Manhattan Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Fighting for Injured New Yorkers for Over 39 Years

Personal Injury Attorney Michael Gunzburg

What Our Clients Say

Who Needs a Manhattan Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?

You need a Manhattan pedestrian accident lawyer if a vehicle struck you while you were walking, whether in a crosswalk, at an intersection, on a sidewalk, or mid-block anywhere in the borough. This includes being hit while crossing at 5th Avenue and 42nd Street during the morning rush, getting struck by a turning vehicle near Times Square, being clipped by a delivery truck on Canal Street, or being knocked down by a rideshare driver near Columbus Circle. Tourists, commuters, delivery workers, seniors, and anyone else traveling on foot in Manhattan can become a victim. If you suffered injuries serious enough to require medical attention, you likely have a claim worth pursuing with the guidance of an experienced pedestrian accident attorney.

Common Situations Michael Gunzburg, P.C. Handles

Crosswalk Strikes by Turning Vehicles

Drivers making left or right turns at Manhattan intersections frequently fail to yield to pedestrians who have the walk signal. This is one of the most common causes of pedestrian injuries in the borough. Intersections like 3rd Avenue and 50th Street, Broadway in Times Square, and 2nd Avenue and East 59th Street see repeated incidents due to heavy turning traffic and distracted driving.

Driver Failures to Stop at Red Lights or Stop Signs

Pedestrians crossing with a green light or a walk signal are entitled to the right of way. When a driver runs a red light or fails to obey a traffic control device and strikes a pedestrian, liability is typically clear. These collisions tend to produce severe injuries because the driver shows no signs of slowing.

Distracted Driving Strikes

Drivers using phones, adjusting GPS, or otherwise distracted behind the wheel cause a significant share of pedestrian accidents in Manhattan. In high-traffic areas like Midtown and the Financial District, even a brief lapse in attention at normal city speeds can result in catastrophic injuries to a pedestrian.

Rideshare and Delivery Vehicle Accidents

Uber, Lyft, FedEx, Amazon, and food delivery drivers are an increasingly common presence on Manhattan streets, and they operate under time pressure. Pedestrians struck by these vehicles may have claims against both the driver and the company, depending on the driver's status at the time of the accident.

Bus and MTA Vehicle Strikes

The MTA and other transit operators have a duty to operate buses safely around pedestrians. When a bus driver fails to yield, misjudges a turn, or strikes a pedestrian at a stop or crosswalk, victims may have claims against a public entity, which triggers different procedural requirements. The firm secured a $1.9 million post-verdict settlement in a case where a bus struck a pedestrian in a Bronx crosswalk with a walk signal.

Hit-and-Run Accidents

When a driver flees the scene, you are not without options. New York has specific procedures for pursuing compensation through your own insurance coverage or through the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC) when the at-fault driver is unidentified. Acting quickly is critical in these situations. Learn more on the hit-and-run accident page.

Why Hiring a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Matters

Pedestrians who try to handle claims on their own regularly accept settlements that do not cover their future medical needs or full wage losses, often because they do not know how to quantify what they are actually owed. Insurance adjusters work to close claims as cheaply as possible. Their early offers are almost never a fair reflection of what a case is worth.

There is also the issue of New York's "serious injury" threshold under the Insurance Law. Pedestrians must meet a defined standard of injury severity before they can sue for pain and suffering damages beyond the basic no-fault benefits. Knowing whether your injuries qualify, and how to document them, requires an attorney who handles these cases regularly.

Michael Gunzburg, P.C. has spent 39+ years preparing pedestrian accident cases from day one as if they are going to trial. That preparation strengthens every settlement negotiation. Insurance companies know the difference between an attorney who will take a case to a jury and one who will settle for whatever is offered. Michael Gunzburg's dual credentials as an attorney and a CPA are particularly relevant here: economic damages including lost earning capacity, future medical expenses, and reduced quality of life require careful calculation and persuasive presentation. That skill set is not common among personal injury attorneys in Manhattan.

Who Is Involved?

