signals
• Witness statements and witness contact information
• Medical records, imaging, discharge instructions, and treatment plans
• Medical bills and other medical expenses
• Lost wage records
• Driver phone records, when legally obtainable, if distracted driving is suspected
• Toxicology records if impairment is suspected
• Roadway design, lighting, signal timing, or maintenance records if municipal liability may be involved

The goal is to use the evidence to prove negligence, establish liability, and document the damages caused by the crash.

Damages in a Pedestrian Accident Claim

Damages are the losses caused by the pedestrian accident.

In a Missouri personal injury case, damages usually need to be supported by medical records, wage documentation, bills, treatment plans, and evidence showing how the injuries affected daily life.

Common damages in pedestrian accident claims may include:

• Medical bills
• Future medical expenses
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Property damage
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent impairment or disability
• Wrongful death damages, when the pedestrian died
• Punitive damages in limited cases involving especially reckless conduct, depending on Missouri law and the evidence

A pedestrian accident lawyer can help document these losses and evaluate whether a settlement offer reflects the injuries, treatment, available insurance coverage, and Missouri law.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Missouri?

In Missouri, the right to file a wrongful death claim is outlined in Missouri Revised Statutes Section 537.080.

If a pedestrian dies after being struck by a vehicle, eligible family members may be able to bring a wrongful death claim under Missouri law.

Missouri law gives first priority to the deceased person’s spouse, children, or parents.

If none are available, the right to file may pass to siblings or their descendants. In some cases, the court may appoint a plaintiff ad litem.

A wrongful death claim after a pedestrian crash may involve funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of services, emotional losses, and other damages allowed under Missouri law.

These claims have their own legal requirements and deadlines, so families should not assume the general personal injury deadline is the only timing rule that applies.

Missouri pedestrian accident cases usually begin with investigation, medical documentation, insurance review, and liability analysis.

The injured person must show that another party owed a duty of care, breached that duty, caused the crash, and caused damages.

Missouri generally gives injured people five years to file many personal injury lawsuits, but different deadlines may apply in wrongful death cases, claims involving minors, or claims involving public entities.

Missouri also follows pure comparative fault.

This means an injured pedestrian may still recover compensation even if partly at fault, but the recovery may be reduced by the pedestrian’s percentage of fault.

Steps in the legal process may include:

1. Free consultation: A lawyer reviews the crash facts, injuries, and available evidence.
2. Investigation: The legal team gathers police reports, medical records, witness statements, photos, and video evidence.
3. Liability review: The attorney evaluates driver negligence, traffic-law violations, comparative fault, and other potentially liable parties.
4. Insurance claim: The attorney identifies available insurance coverage and communicates with the insurance company.
5. Settlement negotiations: The parties may discuss settlement if the evidence supports liability and damages.
6. Filing a lawsuit: If the insurance company disputes fault or undervalues the claim, the attorney may file a personal injury lawsuit.
7. Discovery, mediation, or trial: The case may proceed through evidence exchange, depositions, mediation, or trial.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Missouri?

Missouri generally gives injured people five years to file many personal injury claims, including many pedestrian accident claims.

Certain cases may involve different deadlines.

Shorter or different timing rules may apply when:

• A pedestrian died and the case involves wrongful death
• A public entity may be responsible for unsafe road design, poor lighting, broken signals, or inadequate crosswalks
• The injured person is a minor
• The claim involves unusual insurance or procedural issues

Speaking with a lawyer early can help identify the correct deadline and preserve evidence before it is lost.

Pedestrian accidents often occur when a driver fails to recognize a person walking near traffic, misjudges the pedestrian’s path, or violates a traffic law meant to protect people outside vehicles.

In St. Louis, these crashes commonly happen at crosswalks, intersections, bus stops, parking lots, school zones, commercial driveways, and wide roads where pedestrians must cross multiple lanes of traffic.

Poor nighttime visibility, inadequate lighting, and inclement weather can make pedestrians harder to see, but drivers are still expected to slow down, watch for people walking, and adjust to road conditions.

