Schedule a free consultation 212-566- 1000

New York City Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

New York is a city of pedestrians. Around Central Park, Fifth Avenue, and throughout busy roadways, many find traveling by foot to be a far more convenient mode of transportation than a car. Walking is not only more convenient, but it is cost-effective and generally safer. 

However, the fact that tens of thousands of cars travel on roadways throughout the city each day means there are a lot of cars striking pedestrians. Motorists must yield the right of way and drive with due caution. Nevertheless, pedestrians are at the mercy of impatient, distracted, and reckless drivers. 

Each year, pedestrian accidents send thousands of people in New York City to area hospitals with injuries. These incidents are often life-altering as they leave pedestrians with severe injuries that require immediate and long-term medical treatment. 

Not only are victims left with overwhelming pain and suffering, but they often face towering medical costs while being forced out of work to recover. If you have been injured in an accident, due to another person's reckless or negligent actions, it is crucial that you seek legal guidance from a knowledgeable legal team who will fight on your behalf to ensure your best interests are protected as you focus on recovering. 

At Sullivan & Brill, LLP, we hold motor vehicle drivers accountable for causing serious injuries. Our pedestrian accident attorneys have obtained favorable settlements on behalf of adults and children struck by negligent motorists.

Since 2001, our New York City accident lawyers at Sullivan & Brill, LLP have been helping New Yorkers obtain just compensation for injuries sustained when a pedestrian is hit by a car, truck, or another vehicle. If you have been injured in an accident as a result of a negligent or reckless driver, contact our pedestrian accident attorneys in New York City as soon as possible. Our team is available to meet with you and discuss the legal options available for you.

Experienced Advocacy for Injured Victims

Although drivers must yield to foot traffic, the true at-fault party often tries to blame the victim. If they succeed in establishing comparative negligence of the pedestrian, the victim's compensation can be reduced accordingly.

Led by trial lawyer Joseph F. Sullivan, our legal team has recovered many verdicts and settlements in all types of auto accidents, including pedestrian accident cases. One example of our determined diligence can be found in the $320,000 jury award for a woman struck by a bicycle crossing Columbus Avenue in New York City.

We know that pedestrians suffer serious and often disabling injuries in accidents. We also understand the immediate and long-term impacts these accidents can have on victims and their families. For this reason, our pedestrian accident attorneys in New York City provide an array of services to our clients to ensure their legal rights and best interests are protected as they move forward and recover. Some of the services our team at Sullivan & Brill, LLP provide for our clients include:

Investigating the accident: Our pedestrian accident attorneys in New York City go out to the scene of each accident to gather evidence for our clients. Our team will take pictures, record videos, gather video evidence from surrounding businesses, and even hire professionals who can recreate the circumstances surrounding an accident to show speed, weather conditions, and other crucial details pertaining to your accident.

Valuate the accident: When it comes to filing a personal injury claim, we work to ensure our clients are able to recover the maximum amount of compensation available. The goal is to help them cover the costs they face moving forward so they do not have to deal with the emotional consequences tied to financial strains. 

In order to get full and fair compensation for our clients, we work with financial experts who can calculate lost earnings and lost wages. We gather medical reports and care plans to show current and future medical expenses. These and other evidence and documents help us determine the amount of compensation that is fair and just for our clients.

Maintain communication: People are often not well-versed in what a personal injury claim entails. For this reason, our team at Sullivan & Brill, LLP strives to maintain ongoing communication with our clients. We are available to answer questions, provide guidance and insight, and help clients understand what is expected throughout the claims process. Furthermore, we provide our clients with copies of every document filed in their claim so they are aware of everything moving forward.

Handle paperwork: In order for victims to have the best chance of recovering after an accident, it is imperative that they file their claims in a timely manner. In New York, victims have a statute of limitations that provides them a three-year period after the date of their injury to file a claim. Our team works diligently to ensure all documents, petitions, and paperwork are filed accurately and in a timely manner.

Prepare to settle: After putting together solid claims for our clients, we leverage the evidence and information to aggressively negotiate full and fair compensation on their behalf. If we are not able to come to a settlement agreement that accurately reflects the needs and best interests of our client, we provide responsive, effective, and aggressive representation in court.

Our team is committed to helping each client we work with get the justice and compensation they need from those who caused them harm. We strive to provide responsive and aggressive legal representation to ensure injured victims are able to reach their goals in recovery. If you have been injured as a result of another person's actions, contact our pedestrian accident attorneys in New York City to get started with your claim.

