A pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle can suffer serious injuries because there is little protection from the force of the impact or the roadway afterward.
A Sterling Heights pedestrian accident lawyer at Khamo Law can investigate how the collision happened, preserve video and witness evidence, evaluate traffic-control and crosswalk issues, identify available insurance coverage, document medical and financial losses, and pursue compensation supported by Michigan law and the facts. Pedestrian accident claims differ from ordinary car accident claims because the injured person was outside a vehicle, which can affect the insurance, injury, liability, and evidence issues that must be evaluated. If your collision involved occupants of passenger vehicles rather than a pedestrian, visit our Sterling Heights Car Accident Lawyer page.
Khamo Law has an office in Sterling Heights at:
36250 Dequindre Road
Suite 110
Sterling Heights, MI 48310
By Appointment
Call 248-466-0606 for a free consultation.
For broader injury representation, visit Khamo Law’s Sterling Heights Personal Injury Lawyers page. If the crash involved two or more vehicles rather than a pedestrian, visit our Sterling Heights Car Accident Lawyer page. For statewide information about pedestrian accident claims, Michigan law, insurance issues, liability, and compensation, visit our Michigan Pedestrian Accident Lawyer resource.
Legally reviewed by Attorney Koro E. Khamo
Founder & Managing Attorney at Khamo Law
Michigan Bar No. P80994
Pedestrian crashes in Sterling Heights may depend on traffic controls, turning movements, visibility, witnesses and nearby video evidence.
How Can a Sterling Heights Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Help?
A Sterling Heights pedestrian accident lawyer can investigate fault, preserve surveillance and witness evidence, evaluate insurance coverage, document injuries and financial losses, and respond to allegations that the pedestrian contributed to the crash.
Khamo Law can help by:
- Investigating how the collision occurred
- Obtaining available police reports
- Preserving photographs and video
- Identifying witnesses
- Looking for surveillance or dashcam footage
- Reviewing traffic controls and roadway markings
- Evaluating vehicle movement and visibility
- Reviewing available insurance coverage
- Documenting medical treatment
- Calculating lost income
- Investigating future losses
- Responding to comparative-fault allegations
- Negotiating with insurers
- Filing a lawsuit when appropriate
The investigation should focus on actual evidence rather than assumptions about either the driver or pedestrian.
Pedestrian Traffic in Sterling Heights
Sterling Heights includes major commercial corridors, shopping areas, residential neighborhoods, office areas, and wide multi-lane roads used by both drivers and pedestrians.
Important local roads include:
- Van Dyke Avenue / M-53
- Hall Road / M-59
- Mound Road
- Dequindre Road
- Schoenherr Road
- Ryan Road
- Dodge Park Road
- Metropolitan Parkway / 16 Mile Road
- 17 Mile Road
- 18 Mile Road
- Clinton River Road
Pedestrian crashes may happen near intersections, driveways, parking-lot entrances, crosswalks, commercial properties, and neighborhood streets.
The fact that an incident occurred on a busy road does not establish negligence. The location matters because it can affect traffic controls, nearby cameras, witness availability, lighting, and visibility.
Michigan Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, 2,281 pedestrians were involved in motor vehicle crashes in Michigan in 2024. Of those pedestrians, 156 were killed and 1,809 were injured.
Pedestrian crashes were especially serious compared with many other crash types. Michigan Traffic Crash Facts reports that 6.8% of pedestrians involved in crashes were killed, while 79.3% were injured.
These statistics do not establish fault in any individual Sterling Heights pedestrian accident, but they show why pedestrian crashes can lead to severe injuries and why evidence involving visibility, traffic controls, vehicle movement, and surveillance footage can matter.
Common Pedestrian Accident Scenarios
Pedestrian collisions may involve:
- Drivers turning through a crosswalk
- Vehicles failing to yield
- Left-turn accidents
- Right-turn accidents
- Distracted drivers
- Drivers backing from parking spaces
- Vehicles entering or exiting driveways
- Pedestrians crossing at intersections
- Pedestrians walking near roadway edges
- Hit-and-run drivers
The exact circumstances determine what evidence and legal rules matter.
Crosswalk Accidents
Crosswalk cases can depend heavily on:
- Traffic signals
- Pedestrian signals
- Vehicle direction
- Turning movements
- Visibility
- Lighting
- Witness statements
- Surveillance footage
- Road markings
Khamo Law already maintains a statewide resource about who may be at fault when a pedestrian is hit in a crosswalk.
Turning-Vehicle Pedestrian Accidents
A pedestrian may be struck when a driver is:
- Turning left
- Turning right
- Exiting a driveway
- Entering a parking lot
- Looking for conflicting vehicle traffic but failing to notice someone walking
Evidence from these crashes may include nearby business cameras, traffic-signal timing, witness statements, vehicle damage, and photographs of the intersection.
