Being hit by a car while walking can leave you with serious injuries and mounting medical bills. You should not have to carry that weight alone. If you are searching for a Grand Rapids pedestrian accident lawyer, the team at Christensen Law is ready to listen to your story, protect your rights, and pursue the full recovery you deserve.
We have advocated for injured Michiganders since 1991, and our trial record includes a $17.8 million motor vehicle verdict and a $9.5 million wrongful death recovery. Pedestrian crashes often leave people with catastrophic injuries, from traumatic brain injuries to spinal cord damage, so you need a team that treats your case with real care.
Our attorneys treat every client like family, and we handle the insurance side, so you can focus on healing. Many of these cases begin the same way a serious Grand Rapids car accident does, with a driver who was not paying attention. When you are ready, call Christensen Law 24/7 at (616) 512-0718 for a free, no-risk consultation.
CHRISTENSEN LAW HAS A 24 HOUR RAPID RESPONSE SERVICE
How Can a Grand Rapids Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Help You?
A Grand Rapids pedestrian accident lawyer helps you by handling the insurance claim, proving how the crash happened, and pursuing every source of compensation, so you can focus on your recovery. After a pedestrian crash, insurance companies often move quickly to limit what they pay.
They may request a recorded statement, push an early settlement, or ask you to attend an independent medical exam. We deal with these requests on your behalf, and we protect you from tactics designed to reduce your claim.
Our work also includes gathering evidence before it disappears. We preserve traffic camera footage, locate witnesses, and document the scene where you were struck. This groundwork often makes the difference between a lowball offer and a full recovery.
We believe injured people deserve real answers, not empty promises. From your first call, you will get honest guidance about your options under Michigan law, and that is the heart of our Listen, Protect, Win philosophy.
The Christensen Law Difference for Injured Pedestrians
Christensen Law stands apart because we prepare every pedestrian case for trial, treat clients like family, and bring decades of courtroom results to the table. We are not a volume settlement mill, and we do not treat people like case numbers.
- Proven trial results. Firm founder David Christensen is a Michigan Hall of Fame attorney, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and holds AV Preeminent status from Martindale-Hubbell.
- Recognized leadership. Managing Partner Sarah Stempky-Kime is an ABOTA member and a recognized Leader in the Law who has guided many serious injury cases to strong outcomes.
- Client-first care. We keep you informed at every step, and consultations are always free, so you owe us nothing unless we win.
- Local trust. Our Grand Rapids office holds a 4.9 to 5.0 review rating, and we serve clients across Kent County and the state.
Sarah Stempky-Kime puts it simply: the client is the most important part of every case, followed by the defendant and their own conduct. We let the treatment team do the talking, and we let the at-fault party’s actions speak for themselves. If you want a team that fights like this for you, call us 24/7 for a free consultation.
Where Do Grand Rapids Pedestrian Accidents Happen?
Grand Rapids pedestrian accidents happen most often along busy corridors, at downtown intersections, and in crosswalks where drivers fail to yield. Foot traffic and vehicle traffic mix closely across much of Kent County, and that raises the risk for people on foot.
Downtown sees heavy pedestrian activity near Monroe Center, Rosa Parks Circle, and Van Andel Arena, especially on event nights. The Michigan Street corridor along the Medical Mile draws thousands of walkers each day, from patients to hospital staff.
Wide, fast corridors create another kind of danger. Streets such as Division Avenue and 28th Street carry high speeds and many lanes, which leaves little room for error when someone crosses.
Under Michigan law, drivers must yield to people lawfully in a crosswalk at a signal, a rule set out in the state’s traffic signal statute. When a driver ignores that duty, the results for a pedestrian can be devastating, and our team is ready to help you hold that driver accountable.
Common Types of Pedestrian Crashes Our Team Handles
Our Grand Rapids pedestrian injury attorneys handle the full range of crashes, from crosswalk collisions to hit-and-run cases involving children and older adults. Each type carries its own challenges, and each calls for a tailored approach.
- Crosswalk collisions. Drivers who turn without looking or roll through a signal often strike people who had the right of way, so these cases frequently turn on witness accounts and camera footage.
- Hit-and-run crashes. When a driver flees, we move fast to find them, and we help you pursue benefits even if the driver is never identified.
- Child pedestrian injuries. Children near schools, parks, and bus stops face serious risk, and their injuries deserve careful, compassionate handling.
- Elderly pedestrian injuries. Older adults are more likely to suffer lasting harm, and their cases often involve complex, long-term medical needs.
- Backing and parking lot crashes. Drivers who fail to check behind them can seriously injure people in lots and driveways.
No matter how your crash happened, we build your case with the detail a courtroom demands. As a Grand Rapids crosswalk accident attorney team, we know how to trace the crash back to the responsible driver.
Do No-Fault Benefits Cover Pedestrians Struck While Walking?
Yes. In Michigan, a pedestrian struck by a car can still receive no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, even though you were not inside a vehicle. These benefits help pay for medical care and lost wages, no matter who caused the crash.
