Long Island City Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Long Island City sits at one of the most congested intersections of pedestrian and vehicle traffic in all of New York. Queensboro Plaza, Jackson Avenue, Thomson Avenue, Northern Boulevard, and the approaches to the Queensboro Bridge all funnel thousands of vehicles and foot travelers into the same compact corridors every day. When a driver fails to yield, runs a red light, or cuts a turn too aggressively, the consequences for someone on foot are immediate and often catastrophic. If you were struck by a vehicle in Long Island City, a Long Island City pedestrian accident lawyer at Cohan Law Firm can help you understand what your injuries are worth and how to pursue full compensation from the responsible parties.
Pedestrians in New York City have the legal right of way in most crossing situations, but that legal protection means nothing to the driver who never slowed down. What matters in the aftermath is documentation, medical treatment, and a clear legal strategy that accounts for every element of your loss. That includes hospital and rehabilitation costs, the income you could not earn while recovering, any permanent impairment to your ability to work or move freely, and the real pain and disruption this crash has imposed on your daily life. These claims are worth building carefully, not settling quickly.
The insurance industry knows that injured pedestrians are often in financial distress after a crash. Medical bills accumulate, work stops, and the pressure to accept a fast settlement can feel overwhelming. That is precisely why having an attorney review your claim before you speak to any insurance adjuster matters so much. What an insurer offers in the first weeks is almost never what the claim is actually worth.
How Cohan Law Firm Approaches Pedestrian Accident Cases in Long Island City
Cohan Law Firm has recovered over $100 million for accident victims across New York City, representing clients in car accidents, pedestrian strikes, construction incidents, and other serious injury cases throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Long Island. Our attorneys come from large firm backgrounds and work alongside experienced support staff and medical professionals who help us assess the full scope of a client’s injuries from the earliest stages of a case. Several of our attorneys are members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a distinction reserved for trial lawyers who have secured results of $1 million or more.
What that means for someone hurt in Long Island City is that your case will be handled by a team that regularly takes on major insurance carriers and knows how those carriers evaluate and attempt to minimize pedestrian injury claims. We have earned over 550 five-star client reviews, and the themes running through that feedback are consistent: responsive communication, genuine attention to each person’s situation, and results that exceeded expectations. We handle consultations and sign retainer agreements digitally, so you never have to travel to an office while you are still recovering. As a pedestrian accident attorney serving Long Island City, we focus on building the strongest possible record of what happened, who caused it, and what it has cost you.
Types of Pedestrian Accidents That Happen in Long Island City
- Crosswalk and intersection strikes: Long Island City’s grid is dense with high-volume intersections at Jackson Avenue, Skillman Avenue, and the area around Court Square. Drivers who run red lights or fail to yield to pedestrians crossing with the signal account for a large portion of serious pedestrian injuries in western Queens.
- Turning vehicle collisions: Left and right turns at busy intersections are among the most common ways pedestrians get hit. Drivers accelerating through a turn to beat oncoming traffic often do not see a pedestrian who has already stepped into the crosswalk.
- Sidewalk vehicle intrusions: Crashes where vehicles leave the roadway and strike people on the sidewalk do occur near heavily trafficked commercial corridors and parking areas. These crashes frequently involve loss of vehicle control, mechanical failure, or impaired driving.
- Construction zone pedestrian accidents: Long Island City has experienced significant development over the past decade. Active construction zones can redirect pedestrian traffic into dangerous proximity with vehicles, and when signage, barriers, or flagging is inadequate, serious injuries result.
- Truck and commercial vehicle accidents: Delivery trucks and larger commercial vehicles making wide turns or backing up in tight spaces create hazards for pedestrians that are particularly severe given the size differential. Blind spot accidents involving these vehicles are common in industrial and mixed-use corridors.
- Rideshare and taxi pickup zone collisions: With Long Island City’s proximity to Manhattan and its growing residential density, Uber, Lyft, and yellow cab activity is high. Pedestrians are often struck near transit hubs or residential buildings where drivers stop abruptly or open doors without checking.
