Manhattan Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Fighting for Injured New Yorkers for Over 39 Years

Being struck by a vehicle in Manhattan can leave you with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and no income while you recover. The question most victims need answered immediately is: what compensation am I actually entitled to? Pedestrians injured by negligent drivers in New York can recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and permanent disability, but the amount depends on the severity of your injuries, who was at fault, and how your claim is handled from the start. Michael Gunzburg, P.C. has represented injured pedestrians throughout Manhattan and all five boroughs for more than 39 years, securing results that include a $3 million settlement for a pedestrian struck at 59th Street and 2nd Avenue and a $2.5 million settlement for a woman hit while crossing with a green light at 7th Avenue and West 13th Street. Call (212) 725-8500 for a free case evaluation. There are no legal fees unless there is a recovery.

Personal Injury Attorney Michael Gunzburg

What Our Clients Say

Who Needs a Manhattan Pedestrian Accident Attorney?

You need a Manhattan pedestrian accident attorney if a vehicle struck you while you were walking, in a crosswalk, at an intersection, along a sidewalk, or anywhere else on foot, and you sustained injuries that required medical treatment. This includes victims hit by cars, buses, delivery trucks, taxis, rideshare vehicles, and commercial vehicles. It includes hit-and-run situations where the driver fled. It applies whether the accident happened in Midtown, the Financial District, the Upper East Side, Harlem, or any other Manhattan neighborhood. If your injuries are keeping you from working, requiring ongoing medical care, or causing lasting pain, understanding your full compensation options is the right next step.

Common Manhattan Pedestrian Accident Scenarios

Crosswalk and Intersection Accidents

Manhattan crosswalk accidents are among the most common pedestrian injury scenarios in the borough. Drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians crossing with the signal, particularly when making turns at intersections, cause some of the most serious injuries the firm handles. Busy intersections along Broadway, Lexington Avenue, and the major Midtown corridors see a disproportionate share of these collisions. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1111 requires drivers to yield to pedestrians lawfully in a crosswalk.

Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accidents

Drivers who flee the scene create additional challenges for victims but do not eliminate the right to compensation. New York's Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC) provides a recovery path for eligible victims when a driver cannot be identified. Uninsured motorist coverage under the victim's own auto policy, or a family member's policy, may also apply. The firm's dedicated Manhattan hit-and-run accident page outlines the full process.

Bus and Commercial Vehicle Strikes

Bus and commercial vehicle pedestrian accidents often involve additional layers of liability. When a city bus, MTA vehicle, delivery truck, or company-owned vehicle is involved, separate insurance policies and notice requirements come into play. Cases involving city-owned vehicles require a Notice of Claim filed within 90 days of the accident. The firm handles commercial vehicle pedestrian accidents throughout Manhattan with knowledge of these specific procedural requirements.

Distracted and Negligent Driver Accidents

Drivers texting, adjusting GPS, or otherwise not watching the road account for a significant share of Manhattan pedestrian injuries. New York VTL §§ 1225-c and 1225-d prohibit handheld device use while driving. Establishing distraction as a cause requires prompt evidence collection, cell phone records, surveillance footage, and witness statements all become critical. The firm's page on distracted driver pedestrian accidents covers how these cases are built.

Illegal and Unsafe Turn Accidents

Left and right turns that cut off pedestrians with the right of way are a persistent cause of serious injuries at Manhattan intersections. Vehicles making turns are required by law to yield to pedestrians already in the crosswalk. The firm handles illegal turn accident claims and understands how to establish liability when a driver claims the pedestrian stepped out unexpectedly.

Bicycle-Pedestrian Collisions

Collisions between cyclists and pedestrians in Manhattan, particularly in areas with heavy shared-use paths and crowded sidewalks, result in genuine injuries and valid personal injury claims. The at-fault party's negligence governs liability regardless of whether the vehicle involved has a motor. The firm's bicycle-pedestrian collision page addresses how these cases are handled.

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 in a Manhattan Pedestrian Accident Claim?

