If you or someone you love was injured or killed in a pedestrian accident, it is up to you to understand your rights and to determine if another driver or other third party can be held accountable for the harm that has come to you. Drafahl Law Firm can help you to navigate the legal system, identify defendants who are to blame and fight to get you compensation for your losses.
To find out more about the assistance our injury lawyers in St. Louis can offer, call us at (314) 300-6260 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a caring and compassionate member of our legal team.
Injured in a Pedestrian Accident?
Contact a Lawyer at Drafahl Law Firm Today
Choosing Drafahl Law Firm To Be Your St. Louis Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that 130 pedestrians were killed and 1,128 pedestrians were injured over the course of a year on the state’s roads. Pedestrians are unprotected from the force or impact of a crash because they have no vehicle around with safety equipment to keep them safe.
Drafahl Law Firm is uniquely qualified to represent you after a pedestrian crash because of the skill and experience we bring to the table. You should place your trust in our firm because:
- We offer compassionate representation, with clients indicating they felt like family and praising the fact that we went the extra mile to recover more compensation than they thought possible.
- We can represent you in and out of court, as we have trial experience and have been named among the Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers, and we are also skilled negotiators.
- We are members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocate Forum because of the large verdicts we have managed to successfully recover for plaintiffs in pedestrian accident claims.
Awards & Memberships
How A Lawyer Can Help You Handle Your Pedestrian Accident Case
Our firm is committed to helping pedestrians recover full and fair compensation so they can be “made whole” after a collision. This means being paid for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
We offer the legal advocacy you need and deserve to maximize your chances of a successful outcome. The services we provide include:
- Filing your claim within the five-year statute of limitations established under Missouri Code section 516.120 so your claim is not time-barred.
- Working with you to gather the necessary evidence to prove your claim, including showing that another driver was unreasonably negligent or was careless in a way that led to your accident.
- Developing a sound legal strategy to maximize your compensation, whether that means going to court or negotiating an out-of-court settlement with the insurer of the driver who was to blame for the crash.
- Proving the extent of your damages so you can maximize the compensation you receive and have enough to rebuild your life in the aftermath of the accident.
Pedestrian accidents often cause injuries due to the size difference between vehicle and a person. If you or a loved one was hit by a car while walking across a crosswalk, contact our St. Louis torn ligament and soft tissue injury lawyer to fight maximum compensation.
You deserve an advocate you can trust, and Drafahl Law Firm is here to provide the supportive representation you need from day one. Your consultation is always free and we never charge legal fees if we don’t recover compensation for you, so you have nothing to lose by getting help.
St. Louis Pedestrian Accident Statistics
Pedestrian accidents are both alarmingly common and extremely dangerous in busy cities like St. Louis. Every day, people on foot are put at risk. According to a recent crash report from Trailnet:
- 23 pedestrians were killed in the city in the past year, while 36 lost their lives in the county in 2024.
- These numbers represent a staggering 187% increase in the city and a 24% increase in the county compared to earlier totals.
- As of October 8, 2025, at least 169 people died in the St. Louis region as a result of car accidents. At least 25% of those who lost their lives were pedestrians, according to MoDOT.
These rising statistics highlight a crisis that demands urgent action from city leaders, drivers, and the entire community.
Leading Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Trailnet’s report did not simply count deaths – it also looked at why St. Louis has become so hazardous for people walking or using non-motorized forms of transportation. Common causes include:
High Vehicle Speeds on Major Streets
Many St. Louis thoroughfares allow vehicles to travel at unsafe speeds, increasing both the likelihood and severity of crashes involving pedestrians. Fast-moving cars reduce everyone’s reaction time, making dangerous collisions more common.
Dangerous or Poorly Placed Pedestrian Crossings
Pedestrian crossings that are faded, blocked by obstacles, or placed too far from where people naturally want to cross create hot spots for accidents. If drivers aren’t looking or crossings don’t provide actual pause in traffic accidents become much more likely.
Limited Infrastructure for Both Bikes and Non-Drivers
A lack of protected bike lanes, proper sidewalks, and accessible pathways forces walkers, wheelchair users, and cyclists to share space with traffic or retreat to unsafe spots.