Michigan’s no-fault insurance system works differently from most states. When you are struck while walking, the priority rules generally point first to your own auto policy, then to a policy held by a spouse or a resident relative in your home.
If no such coverage exists, you may claim through the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan, the state’s backstop for injured people who are not in a vehicle. These rules decide who pays for your care, and getting them wrong can delay treatment for months.
Our team sorts out priority quickly, so your bills and wage loss are covered while your case moves forward. This is exactly the kind of question we answer every day for people struck while walking who need Kent County no-fault benefits.
For a broader look at how these claims work statewide, our attorneys also handle Michigan pedestrian accident claims across the state. If you are unsure which policy applies, we can help you find out at no cost.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Pedestrian Crash?
After a pedestrian crash in Grand Rapids, you may recover both no-fault PIP benefits and, in serious cases, additional money from the at-fault driver for pain and suffering. The right combination depends on the severity of your injuries and the facts of the crash.
PIP benefits cover economic losses such as medical treatment, attendant care, and lost income. These first-party benefits can also pay for replacement services and mileage to appointments while you heal.
For a person hit by a car in Grand Rapids, this compensation can be a lifeline during a long recovery. We track every accident-related cost, so nothing you are owed slips through the cracks.
When injuries are severe, Michigan law also allows a third-party lawsuit against the driver who caused the crash. This claim can recover pain and suffering, disfigurement, and other non-economic harm that PIP does not cover.
One important detail is fault. Under Michigan’s comparative fault rule, you can still recover even if you were partly to blame, as long as you were not more than 50% at fault. Insurance companies know this, so they often try to shift blame onto the injured person, and we push back with evidence to protect the value of your claim.
How Our Grand Rapids Pedestrian Injury Attorneys Build Your Case
Our Grand Rapids pedestrian injury attorneys build your case by starting with your story, documenting your injuries through your treatment team, and letting the at-fault driver’s own conduct show what happened. This approach has produced record results for our clients since 1991.
In our decades of trial work, we have learned that the strongest cases rest on real evidence, not exaggeration. We coordinate with your doctors, therapists, and specialists, so the record reflects the true scope of your injuries.
We also secure police reports, crash data, and safety information, including guidance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Sarah Stempky-Kime describes our method well: no single witness makes or breaks a case, because your experience and the driver’s conduct tell the story.
We let the treatment team do the talking, and we hold the responsible driver accountable through their own actions. From investigation to settlement or trial, we prepare every pedestrian case as if it will be decided by a jury.
That readiness is why insurance companies take our cases seriously. When you hire us, you get a team that treats your recovery as its own mission, and that will not back down.
Serving Pedestrian Victims Across Grand Rapids and Kent County
We serve injured pedestrians throughout Grand Rapids and Kent County from our office on Hall Street SW, and we are available around the clock. Wherever your crash happened, our team can come to you when you cannot come to us.
Our Grand Rapids office sits at 401 Hall St SW, Suite 185L, close to the neighborhoods and corridors where many pedestrian crashes occur. We also serve clients from our offices in Southfield, Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Troy.
You should never feel rushed or unheard during one of the hardest times of your life. We answer questions in plain language, and we keep you informed at every step, so call our Grand Rapids team at (616) 512-0718 whenever you are ready to talk.
Grand Rapids Pedestrian Accident Lawyer FAQs
Here are answers to questions we often hear from injured pedestrians and their families in Grand Rapids.
Our pedestrian accident cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing upfront, and we only collect a fee if we recover money for you. Consultations are always free, so there is no risk in calling to learn where you stand.
Michigan sets strict deadlines for both no-fault benefits and injury lawsuits, and they are not the same. No-fault PIP claims generally must be started within one year, while other claims follow different time limits. Because missing a deadline can end your case, it is wise to speak with an attorney soon after your crash.
You may still have options after a hit-and-run, even if the driver is never found. Michigan’s no-fault system can provide PIP benefits to injured pedestrians in these situations, and we help you pursue every available source. Reporting the crash to police quickly also helps protect your claim.
Possibly. Michigan’s comparative fault rule allows recovery even when a pedestrian shares some blame, as long as you were not more than 50% at fault. The details matter, so it is worth having a lawyer review exactly how your crash happened.
In most cases, no-fault PIP benefits pay for your accident-related medical care, regardless of who caused the crash. The correct insurer depends on the priority rules for people injured while not in a vehicle, and we identify the right policy quickly, so your treatment is not delayed.
While you are not required to hire a lawyer, serious pedestrian cases involve complex no-fault rules and firm insurers. Having an attorney who prepares for trial often changes how your claim is valued, and a free consultation is a low-risk way to decide what is right for you.
Talk to Our Grand Rapids Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Today
If a driver’s carelessness left you or someone you love injured while walking, you do not have to face what comes next alone. At Christensen Law, we listen with compassion, protect your rights, and fight for the full recovery you deserve. Our team has stood up for injured Michiganders since 1991, and we are ready to stand up for you.
Call us 24/7 at (616) 512-0718 for a free, no-risk consultation. There is no fee unless we win, and there is no pressure, just honest answers about your case.
Serving all of Michigan, from the D to the UP.
