Pedestrian Accident

New York Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

At William Mattar, we handle motor vehicle accident cases involving one or more motor vehicle. This includes motor vehicle vs. pedestrian accidents. Drivers must obey traffic rules, including yielding to pedestrians who have the right-of-way. Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents still occur when drivers either don’t see people crossing streets, or they don’t understand who has the right-of-way.

If you were injured in a pedestrian accident that wasn’t your fault, talk to a pedestrian accident lawyer to find out if you have a case. We have helped thousands of injury victims and know that when there are serious injuries, immediate action should be taken. At William Mattar law offices, we are here to help injured pedestrians 24 hours a day. Give us a call at 844-noswap444-4444 or fill out our  free initial consultation form.

New York Pedestrian Accident Laws

A New York personal injury lawyer can help you understand all pedestrian laws that may be relevant to your case. The New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law includes various provisions designed to protect motorists and pedestrians on the state’s roadways. These provisions include:

• Pedestrians are subject to traffic control signals, signs, and pavement markings when crossing streets.
• When traffic-control signals aren’t in place or in operation, drivers should yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, slowing down or stopping so pedestrians can cross roadways within crosswalks.
• If there are no crosswalks, signs, or signals at mid-block locations, pedestrians should yield the right-of-way to vehicles.
• Pedestrians are not allowed on expressways or interstate highways.
• No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close it is impractical for the driver to yield.
• Drivers emerging from or entering alleyways, buildings, private roads, or driveways shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians on adjacent sidewalks.
• Drivers approaching intersections or crosswalks must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians accompanied by guide dogs or using canes.
• Pedestrians are required to use sidewalks where they are provided and safe to use. When sidewalks are not provided or are unsafe to use, pedestrians are required to walk on the left sides of roadways, facing traffic.

Have questions about New York’s pedestrian laws? Our attorneys have years of experience settling pedestrian accident cases, and we can help answer your questions.

Who is Responsible in a Pedestrian Accident? 

Drivers have a legal responsibility to be careful when encountering others on the road, including pedestrians. When a driver is not responsible, but is instead reckless, it can result in serious injury. For instance, if a motorist drives straight through a crosswalk, and strikes and injures a pedestrian, it’s safe to say that motorist was not exercising care. You could also say that this driver behaved in a “negligent” manner, and therefore may be liable for the accident. To receive compensation for a personal injury, a claim or lawsuit must establish liability.

Negligent driving behavior can include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Failing to yield the right of way;
• Inattentive or distracted driving;
• Drunk driving;
• Speeding or aggressive driving; and
• Failing to follow traffic laws or signals, such as red lights.

Pedestrians themselves can also be held responsible for an accident. In fact, in an accident case, more than one party can be considered partly liable. A pedestrian may carelessly walk out into the street, or fail to obey a traffic signal, and be injured by a motor vehicle. In this scenario, the motorist who struck them may not be entirely at fault. A pedestrian accident attorney at William Mattar can look at the facts of your case and help determine liability.

Am I Entitled to Compensation After a Pedestrian Accident?

Whether or not you are entitled to compensation may depend on the details of your pedestrian accident case. If the motorist who struck you was at fault, you may be able to file a claim against him or her. Also, New York is a “no-fault” insurance state. This means that regardless who is at fault, victims can receive damages for injuries sustained in an accident. However, no-fault insurance benefits may not cover all of your expenses.

If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical bills and other injury-related expenses;
• Lost wages or income;
• Pain and suffering; and
• Loss in quality of life.

A personal injury lawyer at William Mattar can analyze your case for potential sources of compensation.

Safety Tips for Pedestrians 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shares a few pedestrian safety tips that may help reduce the risk of a pedestrian traffic accident. These include increasing your visibility when walking at night (such as carrying a flashlight), crossing streets at designated crosswalks, walking on the sidewalk when possible, and avoiding electronic distractions.

Another way to exercise caution is to always check around obstacles—such as parked vehicles—before crossing the road. This is important because a pedestrian may not be able to see oncoming traffic if it’s blocked by another object.

How Can a Lawyer Help? 

Don’t be forced into signing something from the driver’s insurance company because you need money to pay for medical expenses. At William Mattar, we can fight to help you get the compensation you need to fully recover, including current and future medical costs and pain and suffering.

Our pedestrian injury lawyers will work hard to determine why your accident occurred and help you prove who was at fault. We understand New York State laws and will use them to help protect your rights when you’ve been hurt. Call 844-noswap444-4444 today.

Pedestrian Accident FAQ

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Additional Pedestrian Accident Information:

• I Was Hit by a Car While Crossing the Street. Do I Have a Case?
• Hit and Run Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
• Pedestrian Accident Outside of a Crosswalk
• Pedestrian Intersection Accidents
• School Zone Accidents