We work with medical professionals and the victim's family to detail the extent of the injury and the needs and losses. Some of the damages victims receive compensation for cover:

  • Medical bills: We are committed to helping victims obtain the maximum amount of compensation to cover doctor appointments, medication, surgery, hospitalization, and various other medical expenses they face as a result of their accidents. 
  • Future medical care: There are many instances where victims have to undergo long-term care for their injuries. When victims have to go through multiple surgeries, spend weeks in nursing homes, and go to therapy for months, they often face towering medical costs. Our team understands the critical importance of victims getting the treatment they need, which is why we work to help those harmed maximize their recoveries. 
  • Lost wages: Victims are entitled to compensation that covers the lost wages they incurred from being out of work for their hospitalization as well as doctor appointments and for other reasons related to their recovery. Our team will help you get the money you deserve for the total lost hours you endured as a result of your accident.
  • Future earnings: Pedestrians are at an increased risk of suffering life-altering injuries in accidents. As a result, these victims are more likely to be forced out of work permanently. In these cases, our team works with financial experts who can accurately calculate the lost wages that victims endure had they been able to continue working. 
  • Pain and suffering: Accidents are not only physically painful, but they come with an array of mental and emotional consequences, too. Our team helps our clients demonstrate the amount of pain and suffering they have been forced to endure to ensure they are able to obtain full and timely compensation for their experience.
  • Permanent disability or disfigurement: Being injured in an accident can have a life-altering impact on a person's life. When victims are left with permanent disabilities or disfigurements, they can recover compensation to help alleviate some of the pain and discomfort associated with these conditions.

We go to the accident scene to take photos and talk to witnesses. We also hire accident reconstruction experts in appropriate cases to prove that the driver was chiefly or solely at fault.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in New York City

New York City is ranked high when it comes to the number of pedestrians who travel throughout the city each year. Regrettably, the increased number of people out walking also increases the number of injury accidents we see. In fact, more than 3,000 people are injured in pedestrian accidents throughout New York each year. Each year, the number of injury and fatal pedestrian accidents throughout our area increases.

Although pedestrians are being more vigilant while out walking, there is very little they can do to prevent others from driving recklessly while traveling around them. As a result, we are seeing more pedestrians injured in accidents. Some of the leading causes of New York City pedestrian accidents include:

Distracted Drivers: Many drivers engage in distracting behaviors while operating their vehicles. We are seeing a substantial number of people being injured in pedestrian accidents due to drivers texting, messing with their radios, eating, or engaging in conversations with passengers.

Impaired Drivers: Although drinking and driving has severe legal consequences for those who are caught, we continue to see many people engage in this reckless and negligent behavior. Driving while drunk or under the influence of drugs can have a major impact on a person's ability to respond to pedestrians walking nearby.  

Speeding: When drivers are traveling at high speeds, they are unlikely to be able to stop before striking people walking on crosswalks in the area. Regrettably, high-speed accidents often result in severe injuries for pedestrians.

Reckless Driving Behaviors: In addition to speeding, we see many accidents take place as a result of drivers blowing through stop signs and red lights, falling asleep, or driving recklessly.

Failing to Yield the Right of Way: We see thousands of people in New York City injured in pedestrian accidents every year due to drivers failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians. When motorists do not allow pedestrians to cross in designated crossing areas, they can cause life-changing collisions.

Product Liability: In some instances, we see pedestrian accidents occur as a result of brake failures, accelerator jams, and other defective and malfunctioning parts on vehicles. 

Left-Turn Accidents: Many accidents occur at intersections due to drivers making left turns. When drivers make these turns quickly, without checking for pedestrians, it can result in pedestrians being hit.

Inclement Weather: Not being able to see pedestrians traveling near roadways makes it more likely that motorists will strike them. Heavy rain, foggy conditions, and snow drastically increase the chances of pedestrian accidents happening.

Obstructions: Objects like trees, bridges, dividers, and other objects can block drivers' view of pedestrians. When drivers fail to be cautious around these items, it can cause them to strike pedestrians who may be in their blind spots.

Construction Sites: Construction sites are extremely common locations for pedestrian accidents in New York City. Regardless of the fact that we have move-over laws in place to protect construction workers, we see them injured in collisions regularly. 

Back-Up Accidents: When motorists travel in reverse without looking, they can strike passing pedestrians. Backup accidents are more common when semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles are involved. However, cars, trucks, and SUVs have been known to strike pedestrians when drivers fail to check their mirrors for pedestrians.

Although crosswalks are designed to provide pedestrians with safe crossing locations, more people are questioning whether they are helping or hurting. The locations of crosswalks can contribute to a pedestrian accident taking place. 

People who design crosswalks are required to consider the safety of pedestrians. If they do not do so and create unsafe crosswalks, they can be held accountable for their actions. These incidents can leave engineering firms, government agencies, and other parties liable for the resulting injuries and damages. 