Parking-Lot and Driveway Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians can also be injured away from major intersections.
Crashes may occur when drivers:
- Back from parking spaces
- Travel through shopping-center lots
- Enter or leave parking structures
- Cross sidewalks while entering driveways
- Fail to notice pedestrians near storefronts or entrances
Depending on the location, surveillance footage can become especially important.
Distracted Driving
A distracted driver may fail to notice a pedestrian crossing or walking near the roadway.
Potential distractions include:
- Mobile phones
- Text messaging
- Navigation systems
- Passengers
- Vehicle controls
- Looking away from traffic
Whether distraction caused the crash should be established through evidence rather than assumed.
Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accidents
When a driver leaves the scene, identifying the vehicle may require:
- Witness information
- Nearby surveillance footage
- Dashcam video
- Vehicle description
- Partial license-plate information
- Police investigation
- Physical evidence
Insurance coverage may also become important when the driver cannot immediately be identified.
Who May Be Liable for a Sterling Heights Pedestrian Accident?
Depending on the evidence, liability for a Sterling Heights pedestrian accident may fall on a negligent driver, commercial driver or trucking company, vehicle owner when Michigan law permits, or another person or business whose conduct contributed to the collision.
- A negligent driver
- More than one driver
- A commercial driver
- A trucking company
- A vehicle owner when Michigan law permits
- Another person or company whose conduct legally contributed to the collision
The pedestrian’s presence does not by itself establish that the driver was responsible.
Liability should be based on traffic rules, vehicle movements, pedestrian conduct, visibility, and other evidence.
Michigan Pedestrian Law
Michigan law governs the duties of drivers and pedestrians throughout the state.
Rather than repeating statewide pedestrian rules on every city page, Khamo Law maintains a dedicated Michigan pedestrian laws resource.
Comparative Fault
Insurance companies may argue that a pedestrian contributed to the collision.
Potential allegations can involve:
- Crossing location
- Traffic signals
- Visibility
- Entering the roadway
- Distraction
- Timing
Michigan comparative-fault rules may affect certain damages when more than one person contributed to an accident.
That makes objective evidence especially important.
Evidence That May Matter
Potential pedestrian-accident evidence includes:
- Police reports
- Scene photographs
- Vehicle damage
- Witness statements
- Surveillance footage
- Dashcam footage
- Traffic-signal information
- Crosswalk markings
- Pedestrian signals
- Lighting conditions
- Medical records
- Medical bills
- Employment records
- Wage documentation
- Insurance policies and communications
Some of this evidence can disappear quickly.
Why Surveillance Footage Matters
Pedestrian crashes often occur near businesses, residential cameras, parking facilities, and major intersections.
Video may show:
- Vehicle speed or movement
- Whether a driver turned
- Whether a pedestrian was already in the roadway
- Traffic-signal conditions
- Visibility
- What happened immediately before impact
Footage may be overwritten, so potential camera locations should be identified promptly.
Common Pedestrian Injuries
Pedestrian collisions can cause injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Leg injuries
- Hip injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Internal injuries
- Nerve damage
- Scarring
- Permanent impairment
For serious neurological injuries, Khamo Law also maintains dedicated Sterling Heights Brain Injury Attorney and Sterling Heights Spinal Cord Injury Attorney pages.
Fatal Pedestrian Accidents
Some pedestrian collisions cause fatal injuries.
When legally actionable conduct causes a death, Michigan wrongful-death law may apply.
Families can visit our Sterling Heights Wrongful Death Attorney page for fatal-accident claims.
Does Michigan No-Fault Insurance Apply After a Pedestrian Accident?
Yes, Michigan No-Fault benefits may apply when a pedestrian is injured by a motor vehicle. Eligibility and priority can depend on the circumstances of the crash and the available insurance coverage.
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services provides official Michigan automobile-insurance information.
Claims Against the At-Fault Driver
A pedestrian injured because another driver caused a collision may have claims against the responsible driver when Michigan law permits.
Potential issues include:
- Fault
- Injury severity
- Medical treatment
- Lost income
- Future care
- Insurance coverage
- Pain and suffering
- Long-term limitations
The actual claims depend on the evidence and applicable law.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Sterling Heights Pedestrian Accident?
Depending on the facts, injuries, insurance coverage, and Michigan law, compensation after a Sterling Heights pedestrian accident may include medical expenses, lost wages, future care, pain and suffering, disability, scarring, and other legally recoverable losses.