Multiple parties may bear responsibility for a pedestrian accident, and identifying all of them determines the total compensation available.

The at-fault driver is typically the primary defendant. Their liability insurance covers damages up to policy limits. In New York, minimum liability coverage for bodily injury is $25,000 per person, but many drivers carry higher limits, and commercial vehicles are required to carry substantially more.

The driver's employer may share liability if the driver was working at the time of the accident. Delivery companies, rideshare platforms, bus operators, and other commercial entities can be held accountable when their employees or contracted drivers cause injuries. This is particularly relevant in Manhattan, where commercial vehicle traffic is heavy.

A government entity may be involved if a city bus, sanitation vehicle, or other government-owned vehicle struck you, or if dangerous road conditions contributed to the accident. Claims against New York City or city agencies require a Notice of Claim within 90 days and are subject to their own procedural rules.

Your own auto insurer may also be relevant. New York's no-fault law allows pedestrians to access Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits through the at-fault driver's policy for immediate medical expenses and lost wages. If you own a vehicle, your own policy's PIP and uninsured motorist coverage may also apply.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Manhattan Pedestrian Accident?

Pedestrians injured by negligent drivers in New York can recover two categories of damages: economic and non-economic.

Economic damages are quantifiable financial losses, including:

Past and future medical expenses - emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, specialist visits, medications, medical equipment, and any future treatment the injuries are expected to require
Lost wages - income lost from the date of the accident through the present
Lost earning capacity - reduced future income if the injuries prevent a return to prior employment or limit future work
Out-of-pocket expenses - transportation to medical appointments, home care assistance, and other documented costs directly tied to the accident

Non-economic damages compensate for the human toll of the injury:

Pain and suffering - physical pain, both past and ongoing
Emotional distress - anxiety, depression, and psychological impact
Loss of enjoyment of life - activities and quality of life the victim can no longer experience
Permanent disability or disfigurement

To pursue non-economic damages under New York law, your injuries generally must meet the serious injury threshold defined in Insurance Law § 5102(d). This includes fractures, significant disfigurement, permanent loss of use of a body organ or member, and other specified categories. Most pedestrian accident injuries, fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, meet this threshold.

For a detailed breakdown of common pedestrian injuries and their treatment timelines, see Pedestrian Accident Injuries: Types, Treatment & Recovery.

Important Deadlines for Manhattan Pedestrian Accident Claims

New York's statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years from the date of the accident. Missing this deadline permanently ends your right to pursue compensation through the courts.

However, shorter deadlines apply in specific situations:

Claims involving a city bus, city vehicle, or other government entity: A Notice of Claim must be filed within 90 days of the accident. The lawsuit must then be filed within one year and 90 days. Missing the 90-day notice requirement is typically fatal to the claim.
No-fault (PIP) benefit applications: Must be submitted to the at-fault driver's insurer within 30 days of the accident to preserve the right to those benefits.
MVAIC claims for hit-and-run victims: Have their own application deadlines that run from the date of the accident.

Evidence deteriorates quickly in Manhattan. Surveillance footage from businesses, traffic cameras, and transit vehicles is typically overwritten within days to weeks. Witness availability diminishes. The sooner an attorney is involved, the more evidence can be preserved.

The blog post Thinking About Waiting to File After Your NYC Pedestrian Accident? explains the specific risks of delay in more detail.

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

The firm returns calls within 24 hours. The process from first contact to resolution follows a structured approach designed to protect the claim and maximize recovery.

Free Case Evaluation

The initial consultation is free and carries no obligation. The attorney reviews the facts of the accident, the injuries, any available documentation, and identifies which insurance policies and legal theories apply. Clients receive an honest assessment, not a sales pitch.

Immediate Investigation

Evidence collection begins right away. This means sending preservation letters to businesses and transit authorities to hold surveillance footage, obtaining police accident reports, identifying and contacting witnesses, and in appropriate cases, engaging accident reconstruction experts. Manhattan's dense environment means footage often exists, but only briefly.