The at-fault driver is the primary responsible party in most pedestrian accident cases, the person whose negligence caused the collision. Their personal auto insurance policy is typically the first source of compensation.

The driver's employer or fleet operator may share liability if the driver was working at the time. This is especially relevant for truck drivers, delivery workers, rideshare drivers, and MTA bus operators. Employer liability can expand available coverage significantly.

The City of New York or another public entity may be responsible when a defective traffic signal, missing crosswalk markings, or poorly maintained intersection contributed to the accident. Claims against the City require a Notice of Claim filed within 90 days of the accident, a hard deadline that, if missed, can permanently bar your right to sue.

Your own insurance carrier may be involved through no-fault PIP coverage (up to $50,000 for medical expenses and lost wages regardless of fault) or through uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage if the driver had insufficient insurance.

Property owners adjacent to the accident site may bear responsibility in limited circumstances, for example, if a storefront delivery operation or construction project contributed to dangerous conditions in the pedestrian's path.

What Type of Compensation Can Expect to Get

A successful Manhattan pedestrian accident compensation can include compensation across several categories. Medical expenses, past and future, are the foundation of most claims: emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medications, and any long-term treatment your injuries require. Lost wages cover income you missed while recovering, and lost earning capacity addresses permanent limitations on your ability to work.

Pain and suffering damages compensate for the physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, PTSD, and reduced quality of life that follow a serious pedestrian injury. These non-economic damages often make up the largest portion of a recovery in cases involving significant or permanent injuries.

Permanent disability or disfigurement carries additional compensation when injuries cause lasting functional limitations or visible scarring. The firm's track record, including a $3 million settlement for a pedestrian struck in a Manhattan crosswalk and a $2.85 million settlement for a pedestrian struck in the Bronx, reflects the level of recovery that's possible with thorough preparation and experienced representation.

One factor that distinguishes Michael Gunzburg, P.C. is the ability to build a detailed economic damages model using CPA-level financial analysis. That skill directly affects the numbers presented in negotiation and at trial, and it is a credential most opposing insurance adjusters do not expect

Important Deadlines and Legal Rules

The statute of limitations for pedestrian accident claims in New York is three years from the date of the accident for most personal injury cases against private defendants. Miss that deadline, and your right to sue is gone permanently.

When a claim involves the City of New York, the MTA, or any other public entity, the deadline is far shorter. A Notice of Claim must be filed within 90 days of the accident. After that, you must file suit within one year and 90 days. These are not suggestions, they are hard procedural requirements, and courts enforce them strictly.

New York also follows a pure comparative negligence rule. If you were partially at fault, for example, crossing mid-block or stepping out between parked cars, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. You are not barred from recovery unless you are 100% responsible. However, the insurance company will argue aggressively to inflate your share of blame. Having an attorney who can counter those arguments matters.

For no-fault benefits (PIP), the filing deadline with the at-fault driver's insurer is typically 30 days from the accident. Missing this deadline can affect your access to initial medical coverage. For more on New York's personal injury laws and deadlines, the New York State Legislature maintains the full text of the relevant statutes.

The NYC Department of Transportation also documents pedestrian safety initiatives and intersection data that can be relevant in establishing the danger profile of a specific location.

What Happens When You Call Michael Gunzburg, P.C.

Every call is returned within 24 hours. That is not a general policy statement, it is a commitment reflected in client testimonials going back decades.

Your Free Consultation

Your first call begins a confidential conversation about what happened, the injuries you sustained, and what your legal options look like. There is no obligation. Michael Gunzburg will give you an honest assessment of your case, including its strengths and any challenges, not a sales pitch.

Immediate Investigation

Evidence disappears quickly in Manhattan. Surveillance camera footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras gets overwritten. Witnesses move on. The firm moves fast to preserve what matters: obtaining police reports, identifying camera footage, photographing the scene, and contacting witnesses while memories are fresh.

Building the Full Damages Picture

Most attorneys calculate medical bills. This firm builds an economic model. Using CPA-level financial analysis, Michael Gunzburg documents not just current bills, but lost earning capacity, future medical costs, and the full financial impact of your injuries on your lifetime income. This is a distinct advantage in negotiations and at trial.