Many claims involve instances where the driver was distracted, speeding, impaired, failed to yield, or made an unsafe turn when the pedestrian had the right of way.

Common causes of pedestrian accidents include:

• Distracted driving, including texting, app use, or in-vehicle screen use
• Speeding or driving too fast for traffic, lighting, or weather conditions
• Failure to yield at marked or unmarked crosswalks
• Running a red light or stop sign
• Unsafe left turns or right turns at intersections
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Poor nighttime visibility or inadequate street lighting
• Rain, fog, snow, or other weather conditions that reduce visibility
• Unsafe backing in parking lots, driveways, or alley entrances
• Aggressive driving near pedestrians, cyclists, or stopped traffic
• Unsafe road design, missing crosswalks, poor signal timing, or inadequate pedestrian infrastructure

A pedestrian accident attorney can review whether the driver violated traffic laws, whether environmental conditions affected visibility, and whether another party may share responsibility.

In some cases, liability may involve an employer, rideshare company, public entity, property owner, or another party connected to the vehicle, roadway, or surrounding premises.

Pedestrian injuries are often serious because the body absorbs the force of the vehicle impact without the protection of a frame, seatbelt, or airbag.

A crash may cause one injury when the vehicle strikes the pedestrian and a second injury when the person hits the pavement, windshield, curb, or another object.

Common pedestrian accident injuries include fractures, spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, soft-tissue harm, and internal injuries that require immediate medical attention.

Common pedestrian accident injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions, brain bleeding, swelling, memory problems, or cognitive changes
• Broken bones and multiple fractures, especially in the legs, pelvis, ribs, arms, wrists, ankles, or face
• Spinal cord injuries, including partial or complete paralysis
• Internal organ damage, including lacerated spleens, punctured lungs, internal bleeding, or abdominal trauma
• Neck and back injuries
• Knee, shoulder, hip, and ankle injuries
• Soft-tissue injuries involving muscles, ligaments, tendons, or nerves
• Lacerations, road rash, scarring, and disfigurement
• Emotional distress, anxiety, sleep disruption, or fear of walking near traffic

Traumatic brain injuries occur in nearly half of serious pedestrian accidents and may range from concussions to permanent cognitive impairments that do not show symptoms immediately.

Internal injuries can also be difficult to recognize at first but may become life-threatening without prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Spinal cord injuries and paralysis are among the most devastating pedestrian crash outcomes because they often require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, home modifications, and lifelong care.

Multiple fractures may require surgery, implanted hardware, physical therapy, and prolonged recovery before the injured person can return to ordinary movement or work.

Pedestrian accidents remain a serious roadway safety issue in St. Louis.

According to the 2024 St. Louis Crash Report, 2024 was the deadliest year on record for pedestrians in both St. Louis City and St. Louis County.

23 pedestrians were killed in St. Louis City and 36 pedestrians were killed in St. Louis County, even as reported bicycle and pedestrian crashes decreased by 9.5% from 2023 to 2024.

Speed, lighting, crosswalk placement, road design, signal timing, traffic volume, and pedestrian infrastructure can all affect how a crash happened.

When pedestrian fatalities occur, surviving families may need to evaluate both wrongful death claims and any issues involving insurance coverage, commercial drivers, or public roadway design.

At TorHoerman Law, we are dedicated to helping victims of pedestrian accidents in St. Louis secure the maximum compensation they deserve for their injuries and losses.

Our experienced pedestrian accident attorneys understand the serious physical, emotional, and financial toll that these accidents can have on victims and their families.

We work diligently to hold negligent drivers accountable and fight for fair compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident in St. Louis due to someone else’s negligence, reach out to the St Louis pedestrian accident attorneys at TorHoerman Law for a free consultation.

Use the chat feature on this page to find out if you qualify for a pedestrian accident injury claim and to get in touch with our personal injury attorneys.