Medical Documentation and Expert Coordination

Thorough medical documentation is the foundation of the damages case. The firm works with treating physicians and, where necessary, independent medical experts to establish the full scope of injuries and the connection between the accident and those injuries. Future medical costs must be documented before any settlement is reached.

Insurance Negotiation

The firm handles all communication with insurance adjusters. Clients are advised not to give recorded statements before representation begins. Insurers are presented with a complete demand supported by medical records, lost wage documentation, and expert analysis. Cases are negotiated from a position of demonstrated trial readiness.

Trial If Necessary

Michael Gunzburg, P.C. prepares every case for trial from the first day. If an insurer will not offer fair compensation, the firm takes the case to court. The $3 million pedestrian settlement cited above was reached after the jury was selected and the trial was about to begin, the insurance company understood the case was going in front of a jury and settled rather than face that outcome.

Benefits of Hiring a Manhattan Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Full Damages Are Identified and Documented

Insurance companies calculate damages narrowly. An experienced attorney calculates comprehensively, including future medical care, lost earning capacity, and non-economic losses that adjusters routinely minimize or ignore.

The Claim Is Protected From the Start

Statements, social media posts, and delays in medical treatment can all be used to reduce the value of a claim. Early attorney involvement protects against each of these pitfalls. The firm advises clients on what to say, what not to say, and how to preserve the claim through the recovery period.

Economic Expertise Strengthens the Numbers

Michael Gunzburg's background as a Certified Public Accountant means lost wage and future earning capacity calculations are analytically sound and defensible, not estimates that can be easily challenged. This matters most in cases involving serious injuries and long-term economic impact.

No Fee Unless There Is a Recovery

Michael Gunzburg, P.C. handles all pedestrian accident cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront legal fees. The firm's fee is a percentage of the recovery, paid only if compensation is obtained. If the case does not result in a recovery, no fee is owed.

Key Takeaways

Pedestrians injured by negligent drivers in New York can recover economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, future care costs) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, permanent disability), but non-economic damages require meeting New York's serious injury threshold under Insurance Law § 5102(d).
Claims involving city buses, city-owned vehicles, or other government entities require a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident - missing this deadline typically ends the claim.
No-fault (PIP) benefit applications must be submitted within 30 days of the accident to preserve those benefits.
Surveillance footage in Manhattan disappears quickly - attorney involvement within days of the accident significantly improves the evidence available for the case.
New York's three-year statute of limitations applies to most private-party pedestrian accident claims, but multiple shorter deadlines may also apply depending on the circumstances.

Proven Results in Manhattan Pedestrian Accident Cases

Michael Gunzburg, P.C. has secured significant results for pedestrian accident victims throughout Manhattan and New York City:

$3 million settlement - A building porter struck at 59th Street and 2nd Avenue while crossing with the pedestrian walk signal. The impact caused him to land on his knee, resulting in four surgeries including a partial knee replacement. The settlement reflected his full medical costs, future care, and loss of earning capacity.
$2.5 million settlement at trial - A woman struck by a van while crossing at 7th Avenue and West 13th Street with a green light in her favor. She sustained injuries to both knees, requiring multiple surgeries and ultimately a partial knee replacement. The case settled before the jury returned a verdict.
$2.85 million settlement - A 55-year-old woman struck in the crosswalk at Gerard Avenue and 153rd Street in the Bronx. The vehicle failed to yield on a left turn. She underwent surgeries to her shoulder, knee, and hip, and an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.
$1.9 million post-verdict settlement - A 57-year-old pedestrian struck in the crosswalk at Jerome Avenue and East Knightsbridge Avenue in the Bronx by a Liberty Lines Transit bus. The driver's own accident report stated the sun obscured his view; a witness observed the driver holding a cellphone.

These results reflect the firm's ability to document damages fully and try cases when insurers will not negotiate fairly. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

The firm has represented clients before the Appellate Division, Second Department, and is a member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association of Justice.

Common Questions About Manhattan Pedestrian Accident Compensation

How much is a Manhattan pedestrian accident settlement worth?

