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NYC Injury Lawyer > NYC Pedestrian Accident Information

Pedestrian Accident Information

There is no doubt, New York City is one of the best walking cities in the world. As a pedestrian walking on a sidewalk you can reach nearly any part of the city of New York without ever stepping foot into a taxi, car, bus, train or other form of public transportation. This ease in pedestrian accessibility has made New York City one of the premier travel destinations in the world.

As a pedestrian in New York City, you have total control and freedom over when, where and how you plan on accessing this great city. However, sometimes great autonomy comes at a high price. That price is the risk of being struck by a bicycle, a taxi, a car, a bus or a truck. Pedestrians are constantly subject to moving cars and motor vehicles that are not paying attention to the presence of pedestrians, bicycle delivery personnel who ride the wrong way on city streets and collide with them, or even defective sidewalks that have not been maintained. According to Mayor Bill de Blasio, “Our lives are literally in each other’s hands.”

Addressing Your Questions And Concerns

As a pedestrian in an accident, one of the first things that come to your mind is “How am I going to pay all my bills at home and also all the medical bills from this accident?” At Michael Gunzburg, P.C., we have dealt with this question by many of our clients who come to us after a tragic accident. We can guide you through the insurance coverage that may be available to you, and provide you with the peace of mind to know that all of your bills will be covered one way or another.

When you need a lawyer, get the BIG GUNZ®

Another big issue for most pedestrians in an accident, is how am I going to deal with all of the problems that I now have to face from this situation. We understand that you have a lot of anxiety and fear following a tragic pedestrian accident, and we stand ready to guide you through the law, and the courts to achieve fair and just compensation for all of your harms and damages. We tell all of our clients to focus on getting proper medical treatment, and get better as soon as possible, while we focus on the legal issues surrounding your case.

We have been representing pedestrians in New York City who have been struck by bicycles, taxis, cars, buses, vans, trucks, and even tractor-trailers for over 30 years. With almost three decades of trial experience handling pedestrians’ accidents, we have the knowledge, reputation, and a proven track record to successfully handle your case. We are familiar with the federal, state and local rules protecting pedestrians who lawfully walk across the street and get struck by negligent motor vehicle drivers. We strive for adequate, fair, and just compensation for all our clients. Let us put our expertise to work to help you recover from your pedestrian accident claim. We can help you recover the following:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss in quality of life
  • Physical therapy bills
  • Medications
  • Special medical devices
  • Child care

Injuries From Pedestrian Accidents

Injuries from a pedestrian accident can include broken bones, spinal injuries, leg injuries, and the list is limitless. These injuries can be very severe and eventually lead to catastrophic life-changing and permanent conditions or even death. Pedestrian accidents can take many forms, including:

By far the most prevalent pedestrian accident involves motor vehicles. When a pedestrian is struck by a motor vehicle, they can be seriously injured or even killed. In fact, in 2014, there were almost 15,000 pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes in New York State according to the NYSDMV summary of motor vehicle crashes, and 272 of those involved deaths. Pedestrians involved in motor vehicle crashes also have a much higher risk of being injured or killed. According the NYSDMV:

  1. Pedestrians are 10 times more likely to die than a vehicle occupant in a motor vehicle crash.
  2. Pedestrians account for 52 percent of traffic fatalities in 2005-2009.
  3. 27 percent of the fatal pedestrian crashes involve drivers failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians.
  4. Manhattan in particular has four times as many pedestrians killed or severely injured compared to the other four boroughs. (I suppose that implies drivers in Manhattan are busy driving too fast, and not paying attention to pedestrians around them.)

Vision Zero

Under Mayor de Blasio, City Hall woke up and instituted the “Vision Zero” initiative to combat the growing problem of pedestrian-related bike, car, bus and truck crashes, injuries and fatalities. The goal of the initiative is to reduce pedestrian-related motor vehicle deaths by reducing the city’s speed limits from 30 mph to 25 mph, expanding red light and speed tracking cameras that issue tickets, widening parking lanes, and increase police speed enforcement. While these initiatives have helped to reduce pedestrian hit-and-runs, and pedestrian crashes, if you or a loved one where involved in such a pedestrian accident, the statistics are meaningless. Despite all these efforts, New York City continues to hold a reputation of having the worst record in the United States for pedestrian fatalities.

Recent Success

We recently successfully resolved a pedestrian motor vehicle accident in Manhattan for $2.5 million. This case involved Caroline, a 51-year-old advertising executive who was crossing Seventh Avenue at West 13 th Street in Manhattan in the crosswalk with the light when a vehicle driven by Jermaine and owned by Alamo Financing was making a left-hand turn failed to yield the right away to Caroline. The vehicle violently struck Caroline and sent her flying up into the air about 10-15 feet and caused her to land onto the hard pavement. Caroline was placed in an ambulance and taken to the emergency room. At the hospital, she complained of right knee pain, they gave her a brace, immobilized her knee, placed her leg in a soft cast, and gave her crutches. She was told that she had broken bones in her knee. She eventually came under the care of an orthopedic surgeon. Over the course of several years, she underwent extensive physical therapy, Synvisc One Injections, pain killers, and other courses of therapy, none of which seemed to work. She eventually had surgery and received a partial knee replacement. She continues to recuperate from her injuries to the present date.

Contact Us Now

If you or a loved one has experienced a pedestrian motor vehicle accident, and were struck by a taxi, car, bus, truck, or tractor trailer, please call us. We are here to help you. The initial call and consultation is free, and there are no legal fees unless we are successful. Let us be your pedestrian accident lawyer. Call 212-725-8500 or email us today.

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