Long Island Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
According to the City of New York Police Department, 13,586 motor vehicle collisions occurred in February 2020, involving 26,956 motorists and 830 pedestrians. About six and a half percent of those motorists suffered an injury in these crashes, and four lost their lives. Of the 830 pedestrians involved, however, 100% were injured or killed, with 819 injuries and 11 deaths. The chance of catastrophic injury or wrongful death for a pedestrian hit by a motor vehicle is extremely high, or as was the case in February 2020, certain. Long Island pedestrian accident lawyer John Giuffré is focused on providing the utmost in care and representation for car accident victims in Nassau County, Long Island and New York City. If you or a loved one has been injured or worse in a pedestrian accident, call Giuffré Law Offices in Stewart Manor, Bayside (Queens) or Brooklyn. We can meet you at our offices or come to you at your home or in the hospital. We’ll gather the facts of your case and get to work right away securing a full and fair amount of compensation on your behalf.
Common causes of pedestrian accidents
Distracted driving. Drivers looking at their phones instead of the road has become the leading contributor to all types of car accidents. Distracted driving accidents have had their biggest toll on pedestrians and bicyclists, who are less visible and an easier target for distracted drivers.
Drunk driving. Drunk drivers have impaired peripheral vision (tunnel vision) that keeps them from seeing objects outside of their direct line of sight. By the time they notice a pedestrian in their path, the intoxicated driver’s delayed reflexes and impaired judgment make it too late to avoid an accident.
Intersections. Pedestrians are required by law to use marked crosswalks, and they have the right-of-way in a crosswalk. Crosswalks are the safest place to cross the street in theory, yet they are also the place where most pedestrian accidents happen. Crashes occur when drivers speed through intersections to outrun a yellow light or make a right or left-hand turn without adjusting for the presence of pedestrians crossing the street.
Unmarked crossings. When roads and intersections lack well-lit, unmarked crosswalks, pedestrians are forced to cross in the middle of the street, taking their chances that an oncoming vehicle will notice them and give them the right-of-way. Even when a car slows or stops to let a pedestrian pass, other drivers may not know why the driver stopped and will aggressively whip around them and hit the pedestrian. In addition to holding negligent drivers accountable, injured pedestrians might also have claims against city officials who designed streets without sufficient crossings or failed to maintain safe and adequate lighting.
Injured pedestrians can pursue no-fault benefits or claims for negligence
As an injured pedestrian, you can collect no-fault benefits from the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage of the driver who hit you. You could also access your own PIP policy or that of a family or household member if the other driver did not have insurance. This could be the case if you are struck by a motorcycle since motorcyclists don’t carry no-fault insurance. If the driver was uninsured or you were the victim of a hit-and-run pedestrian accident, you can recover compensation from your uninsured motorist (UM) policy, if you have one, or get no-fault benefits through MVAIC. You must act quickly and report the accident within 24 hours to secure MVAIC benefits.
If you are seriously injured, you can file a tort claim against the negligent driver and recover the full amount of legal damages, including present and future medical expenses, lost wages or earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Pedestrians injured in a New York auto accident are likely to meet the definition of serious injury under New York insurance law, which includes broken bones and other functional limitations. In a tort claim, you’ll need to be able to prove that the driver was negligent and caused your injuries, and you may need to stand firm against the insurance company’s claims that you weren’t watching where you were going or were somehow at least partially to blame in the accident. Our experienced personal injury trial lawyer can build a strong case for the other party’s fault while keeping you from being unfairly blamed for getting into an accident.
Get Help After a Pedestrian Accident in Long Island, Brooklyn or Queens
Injured pedestrians often must go through hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy and rehabilitation. While you are busy dealing with getting your body better, let us take on the task of holding the negligent driver accountable to you and secure compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering and other harm. Call Giuffré Law Offices at 516-802-9912 for a free consultation after a pedestrian accident in Nassau County, Long Island or New York City.
