Pedestrian Accidents

St. Clair County Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

Over 50 Years Advocating for Injury Victims in Port Huron & Southeast Michigan

Pedestrians have no structural protection when a vehicle strikes them. The injuries are often catastrophic: broken bones, traumatic brain injury, spinal damage, or worse. If you or someone you love was hit by a car in St. Clair County, Rowling, Partipilo & Winston is here to help. Our firm has been advocating for injury victims in this community since 1974, and we’ve recovered more than $10 million for clients across a wide range of cases.

We’re proud to be a longstanding part of the Port Huron community, and when you work with us, you work directly with your attorney. Call (810) 676-9447 for a free consultation.

We handle pedestrian accident cases on contingency, so you pay no legal fees unless we win. Free consultations are available in person or virtually, and you’ll work directly with the attorney on your case from start to finish.

Depending on the severity of your injuries and the circumstances of the crash, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Michigan law gives injured pedestrians multiple avenues of recovery, and identifying the right path early can make a real difference.

Pedestrian Rights & Fault Under Michigan Law

Michigan has specific right-of-way laws designed to protect pedestrians. Drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and, in most cases, at unmarked crosswalks at intersections. They’re also required to yield when entering or exiting driveways, which reinforces the need for caution near sidewalks and parking areas.

Pedestrians carry responsibilities too. Using crosswalks and following traffic signals at intersections is required by law. Crossing outside designated areas or jaywalking can shift fault onto the pedestrian if an accident occurs.

Michigan follows a comparative fault system, so a pedestrian who is partially at fault may still recover compensation. The amount is reduced by their percentage of fault, and pedestrians found more than 50 percent at fault lose their right to non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in St. Clair County

Most pedestrian accidents are preventable. They tend to result from driver negligence, environmental hazards, or both. Identifying what caused the crash is one of the first steps in building a strong claim.

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes. A driver who is texting, eating, or adjusting a GPS is not watching the road and may not see a pedestrian until it’s too late to stop.

Speeding compounds the problem. In residential areas and near schools throughout St. Clair County, drivers who exceed speed limits have less time to react and less ability to stop. A pedestrian hit at higher speeds is significantly more likely to suffer catastrophic injuries or a wrongful death.

Low visibility is another frequent factor. Early morning, evening, and bad weather reduce how well drivers can see pedestrians. Poorly lit streets make this worse, and pedestrians wearing dark clothing may not be visible until there’s no time left to brake.

Failure to yield at intersections is also a common cause. Drivers turning left often focus on oncoming traffic and miss pedestrians already in the crosswalk. That scenario alone accounts for a significant share of pedestrian strikes.

What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Michigan

The steps you take in the hours and days after a pedestrian accident directly affect both your physical recovery and your legal rights. A few key actions can help protect your claim.

Call the police: An official report creates a documented record that supports your legal claim.
Seek medical care immediately: Adrenaline can mask pain, and some injuries don’t surface for days or weeks. A prompt evaluation connects your injuries to the accident.
Collect information at the scene: Gather the driver’s contact and insurance details, get witness names and numbers, and photograph the scene, the vehicle, and your injuries if you’re able.
Be cautious with insurance adjusters: Statements made before you’ve spoken with an attorney can be used to minimize your settlement. Let us handle those conversations.
Watch Michigan’s deadlines: Michigan’s no-fault law requires written notice of injury to the appropriate insurer within one year to preserve PIP benefit rights under MCL 500.3145. The personal injury lawsuit deadline is three years from the date of the accident under MCL 600.5805. Claims against a government entity for a defective roadway require written notice within 120 days under MCL 691.1404.

Missing any of these deadlines can permanently eliminate your right to compensation. If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident in St. Clair County, contact our firm as soon as possible so we can review your options before those windows close.

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Who Is Liable in a Pedestrian Accident?

Liability in a pedestrian accident depends on what caused the crash and who was responsible for the conditions that led to it. Getting this right matters: bringing a claim against the wrong defendant can leave you without a recovery even when negligence is clear. Identifying all responsible parties from the start is a critical part of how we build these cases.