Settlement value depends on the severity of injuries, the medical treatment required, lost income, future care costs, the degree of permanent impact on daily life, and the strength of liability evidence. There is no standard amount. Fractures requiring surgery, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal injuries generally produce higher recoveries than soft tissue injuries that fully resolve. The firm's pedestrian results range from six-figure recoveries for moderate injuries to multi-million-dollar outcomes for cases involving permanent disability and significant economic loss. A free case evaluation provides a realistic picture of what a specific claim may be worth.

Can a pedestrian sue if hit by a car in New York?

Yes. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle in New York can file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver for damages including pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages, provided the injuries meet the serious injury threshold under Insurance Law § 5102(d). No-fault (PIP) benefits cover initial medical bills and a portion of lost wages regardless of fault, but a lawsuit allows recovery for the full scope of damages. The New York pedestrian right-of-way laws blog post explains the legal framework in detail.

How long does it take to settle a pedestrian accident case?

Cases with clear liability and injuries that have reached a stable point medically can settle in several months. More complex cases, those involving disputed fault, severe injuries requiring ongoing treatment, government defendants, or multiple liable parties, typically take one to three years. The firm does not recommend settling before maximum medical improvement is reached, because the full extent of future medical costs cannot be accurately calculated until then. Accepting a settlement too early risks leaving future expenses uncovered.

What if I was partly at fault for the pedestrian accident?

New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule under CPLR § 1411. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still recover even if you were partially responsible. If you are found 20% at fault in a case with $500,000 in damages, you recover $400,000. Insurance companies routinely argue comparative fault to reduce payouts. Building strong liability evidence from the outset limits how much fault can credibly be attributed to the pedestrian.

What if the driver who hit me was uninsured?

You still have options. If you own a vehicle with uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, that policy may apply to your pedestrian accident injuries. If you have no access to UM coverage, New York's MVAIC fund provides compensation for eligible pedestrians struck by uninsured or unidentified drivers. MVAIC has its own application process and deadlines. The firm's NYC pedestrian accident page covers uninsured driver scenarios in more detail.

What if a city bus or government vehicle hit me?

Claims against the City of New York, the MTA, or another government entity require a Notice of Claim filed within 90 days of the accident. This is a strict procedural requirement. Missing it typically bars the claim entirely, regardless of how clear the negligence was. The lawsuit itself must then be filed within one year and 90 days from the accident date. The firm has extensive experience with MTA and city bus pedestrian accident claims.

Should I accept the insurance company's first settlement offer?

No. First offers are almost always significantly below the actual value of the claim. Insurers make early offers before the full scope of injuries is documented and before future medical costs can be calculated, precisely because accepting means signing away all future claims. Once a release is signed, there is no path back to additional compensation even if injuries worsen. The firm advises every client to complete medical treatment and consult an attorney before accepting any settlement offer.

What does it cost to hire Michael Gunzburg, P.C. for a pedestrian accident case?

Nothing upfront. The firm handles Manhattan pedestrian accident cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no hourly charges, no retainer fees, and no costs billed to the client during the case. The legal fee is a percentage of the compensation recovered and is paid only if there is a recovery. If the case does not result in compensation, no fee is owed. The free initial consultation carries no obligation.

Areas Michael Gunzburg, P.C. Serves in Manhattan

Michael Gunzburg, P.C. represents pedestrian accident victims throughout Manhattan, from the Financial District and Tribeca through Midtown, Chelsea, the Upper East and West Sides, Harlem, and Washington Heights. The firm also serves clients injured in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Pedestrian accidents near Times Square, Columbus Circle, Union Square, Herald Square, and along the borough's busiest corridors all fall within the firm's regular practice. Cases involving MTA buses, private commercial vehicles, and city-owned vehicles are handled across all five boroughs.

Get Your Free Case Evaluation Today

You have a limited window to protect your claim, collect evidence, and meet New York's filing deadlines. Call Michael Gunzburg, P.C. at (212) 725-8500, calls are returned within 24 hours. There are no upfront fees and no obligation. If the firm takes your case, you pay nothing unless there is a recovery.