New York City Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

One of the best things about New York City is how easy it is to get around by foot. With its ever growing population and driver distractions, however, being a pedestrian can lead to serious injuries. Not unlike bicycle riders, pedestrians are completely exposed. Any accident involving a pedestrian and a larger vehicle can be devastating, more so to the individual who is not protected by tons of steel.

If you have been injured on New York City streets, it is important that you contact a New York City pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact Michael Gunzburg, P.C., to learn more about how we can help.

Select An Experienced Pedestrian Accident Attorney

When choosing a New York City Pedestrian Accident Lawyer, our clients want to speak directly with an experienced and knowledgeable attorney. With 37 years of legal experience, have handled many pedestrian’s struck by vehicles in New York City. We strive to give you the best personal service available, communicate with you regularly, and get you the best possible outcome in your case.

In many areas of New York City, drivers are constantly distracted by cellphones, texting, eating, drinking, talking, etc., and just fail to see what is obvious- you walking across the street. Let us put 37 years of successful trial experience to work for you on your case.

NYC 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.”

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:

Crosswalk accidents
Hit-and-run accidents
Bicycles hitting pedestrians
Collisions in parking lots
Taxicab collisions with pedestrians
Truck accidents, including cars or trucks backing up into pedestrians
Bus accidents involving pedestrians
Poorly maintained sidewalks

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:

Pedestrians are 10 times more likely to die than a vehicle occupant in a motor vehicle crash.
Pedestrians account for 52 percent of traffic fatalities in 2005-2009.
27 percent of the fatal pedestrian crashes involve drivers failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians.
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.

New York City Pedestrian Accidents FAQ

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.

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 37 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

If I have been in an accident, what should I do?
Call an ambulance, call the police, and then call us. If possible, take photographs of the vehicles involved in the accident. Take photographs of your injuries, and also the accident scene. Gather the names of witnesses and their contact information. You should provide all of this information to us.

Should I seek medical attention immediately after an accident?
Yes, even if you think your injuries are minor or may go away. No one wants to be in an accident, and people are generally in denial about their injuries. But the best way to protect yourself, and your case, is to get medical attention and make sure that all of your injuries are addressed by a medical professional.

Do I still have a case, even if I was partly at fault for the accident?
In New York State, you are allowed to file a claim against others for your injuries, even if you were partly at fault for the accident which resulted in the injury.

Is there any way that I can have my medical expenses covered?
If your injury was caused by an accident which involved an automobile, then that vehicle’s no-fault coverage may be liable for your lost wages and all “reasonable and necessary medical expenses” related to the crash.

What type of damages can I recover for in a pedestrian accident?
If you were injured on a pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to recover damages for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and in certain cases, punitive damages. Here at Michael Gunzburg P.C. we nsure that every plausible claim will be pursued in order to bring you the relief you deserve.

What if another investigator wants to take my statement?
Our policy is not to provide statements to insurance company investigators and other people looking to take statements from our clients. Tell the investigator that you already have an attorney, and refer them to us. Do not make a statement to anyone in person or even over the phone. Investigators and insurance companies record their telephone conversations. These recorded statements can be used against you at the time of your trial.

Do I need to have a serious injury to seek compensation in a motor vehicle accident in NYS?
Yes, in NY you must have a serious injury in order to recover compensation for your personal injuries in an accident involving a motor vehicle. If your injuries do not rise to the level of a serious injury, your case may be dismissed by a judge. That is why it is important to consult with MICHAEL GUNZBURG, P.C. to ensure that you obtain the right information and guidance for your accident case. We can give you that important guidance that can make the difference in a case that gets reasonable compensation, or gets dismissed by the court.

What injuries qualify as a serious injury in New York State?
Under the Insurance Law of the State of New York a serious injury is defined as: death; dismemberment; significant disfigurement; a fracture; loss of fetus; permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function or system; permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member; significant limitation of use of a body function or system; or a medically determined injury or impairment of a non-permanent nature which prevents the injured person from performing substantially all of the material acts which constitutes such persons usual and customary daily activities not less than ninety (90) days during the hundred and eighty (180) days immediately following the occurrence of the injury or impairment.

Contact Our Manhattan Crosswalk Injury Attorney To Learn More

If you want to speak directly with a New York City Pedestrian Accident Lawyer, in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens or Staten Island, please call 212-725-8500 to schedule a free initial consultation or submit your information and questions online.

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