Louisville Pedestrian Accidents

Plaintiff-Only Attorneys Who Know How the Defense Thinks

When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, there’s no crumple zone, no airbag, no seatbelt. The injuries are almost always severe, and the financial pressure that follows comes fast. The at-fault driver’s insurer may move quickly to contact you, often before the full extent of your injuries is known, hoping you’ll accept a low settlement and walk away.

We’re Brownfield Dufour PLLC, a Louisville personal injury law firm established in 2016. We represent only plaintiffs in personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Before founding our firm, Brian Brownfield represented hospitals, insurance carriers, and major corporations. That experience tells us how defense teams evaluate pedestrian accident claims and what arguments they use to limit payouts, and we use that knowledge to build stronger cases for our clients. If you’ve been hurt, call or text us at (502) 822-5584 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Louisville

Most pedestrian accidents in Jefferson County come down to a driver who failed to pay attention, slow down, or follow the law. Under KRS 189.570, when traffic control signals are not in place or in operation, drivers must yield to pedestrians in both marked and unmarked crosswalks at intersections. Violations of that duty are at the center of most cases we handle.

Common driver behaviors that lead to collisions include:

• Distracted driving: Phone use, in-car screens, and other distractions prevent drivers from seeing pedestrians in their path until it’s too late.
• Failure to yield at crosswalks: Drivers who ignore pedestrian right-of-way at intersections account for a significant share of Louisville pedestrian strikes.
• Speeding in residential and school zones: Higher speeds reduce reaction time and dramatically increase injury severity when a collision occurs.
• Impaired and drowsy driving: Louisville’s Vision Zero data shows pedestrian accidents represent roughly 20% of the city’s total traffic accidents, with impaired driving a recurring factor, particularly at night.
• Left-turn and right-turn strikes: Drivers focused on gaps in oncoming traffic often don’t check for pedestrians in the crosswalk.
• Hit-and-run collisions: When the at-fault driver flees, victims may still seek compensation through their own uninsured motorist coverage.
• Dangerous road and sidewalk conditions: Poorly maintained crosswalks or infrastructure in Jefferson County can create municipal liability alongside driver negligence.

Regardless of how the collision happened, we investigate every contributing factor and identify every party whose negligence may have played a role.

Injuries Pedestrians Suffer & What They Cost

Louisville’s Vision Zero data recorded 31 pedestrian fatalities and 118 serious pedestrian and cyclist injuries in 2023 alone. Statewide, Kentucky documented 1,357 pedestrian-involved collisions that year, resulting in 112 deaths. These numbers reflect the reality that pedestrian collisions cause some of the most catastrophic injuries seen in personal injury litigation.

Common injuries in pedestrian accident cases include:

• Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions and diffuse axonal injury
• Spinal cord injuries that may result in partial or complete paralysis
• Multiple fractures, particularly to the legs, pelvis, and arms
• Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
• Severe lacerations and road rash requiring surgical treatment

Recoverable damages in a Kentucky pedestrian accident case include medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, long-term care costs, and pain and suffering. When a pedestrian is killed, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim under KRS 411.130. We’ve handled serious and catastrophic injury cases and know how to document and present the full picture of what our clients have lost.

Kentucky Law & Your Pedestrian Accident Claim

Kentucky’s no-fault auto insurance system works differently in pedestrian cases than in car-on-car collisions. Pedestrians who aren’t named insureds on a Kentucky auto policy generally aren’t restricted to their own PIP (personal injury protection) coverage and may pursue the at-fault driver directly. All Kentucky drivers must carry a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage. If a pedestrian is a named insured on a Kentucky auto policy, their PIP may also provide benefits.

Several additional legal rules shape how these claims unfold:

• Pure comparative negligence: Kentucky uses a pure comparative negligence system. Even if a pedestrian is found partially at fault, they can still seek compensation, reduced proportionally by their percentage of fault. Defense teams routinely argue pedestrian fault to reduce payouts. We prepare to counter those arguments from the start.
• Uninsured and underinsured drivers: If the at-fault driver has no coverage or insufficient coverage, you may be able to seek recovery through your own UM/UIM policy or through the Kentucky Assigned Claims Plan.
• Filing deadline: For most pedestrian accident personal injury claims, Kentucky law requires filing within one year of the date of injury under KRS 413.140(1). This deadline moves faster than people expect, especially when you’re focused on recovery. Waiting too long can bar your claim, which is why speaking with an attorney as early as possible matters.

Why Louisville Pedestrian Accident Victims Choose Brownfield Dufour PLLC

Our practice is built entirely around injured clients. Every process, every strategy, and every staff decision in our firm exists to serve people who have been hurt, not to defend the corporations and insurers on the other side. That focus is rare, and it makes a real difference in how we approach pedestrian accident cases in Louisville.

What Sets Our Firm Apart

• Defense-side insight: Brian Brownfield’s background representing hospitals, insurers, and corporations gives us a direct line into how defense teams think. We anticipate their arguments and structure our cases to address them before they become problems.
• Demonstrated results: We have achieved multiple seven-figure settlements, reflecting consistent capability at the highest levels of personal injury litigation. Past results don’t guarantee future outcomes, but they reflect the preparation we bring to every case.
• Super Lawyers recognition: Both partners have been consistently recognized by Super Lawyers, a reflection of sustained performance and peer reputation built through years of hard-fought cases.
• Genuine personal care: Our attorneys and staff have personally accompanied clients to appointments and check-ins in serious injury cases. Clients tell us they were treated with dignity and felt like people, not case numbers, from the first call through resolution.
• Full case management: We handle everything, from insurance claims and paperwork to negotiations and, if necessary, trial, so clients can focus on recovery.
• Clear, consistent communication: Calls and texts are returned quickly. Clients are kept informed at every stage and know where their case stands and what comes next.

Rooted in Louisville & Jefferson County

We’re based in Louisville and have maintained a stable presence serving Jefferson County for years. We know the local courts, the local roads, and the conditions that produce these collisions.

Speak with a Louisville Pedestrian Accident Attorney Today

For most pedestrian accident personal injury claims, Kentucky’s one-year filing deadline under KRS 413.140(1) moves quickly, especially when you’re focused on recovering from a serious injury. The sooner you speak with us, the more time we have to gather evidence, identify all responsible parties, and build the case before the other side gets too far ahead.

We offer free, no-obligation consultations and are reachable by phone, text, or online. There’s no fee unless we recover for you. Call or text our pedestrian accident lawyers in Louisville today at (502) 822-5584 to get started.