Fighting the Insurance Company

Insurance adjusters will contact you quickly with an offer. Do not respond without legal representation. Once Michael Gunzburg, P.C. is retained, all communication with insurance companies goes through the firm. You focus on recovery. The firm handles the negotiation.

Resolution, Settlement or Trial

Most cases settle. But only when the offer is fair. If an insurance company refuses to make a reasonable offer, the firm is prepared to take your case to trial. After 39+ years of verdicts and settlements across Manhattan and NYC, insurance companies understand that is not an empty threat.

Benefits of Hiring a Manhattan Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

You Recover More Compensation

Pedestrian accident victims represented by attorneys consistently recover significantly more than those who handle claims alone. Insurance companies have adjusters, lawyers, and decades of experience minimizing payouts. An experienced trial attorney balances that equation.

You Stay Out of the Process

Dealing with insurance companies while recovering from a serious injury is exhausting and counterproductive. Michael Gunzburg, P.C. handles every aspect of your claim, paperwork, investigations, negotiations, and litigation, so you can focus on healing.

Your Case Is Prepared for Trial From Day One

Trial preparation changes the dynamic in settlement negotiations. An insurance company that knows your attorney has a long track record of multi-million-dollar jury verdicts makes different calculations than one dealing with an attorney who rarely sees the inside of a courtroom.

No Financial Risk

The firm works on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless the firm recovers compensation for you. There are no upfront costs, no hourly fees, and no retainer requirements. The free consultation costs you nothing.

Your Economic Damages Are Calculated Correctly

Most attorneys rely on medical bills and pay stubs. Michael Gunzburg's CPA credentials mean your lost earning capacity, future medical needs, and lifetime economic losses are built into a detailed, defensible model, one that holds up under cross-examination.

Key Takeaways

• New York's statute of limitations gives you three years from the accident date to file a pedestrian injury lawsuit against a private defendant.
• If a City vehicle, MTA bus, or other public entity caused your accident, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days, missing this deadline eliminates your right to sue the public entity.
• New York's pure comparative negligence rule allows you to recover even if you were partially at fault; your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
• No-fault PIP coverage provides up to $50,000 in medical and wage benefits regardless of fault, but must be claimed promptly, typically within 30 days.
• Michael Gunzburg, P.C. is both a licensed attorney and a Certified Public Accountant, which directly affects how economic damages are calculated and presented in your case.

Proven Results and Client Experience

Michael Gunzburg, P.C. has secured multimillion-dollar recoveries for pedestrian accident victims throughout Manhattan and New York City:

• $3 Million, Pedestrian struck in a Manhattan crosswalk
• $2.5 Million at Trial, Woman struck by a van while crossing with a green light at 7th Avenue and West 13th Street in Manhattan
• $2.85 Million, Pedestrian struck in a Bronx crosswalk by a turning vehicle
• $1.9 Million Post-Verdict Settlement, Pedestrian struck by a bus in the Bronx

Beyond numbers, clients describe an attorney who is always accessible, returns calls consistently, and treats each case with the kind of attention that makes a client "feel like the only case he had." One client wrote: "He was great; he was always answering emails, phone calls, and even Gchats. If I had questions, he always had answers." Another noted: "The personal attention given to me during the whole process was really wonderful."

With 39+ years of NYC trial experience, admission to the Appellate Division, thousands of cases handled through trial, and active membership in the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association of Justice, Michael Gunzburg, P.C. brings credentials and a track record that speak for themselves.

You can review additional results on the Verdicts and Settlements page.

Common Questions About Pedestrian Accidents in Manhattan

What should I do immediately after being hit by a car in Manhattan?

Call 911 and get a police report filed at the scene. Accept emergency medical care, even if you feel okay, some injuries do not show symptoms right away. Get the driver's name, license plate, and insurance information if you can. Photograph the scene, your injuries, and any vehicle damage. Collect contact information from witnesses. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with an attorney. The sooner you call Michael Gunzburg, P.C., the sooner evidence can be preserved.

