Dragged by a Vehicle as a Pedestrian in Brooklyn: What Are My Options?

Pedestrians typically suffer severe, life-altering injuries after being dragged by vehicles. Contact Cohan Law, PLLC to determine the most appropriate legal steps after a pedestrian accident in Brooklyn. These are emergency-level civil cases because evidence can disappear quickly, the driver may flee, and the victim may need access to several different sources of recovery, including the driver’s auto policy, the registered owner’s insurance, uninsured motorist coverage, no-fault benefits, or the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC).

Woman Drags Pedestrian for Half a Mile in Brooklyn While Trying to Escape Crash

On May 27th, 2026, News12 Brooklyn reported that police had charged a woman with criminally negligent homicide and other offenses after a fatal pedestrian accident in Flatbush. Police say the 64-year-old victim was begging for change when the 30-year-old driver struck him.

The driver then continued to press on the accelerator in an attempt to flee the scene, dragging the victim underneath her sedan for half a mile before his lifeless body finally became dislodged. First responders found him with severe trauma across his face and body, ultimately pronouncing him dead at the scene.

For families in Flatbush and throughout Brooklyn, this type of case raises both criminal and civil issues. Criminal prosecutors may pursue charges against the driver, but the family’s financial recovery usually depends on a separate civil claim or wrongful death lawsuit.

Hit-and-Run Drivers Violate New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 600

New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 600 is the state’s leaving-the-scene statute. When a driver is involved in a crash that causes personal injury, that driver must stop, provide required identifying and insurance information, and report the incident as required by law. A driver who strikes a pedestrian and then keeps going may face serious criminal consequences, especially when the pedestrian is badly injured or killed.

For the injured victim or surviving family, the hit-and-run is also important civil evidence. Fleeing the scene may show consciousness of wrongdoing, may support a negligence claim, and may help explain why the victim was deprived of immediate emergency assistance. Cohan Law can work to preserve NYPD records, 911 audio, police body-camera footage, nearby surveillance video, dashcam footage, traffic-camera footage, and witness statements before they are lost or overwritten.

The Registered Vehicle Owner May Also Be Responsible

Even if the driver initially flees, the registered owner of the vehicle may still be a critical defendant. Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 388, the negligence of a person who uses or operates a vehicle with the owner’s permission may be imputed to the vehicle owner. In practice, that means the owner’s auto insurance policy may be available even when the owner was not personally behind the wheel.

It is one of the most important steps in a Brooklyn pedestrian dragging case. Cohan Law can use police records, plate information, DMV records, insurance information, and other investigative tools to identify the vehicle owner and determine whether the driver had permission to use the car. If permission is established or presumed and not successfully rebutted, the owner and the owner’s insurer may be responsible for the driver’s negligence.

What if I Survived Being Dragged by a Vehicle?

A person who survives being dragged by a vehicle typically faces life-altering injuries. Crush injuries are particularly common in this scenario, as the weight of even a small sedan can easily shatter bones and pulverize organs.

Friction burns (also known as “road rash”) are also common in this scenario. A victim’s body may scrape against the roadway in a way that removes multiple layers of skin, potentially down to the bone. Not only do these injuries pose a high risk of infection, but they can also be permanently disfiguring.

Compression of this nature can lead to spinal cord injuries as well. If a victim manages to survive, they may face a lifetime of paralysis. Other possible injuries include traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, amputations, pelvic fractures, nerve damage, infection, respiratory trauma, and permanent scarring.

What if the Driver Is Uninsured or Never Identified?

New York has a safety-net system for certain victims of hit-and-run and uninsured vehicle crashes. Under Insurance Law Article 52, MVAIC may provide benefits when an injured pedestrian has no other available auto insurance and was hurt by an unidentified or uninsured vehicle. MVAIC can be especially important when the driver fled the scene, the plates were not captured, or the vehicle was uninsured.

Strict deadlines apply. MVAIC states that a Notice of Intention generally must be submitted within 90 days of a hit-and-run or unidentified motor vehicle accident. That is why it is so important to involve a lawyer early. Cohan Law can determine whether you should pursue the driver, the registered owner, an insurer, MVAIC, or some combination of available claims.

What if I Lost a Loved One to a Dragging Incident?

If your loved one died after being dragged by a negligent motorist, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This could help the entire family pay the bills, especially in regard to funeral costs or lost future paychecks. In New York, wrongful death claims are governed by the Estates, Powers and Trusts Law. EPTL § 5-4.1 generally requires the personal representative of the estate to bring the claim, and the lawsuit is generally subject to a two-year statute of limitations from the date of death.

Damages are addressed under EPTL § 5-4.3. Recoverable damages may include funeral expenses, medical expenses related to the final injury, lost financial support, lost services, and certain other economic losses suffered by distributees. New York wrongful death law is narrower than many families expect because it traditionally focuses on pecuniary losses rather than the family’s grief. However, a related survival claim may also be available for the victim’s conscious pain and suffering before death.

Does a Criminal Case Help the Civil Case?

It can. New York Penal Law § 125.10 defines criminally negligent homicide as causing the death of another person through criminal negligence. If a driver is convicted of criminally negligent homicide, leaving the scene, or another offense arising from the crash, that conviction may become important in the civil case. Under CPLR § 4513, a criminal conviction may be used as evidence affecting the convicted person’s credibility if that person testifies.

Key Takeaways

• Pedestrians often lose their lives after being dragged underneath vehicles
• Survivors may have crushed limbs, friction burns, and other life-altering injuries
• Drivers may drag pedestrians while attempting to flee accidents
• VTL § 600 requires drivers involved in injury crashes to stop, provide information, and report the incident as required by law
• VTL § 388 may allow a claim against the registered vehicle owner and the owner’s insurer
• MVAIC may provide a safety net when a pedestrian is injured by an uninsured or unidentified hit-and-run vehicle
• Wrongful death claims in New York are generally subject to a two-year deadline under EPTL § 5-4.1

Can a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Brooklyn Help Me?

A pedestrian accident attorney in Brooklyn may be able to help if a negligent driver dragged you or someone you love. Often, these drivers continue to press on the accelerator even while hearing the screams of victims underneath their vehicles. There is no excuse, and you may be able to take effective legal action for this reckless conduct. Are you recovering after being dragged underneath a vehicle? Contact Cohan Law, PLLC to learn more about your next steps during a free consultation.

Sources:

nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/VAT/388

nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/ISC/A52

nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/EPT/5-4.1

nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/EPT/5-4.3