Until St. Louis’s infrastructure balances the needs of all road users, these groups remain especially vulnerable.
To address the crisis, Trailnet’s report also provided several solutions to help protect the most vulnerable on our streets:
Increasing Traffic Calming Devices on Busy Roads and Intersections
Installing speed humps, narrowing traffic lanes, adding curb extensions, and redesigning intersections truly slow cars, giving pedestrians more space and a safer crossing experience.
Combatting Distracted Driving as a Community‑Wide Priority
Launching confrontational education campaigns, stiffer penalties, and support for personal responsibility may reduce texting and other distracting behaviors while people are driving.
Promoting Education and Direct Engagement on Pedestrian Safety Issues
Programs aimed at children, commuters, business groups, and policy-makers can change habits and help people understand how to be safe when crossing the road or walking near vehicles. Addressing these root causes can dramatically reduce the city’s pedestrian accidents.
Enforcing Lower Speed Limits Where Collisions Are Common
By reducing speed limits in areas known for frequent accidents, especially along dangerous corridors, the city can lower the chance of life-threatening impacts and make roads less hazardous for those on foot.
Deadline for Filing a Pedestrian Accident Claim
The deadline for taking legal action after a pedestrian accident in Missouri is governed by something called the “statute of limitations.” The statute of limitations is the law that sets a fixed window of time for an injured person to file a lawsuit. If you miss the deadline, your claim may be permanently barred, even if your injuries are serious and the other party is at fault.
In most St. Louis pedestrian accident cases, you have five years from the date of the injury to file a claim in civil court.
What actions within five years. — Within five years:
(4) An action for taking, detaining or injuring any goods or chattels, including actions for the recovery of specific personal property, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract and not herein otherwise enumerated;
However, there are several exceptions where the deadline can be either extended or shortened.
Under 21 Years Old/Disability
If the person injured is under 21 at the time of the accident, the five-year statute of limitations is paused (tolled) until they turn 21. Only after their 21st birthday does the five-year deadline start to run.
If the injured party suffers from a legal disability at the time of the crash, such as a significant mental impairment or another recognized condition, the statute of limitations is paused. The clock begins only once the disability is lifted or resolved.
516.170. May delay filing of action, when. — Except as provided in section 516.105, if any person entitled to bring an action in sections 516.100 to 516.370specified, at the time the cause of action accrued be either within the age of twenty-one years, or mentally incapacitated, such person shall be at liberty to bring such actions within the respective times in sections 516.100 to 516.370limited after such disability is removed.
Defendant Leaves the State
If the at-fault driver or defendant leaves Missouri after the accident but before you file a claim, the time they spend outside the state generally does not count against the statute of limitations. Your deadline may be extended while they are absent.
Fraudulent Concealment/Discovery Rule
If the person or party responsible for your injury tries to hide or cover up their involvement, the statute of limitations is “tolled” until the injury or their wrongdoing is discovered (or reasonably should have been discovered). This also covers cases where you couldn’t have known right away about the full extent or cause of your injury – the clock starts running from when you became aware, or should have become aware, of your legal claim.
Claims Involving a Government Entity
If your claim is against a government agency or employee, strict notice and timing rules apply. In these cases, you generally must file a formal notice within 90 days of the incident – much sooner than in private party cases. The statute of limitations is then usually 3 years, not 5. Failing to meet this deadline can block your right to compensation.
Missouri’s statute of limitations laws can be complex, with severe consequences if deadlines are missed. It’s always a smart idea to consult an experienced attorney soon after an accident so you don’t miss out on your chance to file a lawsuit.
Potential Compensation in a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit
If you’re hurt in a pedestrian accident and it was caused by someone else’s negligence, you could be entitled to recover compensation through an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. Here’s what you may be able to obtain:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are tangible losses that you can generally prove with bills, receipts, employment records, repair invoices, and other documents. These damages are designed to make you financially whole and put you in a similar position as you were in before the accident. Common types include:
- Medical bills: Hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, prescriptions, mileage for travel to appointments.
- Future healthcare costs: Ongoing medical treatment, in-home nursing, or future surgeries your doctor expects you’ll need.
- Lost wages: Paychecks missed during time you were unable to work due to your injuries.