How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident lawsuit in New York?

For claims against a private driver, you have three years from the accident date. For claims involving the City of New York, the MTA, or any public entity, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days and a lawsuit within one year and 90 days. These deadlines are absolute. Missing them means losing your right to compensation regardless of how strong your case is.

Who pays my medical bills after a pedestrian accident in New York?

New York's no-fault law requires the at-fault driver's auto insurance to pay for your medical expenses and a portion of lost wages up to $50,000, regardless of who caused the accident. This is called Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. Beyond that limit, or for pain and suffering damages, you must meet New York's "serious injury" threshold and pursue a liability claim against the at-fault driver.

What if I was crossing mid-block or not in a crosswalk?

You can still recover compensation. New York follows pure comparative negligence, which means your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, not eliminated. If a driver was speeding, distracted, or failed to maintain a proper lookout, they may still be predominantly at fault even if you were not in a crosswalk. Each case is evaluated on its specific facts.

What if the driver who hit me fled the scene?

Hit-and-run accidents are covered through a separate process. If you own a car with uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, that policy may apply. If you do not own a car, you may have a claim through the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC). You must report the accident to police promptly and meet specific filing deadlines. The MVAIC administers these claims in New York.

How is a claim against the MTA or City of New York different?

Claims against public entities follow a strict procedural timeline. A Notice of Claim must be filed within 90 days of the accident. After that, there is typically a hearing held by the public entity before you can file a lawsuit. The lawsuit must be filed within one year and 90 days. Failing to follow these steps precisely can permanently bar your claim. This is an area where experienced legal representation is not optional.

What compensation can I recover for my pedestrian accident injuries?

You may recover past and future medical expenses, lost wages and lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent disability or disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. In rare cases involving egregious conduct, punitive damages may also be available. Economic damages are calculated using actual bills, wage records, and projections about future treatment needs. Non-economic damages depend on the nature and permanence of your injuries.

How much does it cost to hire a Manhattan pedestrian accident lawyer?

Michael Gunzburg, P.C. works on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront. No hourly fees, no retainer. The firm only collects a fee if you recover compensation, and that fee comes as a percentage of the recovery. Your initial consultation is free. You can speak with an experienced pedestrian accident attorney at no financial risk whatsoever.

What if the insurance company already offered me a settlement?

Do not accept it or sign anything before speaking to an attorney. Insurance companies offer quick, low settlements specifically to close claims before injured people understand the full extent of their injuries or the total value of their case. Once you sign a release, you cannot come back for more money later, even if you need additional surgeries or face long-term disability. Call (212) 725-8500 first.

How does Michael Gunzburg's CPA credential affect my pedestrian accident case?

It directly affects how your economic damages are calculated and presented. Most attorneys rely on your medical bills and recent pay stubs. Michael Gunzburg builds a full economic model that accounts for future medical costs, reduced earning capacity over your remaining work life, out-of-pocket losses, and other financial impacts. That level of analysis produces larger, more defensible damage numbers, and insurance companies know the difference.

Areas Michael Gunzburg, P.C. Serves in Manhattan

Michael Gunzburg, P.C. represents pedestrian accident victims throughout Manhattan, including Midtown, the Financial District, the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side, Greenwich Village, Chelsea, Harlem, Washington Heights, and the East Village. The firm also handles pedestrian accident cases throughout Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island, as well as Nassau and Suffolk Counties. High-risk locations like Broadway near Times Square, the FDR Drive access points, Canal Street, and the crosswalks along 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue are all familiar territory. The office is located at 950 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10022.

Other Personal Injury Services We Offer in Manhattan

• NYC Pedestrian Accidents
• Traumatic Brain Injury from Pedestrian Accidents
• NYC Bicycle Accidents
• NYC Wrongful Death Cases
• Manhattan Hit-and-Run Accidents
• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Manhattan Commercial Vehicle Accidents
• Distracted Driver Accidents in Manhattan