It is imperative that you are able to identify the cause of your accident. Doing so enables you to identify all liable parties and maximize your recoveries while holding them accountable. 

This list is not all-inclusive. There are many other negligent and reckless actions that lead to life-changing pedestrian accidents. If you have been injured in an accident as a result of another motorist's actions, contact our pedestrian accident attorneys in New York right away to see how we can help you.

Injuries Sustained by Victims in Pedestrian Accidents

Not only is the number of pedestrian accidents increasing, but we are seeing far more severe accidents as well. Pedestrians are not protected like other motorists. As a result, they are often left with catastrophic and life-altering injuries from collisions. 

Our team at Sullivan & Brill, LLP has helped numerous victims involved in these accidents hold at-fault drivers accountable for their actions. Some of the most common injuries our pedestrian accident attorneys in New York have helped victims recover from include:

Spinal cord injuries: these injuries are extremely complicated and painful. Quite often, spinal cord injuries result in some extent of paralysis. Treating these injuries takes a lot of time and money. Victims with spinal cord injuries are often drastically limited in what they can do.

Traumatic brain injuries: TBIs have a major impact on a victim's memory, balance, and mood. These injuries can result in permanent damage and can be overwhelmingly painful.

Broken bones: There are many instances where victims break their arms, legs, wrists, or feet in accidents. Pedestrians are particularly vulnerable in collisions because they are completely exposed to the impact of vehicles. Broken bones often require surgery and therapy and can take months to heal. These injuries can impact how people complete tasks and work, in addition to various other aspects of their lives.

The loss of limbs: There are cases where pedestrians lose arms, legs, feet, or hands in accidents. These injuries can have a life-altering impact on a victim and force them to completely re-adjust how they live.

Cuts, scrapes, and lacerations: Pedestrians are often knocked down as a result of collisions. This drastically increases the chances that victims will suffer cuts, scrapes, and other lacerations in collisions.

Internal organ damage: Internal organ injuries are not visible to the naked eye. Instead, many victims have to go through medical examinations and testing to detect these injuries. However, internal organ damage can be life-threatening. 

Back injuries: Back injuries can be extremely painful for victims. These injuries can result in drastic limitations for victims. As a result, they are unable to complete various tasks. Back injuries often end in overwhelming pain and require a lot of time to recover.

Head injuries: Head injuries can cause severe balance issues, pain, and various long-term consequences. Regrettably, head injuries are very common in pedestrian accidents because pedestrians often strike their heads against vehicles and sidewalks. 

Soft tissue injuries: Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries can drastically limit the victim's range of motion. These painful injuries often require therapy to recover from and can drastically limit the abilities of victims to perform various tasks.

Although pedestrian accidents leave people of all ages injured each year, victims over the age of 65-years-old and those under 15-years-old are most at risk of being seriously injured. Being injured in a pedestrian accident can have a life-altering impact on a victim. Their families often endure mental and emotional trauma as well. If you were injured in accidents as a result of negligent or reckless drivers, it is crucial that you seek legal guidance as soon as possible. 

Contact Us Immediately to Protect Your Rights 

We are seeing a drastic increase in the number of people involved in pedestrian accidents in New York City. These incidents claim the lives of more than 6,300 people across the United States each year while leaving tens of thousands more seriously injured. 

Pedestrian accidents often result in severe injuries that require both immediate and extensive medical treatment. Being injured in a pedestrian accident can have a life-altering impact on both victims and their families. Thankfully, there are legal options available that can help victims recover and alleviate some of the burdens they face as they recover. 

You do not need to move forward alone. Working with a knowledgeable and aggressive New York City pedestrian accident attorney can help to ensure your legal rights and best interests are protected. Our team is not only committed to representing our clients, but also to advocating on their behalf to ensure they are able to hold wrongdoers accountable. 

We work to help our clients obtain the maximum amount of compensation from those who caused them harm so they are able to move forward and reach their goals of recovering. Our pedestrian accident attorneys in New York City will help you pursue the legal options available for you.

Sullivan & Brill, LLP offers free consultations and prompt investigation. If we take your case, you do not owe us any attorney fees unless we obtain a favorable settlement or verdict. For nearly three decades, our team has helped clients around New York City hold wrongdoers accountable for their actions while pursuing the legal options available to them. 

If you have been injured in an accident as a result of another person's actions, contact our law firm to speak with one of our New York City pedestrian accident lawyers about your accident. Call our personal injury law firm today at (212) 566-1000. By scheduling a free no-obligation consultation at your earliest convenience, you can meet with our trusted pedestrian accident attorneys in New York to explore legal options available to help you recover. Don't wait, call now.

Areas We Serve

Our firm serves clients throughout New York State, including New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Binghamton, Albany, Syracuse, and Long Island.

Nav Map

Menu