Pedestrians are a vulnerable group of road users. Motorists must exercise due care to avoid accidents with pedestrians and follow other traffic rules. If a negligent driver who violated a safety law hit you, our Suffolk County personal injury lawyers provide a free consultation to determine your legal options. If you have a case, we will:
- Identify all liable parties
- Handle all communication with those parties
- Gather evidence to support your case
- Assess the financial extent of your injuries
- Provide timely updates regarding significant case developments
Our attorneys have been assisting people hurt by the negligence of others for over three decades; we are well prepared and determined to fight for your best interests.
- Client Focused and Results Driven Legal Representation at Your Side
- Recoverable Damages Following a Pedestrian Accident
- How the Legal Process Works
- Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
- What to Do If a Vehicle Struck You As a Pedestrian
- Contact Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Client Focused and Results Driven Legal Representation at Your Side
We believe if a negligent driver or other liable party caused your injuries, they should be held responsible for the consequences of their actions. While you are entitled to financial damages, the legal process is filled with technical rules, regulations and requirements.
For a person unfamiliar with the procedure in claims and lawsuits to handle it without the benefit of experienced legal counsel, it would be extremely challenging, especially while recovering from the accident.
Further, insurance companies often seek to stall, limit, or even deny. They may attempt to shift some or all of the blame for the accident to you. It is important to understand how to dispute unfounded accusations and questionable tactics.
In addition to managing and building your case, our pedestrian injury attorneys will stand up to insurance companies and level the playing field. We are here to support you and protect your best interests while securing meaningful financial recovery for your injuries and other related losses.
For a free legal consultation with a Pedestrian Accident lawyer serving Suffolk County, call 516-932-0400
Recoverable Damages Following a Pedestrian Accident
Pedestrians have no protection when a car driven by a negligent driver strikes them. As a result, victims often sustain severe injuries with long-term health issues, permanent disability, or in the worst cases, loss of life.
Further, with unexpected events such as an accident, families are often unprepared for the financial implications of their loved one being seriously injured, let alone the wrongful death of a loved one
The shock of the accident, coupled with physical pain, unplanned medical bills, and lost wages during recovery, will quickly take its toll. To assist our clients, we provide our services on a contingency basis. We do not collect attorney’s fees unless we recover financial damages in a settlement offer or court award. Your awards could include:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages
- Compensation if your employment is affected
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement and disability
If the accident caused the tragic loss of a loved one, we extend our deepest sympathy. We understand this is an extremely traumatic time for you. Our team is here, ready to help you learn more about a wrongful death injury claim. We promise that we will be compassionate, patient and comprehensive as we inform you of your options.
Suffolk County Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Near Me 516-932-0400
How the Legal Process Works
Pedestrians hit by motor vehicles are entitled to no-fault insurance benefits. An injured pedestrian must file their claim for no-fault benefits within 30 days of the date of the accident, according to New York State Department of Financial Services. As beneficial as no-fault coverage is, there are occasions when it simply is not enough to compensate you for the extent of your injuries.
If you are seriously hurt, the law permits you to file a lawsuit against the driver responsible for causing the accident. Your injuries will need to meet a legal threshold to qualify as a “serious” injury. Examples of injuries that meet the serious injury threshold include:
- A significant disfigurement
- A permanent loss of a bodily function, member, system, or organ
- A permanent limitation of a body member or organ
- A medically determined injury
- A fractured bone
- A miscarriage
- The combined wage and medical losses of more than $50,000
- Death
This list is not exhaustive, so discussing your situation with our injury attorneys is beneficial. They will explain more about the serious injury threshold under New York Insurance § 5102.
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Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
While many pedestrian accidents occur at busy intersections, other areas of concern include people exiting from a bus or taxi, in parking lots, or while walking or jogging along the side of the road. From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driver error is the leading cause of many accidents, which includes:
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Driver inattention
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Speeding
- Unsafe turning
- Backing up unsafely
- Disregarding traffic control signs and signals
Motorists are not always solely responsible for pedestrian accidents. Other contributing factors include defective vehicle parts, poorly maintained sidewalks, poorly marked crossroads, or hazardous road conditions.
Keep in mind; it is not always clear to determine who is at fault in many cases. If the driver denies liability for the accident, for example, our legal team will investigate what happened and determine who is liable for your injuries. We will also determine if there is liability on the part of any party in addition to the at-fault driver.
While the owner of the at-fault vehicle will be legally liable as well, additional parties may be responsible as well. For example, a municipality if the road design or maintenance caused the accident, an auto manufacturer if a product defect caused the at-fault vehicle to malfunction or a bar if over-serving alcohol to an intoxicated person was the cause of the accident.
These examples are just a few of the many potential scenarios that can create legal responsibility on the part of a party beyond the at-fault driver alone. The fact that liability can arise under such a wide variety of circumstances reinforces the prudence of consulting with one of our experienced and dedicated Suffolk County pedestrian accident lawyers for a careful file review.
We want to make sure every responsible party is held accountable and that you get every dollar you deserve.
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What to Do If a Vehicle Struck You As a Pedestrian
Substantial evidence and testimony play critical roles in the outcome of many personal injury cases. After an accident, following the points below will protect your health and provide valuable information for your insurance claim or possible injury lawsuit. You should, and within the limits of your immediate health and safety:
- Seek medical care and call the police to report the accident
- Obtain driver and witness information
- Avoid discussing blame
- Gather evidence at the scene by taking pictures if you are able
- Document your injuries
- Keep records of all expenses and bills relating to the accident
- Learn about your legal options during a free consultation
Contact Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you were injured by a negligent motorist while out walking or jogging in Suffolk County, the attorneys at Friedman & Simon, L.L.P., are dedicated to making things right. With over 30 years of experience obtaining financial recovery for victims, we treat our clients with genuine compassion and professionalism.
As such, we are proud of the positive changes our legal services have made to the lives of our clients. We are keen to hear from you, too. Please contact our team for a free consultation at (516) 932-0400 to learn about your legal options.
Call or text 516-932-0400 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form