- Medical expenses
- Future medical care
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering when legally recoverable
- Disability
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Loss of normal activities
- Other legally recoverable damages
There is no standard settlement value for a Sterling Heights pedestrian-accident case.
Potential recovery depends on liability, injuries, treatment, future needs, insurance coverage, and other evidence.
What Should You Do After a Pedestrian Accident?
Your health and safety come first.
When circumstances allow:
- Move to a safe location if possible.
- Call 911 when emergency assistance is needed.
- Seek appropriate medical care.
- Identify the vehicle and driver when possible.
- Photograph the scene if it is safe.
- Obtain witness information.
- Look for nearby surveillance cameras.
- Preserve damaged clothing or personal property when relevant.
- Keep medical records and bills.
- Save insurance communications.
- Document missed work.
- Avoid signing settlement documents you do not understand.
Do not place yourself in danger while gathering evidence.
Sterling Heights Police and Accident Records
Pedestrian collisions occurring within Sterling Heights may generate local police records.
The City’s Crime and Accident Reports resources explain how to obtain available reports.
A police report can help document the event but does not necessarily resolve all civil-liability questions.
Sterling Heights Pedestrian Crash Evidence
Sterling Heights pedestrian cases may involve evidence from:
- Commercial corridors
- Shopping areas
- Parking lots
- Residential properties
- Traffic intersections
- Nearby businesses
- Private security cameras
An existing Khamo Law article about a pedestrian crash near Canal and Delco in Sterling Heights illustrates why local reporting, witnesses, and police investigation can matter after a serious pedestrian incident.
Why Choose Khamo Law After a Sterling Heights Pedestrian Accident?
Pedestrian cases can involve serious injuries, disputed liability, crosswalk and traffic-control evidence, surveillance footage, insurance issues, and allegations that the injured pedestrian contributed to the collision.
Khamo Law can investigate:
- How the crash happened
- What the driver was doing
- What witnesses observed
- Whether video exists
- What traffic controls were present
- What insurance policies may apply
- How the injuries affect work and daily life
- What current and future losses should be documented
Khamo Law has an office in Sterling Heights at:
36250 Dequindre Road
Suite 110
Sterling Heights, MI 48310
By Appointment
Personal-injury matters are handled on a contingency-fee basis.
Call 248-466-0606 for a free consultation.
Sterling Heights Pedestrian Accident Lawyer FAQs
What if I was hit while crossing in a crosswalk?
Liability depends on the traffic controls, vehicle movement, pedestrian movement, visibility, and other evidence. Crosswalk cases should be investigated from the specific facts.
What if I was crossing outside a marked crosswalk?
Crossing location can become relevant, but it does not automatically determine every liability or damages issue. The full circumstances should be evaluated.
Can Michigan No-Fault benefits apply to a pedestrian?
Potentially. Pedestrians injured by motor vehicles may qualify for No-Fault benefits depending on the circumstances and applicable priority rules.
What should I do if I was hit by a car while walking in Sterling Heights?
Seek appropriate medical care and report the collision. When it is safe to do so, preserve photographs, witness information, the driver’s identifying and insurance information, and information about nearby surveillance cameras. Keep medical records, bills, wage-loss documentation, and insurance correspondence. Because video and other evidence may disappear, identifying potential evidence promptly can be important.
What if the driver says they did not see me?
The case should be evaluated using available evidence, including video, witnesses, lighting, roadway conditions, and driver movement.
What if the driver left the scene?
Report the hit-and-run promptly. Video, witnesses, vehicle descriptions, and insurance coverage may become especially important.
Can I recover lost wages?
Potentially. Available wage-loss benefits or damages depend on the applicable insurance and legal claims.
What evidence should I save?
Photographs, video, witness information, police reports, medical records, wage records, insurance correspondence, and damaged personal items may all be relevant.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit?
In Michigan, many pedestrian-accident personal-injury lawsuits generally must be filed within three years of the injury under MCL 600.5805. Different deadlines or notice requirements may apply depending on the claim and the parties involved.
How much is my pedestrian case worth?
There is no standard amount. Potential value depends on fault, injuries, medical treatment, future care, lost income, insurance coverage, and other evidence.
How much does Khamo Law charge?
Khamo Law handles personal-injury matters on a contingency-fee basis. Attorney fees depend on obtaining a recovery rather than hourly billing throughout the case.
Speak With a Sterling Heights Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you were injured while walking in Sterling Heights because of a motor vehicle collision, Khamo Law can investigate what happened, preserve important evidence, evaluate available insurance coverage, respond to fault allegations, and pursue compensation supported by Michigan law and the facts.
Call 248-466-0606 or contact Khamo Law online for a free consultation.