If you were hit by a car as a pedestrian in New York, you need an auto accident lawyer. Pedestrians have no physical protection in a collision, and insurance companies will fight hard to pay as little as possible. A pedestrian accident lawyer levels the playing field by fighting for the full compensation you are owed.
What to Know About Accident Cases Involving Pedestrians
When a car, truck, or SUV strikes a person on foot, the injuries are rarely minor. Broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and internal injuries are common outcomes. And they often come with staggering medical bills, lost income, or permanent disability.
The financial and emotional consequences can follow victims and their families for years. And the scale of pedestrian cases in New York is significant.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that pedestrian fatalities have risen sharply over the past decade, with urban environments like Long Island and New York City among the highest-risk areas in the country. These represent real people, real families, and real consequences that demand real legal accountability.
Comparative Negligence in NY
New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means that even if you are found partially at fault, you can still recover compensation. Your percentage of fault simply reduces your award.
Insurers tell many pedestrian accident victims that because they share some responsibility, they have no case. That is false. An experienced pedestrian accident lawyer understands how to minimize any assigned fault and maximize your recovery.
Insurance companies know all of this. They have legal teams whose sole job is to investigate pedestrian cases and find every possible reason to reduce or deny a claim. Their arguments are designed to shift blame and protect the insurer’s bottom line.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in New York
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield
- Speeding
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Drivers turning without checking for foot traffic
- Drunk or impaired driving
- Poor road design
- Inadequate lighting
- Missing crosswalk markings
Cases involving pedestrians are among the most serious personal injury claims and the most aggressively contested by insurance companies. Contact an experienced legal advocate today.
What a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Do for You
A good pedestrian accident lawyer doesn’t add to your burden. They lift it. The days and weeks after a pedestrian accident are a blur of hospital visits, follow-up appointments, and physical recovery. And the last thing you need is an insurance adjuster calling to ask questions designed to minimize your claim.
Sullivan and Sullivan pedestrian accident lawyers handle communications on your behalf. We act immediately to preserve evidence by filing legal holds on footage, photographing the scene, securing the police report, and identifying every witness who saw what happened.
Insurance companies make early settlement offers that sound reasonable but fall far short of covering everything a victim is truly owed. We know what your case is worth, and we don’t settle for less.
Many law firms settle every case because trials are expensive, time-consuming, and unpredictable. Sullivan and Sullivan are different. We are experienced trial attorneys, and insurance companies know it. That reputation alone often compels insurers to offer fairer settlements.
Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one has been struck by a vehicle as a pedestrian, the window to build a strong case is shorter than you may realize. Don’t wait. Call Sullivan and Sullivan pedestrian accident lawyers today for a confidential consultation.