To pursue a third-party pain and suffering claim in Michigan, the pedestrian must have sustained a threshold injury: serious impairment of body function, permanent serious disfigurement, or death. Many pedestrian accident victims meet this standard, but confirming it early shapes how the case is built.

Possible defendants in a pedestrian accident case include:

The driver: Driver liability is the most common scenario. If the driver violated the law or failed to exercise reasonable care, we can pursue their insurance company for a fair settlement. Injured pedestrians may also be entitled to Michigan no-fault benefits in addition to a third-party claim.
The government: If a poorly marked crosswalk, malfunctioning traffic signal, or road design defect contributed to the crash, the government entity responsible for that roadway may be liable.
Third parties: A contractor who fails to maintain safe pedestrian passage around a work zone, or a business that blocks a sidewalk and forces pedestrians into traffic, can share responsibility for a resulting injury.

When multiple parties share responsibility, we investigate all of them. The identity of the right defendants determines where a recovery can actually be found, and we don’t leave that question unanswered.

Building a strong pedestrian accident claim requires more than a police report. Legal investigations typically involve gathering surveillance footage, eyewitness accounts, and expert testimony to establish exactly what happened and who was at fault. Surveillance footage can be overwritten quickly, and witness recollections fade. Early attorney involvement is often the difference between preserving key evidence and losing it.

The attorneys at Rowling, Partipilo & Winston know what evidence is needed and direct the investigation from the start. We represent only injured clients, never insurance companies, so our focus is entirely on building the strongest possible case for you.

Aggressive Representation for Pedestrian Accident Victims in St. Clair County

When you’re injured, fighting for fair compensation on your own is hard. Insurance companies have experienced adjusters working to protect their bottom line from day one. Our team is aggressive in negotiation and prepared to litigate if a fair settlement can’t be reached. You’ll have direct access to your attorney throughout the process, not a paralegal, not a case manager.

We’ve been standing up for injury victims in St. Clair County since 1974. Call (810) 676-9447 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

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Why Choose Rowling, Partipilo & Winston?

Justice for the Injured. Results You Can Trust.

Community-Focused Representation

We live and work in Southeastern Michigan, serving our neighbors with dedication and local expertise. We’re committed to keeping our community safer by holding negligent parties accountable.
Decades of Proven Results

Since 1974, Rowling, Partipilo, & Winston has been Michigan’s trusted personal injury firm, securing millions for victims and helping them rebuild with confidence.
Passion and Commitment in Every Case

At Rowling, Partipilo, & Winston, we handle our own cases—what you see is what you get. From consultation to courtroom, you work directly with the attorneys fighting for your rights.
More Than $10 Million Won

We don’t settle for less. With over $10 million won, we aggressively pursue the full compensation our clients deserve.
Aggressive, Client-Focused Advocacy

We never represent insurance companies—our only focus is fighting for the injured. While insurers minimize payouts, we work harder to secure the compensation you deserve.
Free Consultations

A free, no-obligation consultation is the first step toward getting the justice and compensation you deserve.

What Our Clients Are Saying What Our Clients Are Saying

Fighting for Justice Since 1974

"Thanks again!"
I am so happy I picked the right attorney! You and everyone there stuck by me and my grand-babies. Thank you for not giving up on us. I am so grateful to be able to put some money away for them from their mom… Thanks again!

- Former Client
"Cannot say enough good things!"
Attorney Nicole Winston helped my family so much after a drunk driver flipped our lives upside down. She went to bat against the Auto Insurance, the Disability Insurance and Social Security and won all three cases. We owe her so much!

- Former Client
"Thanks again for being an upstanding lawyer."
Thanks for having been so nice to my mom and me. You’re the only one that believed in her. Last night, I went out for a quiet birthday dinner and I wore the big bling ring that she bought in Florida, so she was with me. Today, I am going to the nursing home to plant a Potentilla for my mother. It’s a new color called Rosebud. I know that you worked really hard for us. Thanks again for being an upstanding lawyer.

- Former Client

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