- Loss of earning capacity: If your injuries permanently limit the kind of work you can do, or reduce your ability to work as many hours as before.
- Property damage: Repairs or replacement for personal belongings destroyed in the crash.
Economic damages help you get back to where you were before the accident so you aren’t left handling the financial burden all on your own.
Noneconomic Damages
Noneconomic damages are about the real but less easily measured effects of your injuries. This often includes:
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for lasting physical pain caused by your injuries.
- Loss of enjoyment: Damages for being unable to participate in activities or hobbies you used to enjoy.
- Emotional distress: Anxiety, depression, fear, or other stress related to your accident and injuries.
- Disfigurement or disability: Compensation for any scarring or disfigurement you experience as a result of the accident.
- Impact on family/relationships: Loss of companionship, comfort, guidance, or intimacy, generally known as “loss of consortium.”
Placing value on these losses is harder, but these are the damages that address just how dramatically your everyday quality of life has changed.
Punitive Damages
In rare and especially severe cases, punitive damages may also be considered if you’re involved in a pedestrian accident in St. Louis. These damages are not intended to compensate you, but instead to send a message and punish actions where the defendant either intentionally harmed you without any just cause, or acted with a deliberate and flagrant disregard for your safety.
510.261. Punitive damages, restrictions on award of — proper award, when — civil actions, initial pleading not to contain claim for punitive damage award. — 1. Except as otherwise provided by statute, punitive damages shall not be awarded unless the claimant proves by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant intentionally harmed the plaintiff without just cause or acted with a deliberate and flagrant disregard for the safety of others.
Understanding each type of compensation can help guide your claim and gives you a better chance of getting the resources you need to be able to focus on getting better for good.
Timeline for a Pedestrian Accident Case
From the moment a pedestrian accident occurs to a final verdict or settlement, the legal process follows several key phases. Each step after an injury impacts both your recovery and your ability to receive fair compensation. The specifics change depending on the circumstances of your case, but here’s an overview of what this usually looks like:
Right After the Accident
If you’re hit by a car, the first moments are about safety. You’ll usually get medical help right away and the police will respond. They write their report and might speak to drivers, witnesses, or collect pictures and info at the scene. Early injuries like cuts or broken bones show up fast, but some things (such as neck or internal injuries) might not become apparent until later on.
What Happens in the First Week
Within a few days, you’ll start follow-up healthcare: maybe an ER visit, x-rays, or seeing your regular doctor as you notice more pain. You (or a family member) should ask for the police accident report once it’s available.
The Next Few Weeks: Building Your Case and Filing an Insurance Claim
As your St. Louis car accident lawyer gets involved, you’ll help track down more evidence, like camera footage from nearby businesses and witness statements. Also, keep track of all doctor’s notes and bills that you receive over the coming weeks. Your lawyer can help you file an insurance claim as well.
Starting Settlement Talks
Your lawyer will make sure they send a demand letter to your insurance company requesting the compensation you believe you are entitled to for your injuries. Sometimes, they’ll agree, and your case can be settled (though this may take some back and forth).
File a Lawsuit if No Agreement is Reached
Sometimes, insurance won’t pay what you truly deserve. That’s when paperwork for a lawsuit is filed by your lawyer. Make sure this is done before the deadline, which is usually 5 years in Missouri.
Discovery
Once the lawsuit is filed, your lawyer will engage in a process called discovery. This is where they and the other side share documents, send questions for each other to answer, and take depositions. The goal is to uncover as much evidence as possible and see the strengths and weaknesses of your claim.
Mediation
Before a trial happens, the court will often require or strongly encourage you to go to mediation with the other party and try to settle the case again. Many claims will settle here even though a lawsuit has been filed.
Go to Trial
If settlement is still out of reach, your case ends up in trial. Your attorney presents every piece of evidence, experts may testify on your behalf, witnesses get called, and a jury (or sometimes just a judge) makes the final decision about fault and compensation.
Handling a pedestrian injury case is complicated, but each step moves you closer to justice and a possible recovery. With a good lawyer supporting the process, you have a chance of obtaining the compensation needed for your recovery.
Reach Out
Just give us a call today at (314) 300-6260 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and learn more about the advocacy our St. Louis pedestrian accident lawyers can offer.