- Hit-and-run incidents: A driver who flees the scene after striking a pedestrian creates additional legal complexity, but New York’s uninsured motorist coverage and other recovery mechanisms may still provide a path to compensation. Our Long Island City pedestrian accident attorneys know how to pursue these claims.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Long Island City
The actions you take in the hours and days following a pedestrian accident in Long Island City have a real impact on the strength of your legal claim. The most important step is getting medical attention. Even if you believe your injuries are minor at the scene, some of the most significant injuries from pedestrian strikes, including traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and soft tissue damage to the spine, do not produce obvious symptoms right away. Go to a hospital emergency room or urgent care and let physicians document what they find. NewYork-Presbyterian Queens and Elmhurst Hospital Center are both accessible from Long Island City. Your medical records from that initial visit become a foundational part of your case.
If you are physically able to do so at the scene, call the police and wait for an officer to arrive. A police report creates an official record of the crash, the driver’s information, witness statements, and the officer’s initial observations. Obtain the report number before you leave. If witnesses stop, ask for their contact information directly, because witness availability often fades quickly after an accident. Photograph everything you can: the vehicle that struck you, the intersection or crosswalk, any traffic signals or signage, your injuries, your clothing and footwear.
New York pedestrian accident claims are governed by the state’s personal injury statute of limitations, which gives most injured people three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. However, if a government entity, a City vehicle, or a City employee is involved in your accident, the deadline to file a formal Notice of Claim is significantly shorter, often as few as 90 days. Missing that window can forfeit your right to recover from a municipal defendant entirely. This distinction matters in Long Island City, where MTA buses, City Department of Sanitation vehicles, and other government-operated vehicles are common. Contacting a pedestrian accident attorney serving Long Island City as early as possible protects your access to every avenue of recovery.
Queens County Supreme Court at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica handles personal injury actions in Queens, including those arising from pedestrian accidents in Long Island City. Queens Civil Court handles smaller claims. If your case involves a City of New York defendant, the New York City Comptroller’s Office processes Notices of Claim. Our attorneys handle all of this procedural coordination on your behalf.
What Compensation Covers in a Serious Pedestrian Injury Case
Pedestrian accidents tend to produce some of the most severe injury profiles in personal injury law. Unlike vehicle occupants, people on foot have no metal frame, no airbag, and no seatbelt between them and the impact. Fractures, head and brain injuries, spinal cord damage, internal organ trauma, and severe road abrasions are common outcomes. Recovery timelines are often measured in months, and permanent impairment is not unusual in high-speed or large-vehicle strikes.
When our Long Island City pedestrian injury attorneys evaluate what a case is worth, we account for the full picture. Past medical expenses are the starting point, but future medical costs matter just as much, particularly for clients facing surgeries, long-term rehabilitation, or ongoing medication needs. Lost income from time missed at work is recoverable, and so is diminished earning capacity if your injuries limit what you can do professionally in the future. Pain and suffering damages are not capped in New York personal injury cases involving motor vehicles, and in serious injury cases they can represent a substantial portion of a fair settlement or verdict.
New York operates under a comparative negligence framework, which means that even if you are found to have contributed to the accident in some way, such as crossing against a signal or stepping outside a marked crosswalk, you can still recover damages. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, not eliminated. Insurance companies frequently raise comparative negligence arguments to reduce their exposure. Understanding how those arguments are made and how to counter them is part of what an experienced pedestrian accident law firm brings to a case.
Questions About Long Island City Pedestrian Accident Claims
How long does a pedestrian accident case in Queens typically take to resolve?
Resolution timelines vary considerably. Cases where liability is straightforward and injuries are well-documented sometimes settle within several months of demand. Cases involving disputed liability, severe injuries with ongoing medical treatment, or government defendants can take two years or more to resolve, particularly if litigation is required. Queens Supreme Court cases do move through trial calendars, but many serious personal injury cases settle before reaching a courtroom. Your attorney can give you a more specific assessment once the facts of your case are known.
What if the driver who hit me was uninsured?
New York requires all registered vehicles to carry auto insurance, but uninsured drivers do exist. If the driver who struck you carried no insurance, there may still be recovery available through your own uninsured motorist coverage if you have a vehicle policy, through a household member’s policy, or in some cases through the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation, which New York established specifically to help accident victims who cannot recover from an uninsured or hit-and-run driver.
Can I recover if I was jaywalking when I was hit?
Yes. New York’s comparative negligence rules allow you to recover even if you were partially at fault. Crossing outside a crosswalk or against a signal may reduce your recovery by a percentage reflecting your share of fault, but it does not bar your claim entirely. Whether and how much fault is assigned to you is a factual question that depends on the specific circumstances, and a driver still has a duty to exercise reasonable care to avoid hitting pedestrians regardless of where they are crossing.
What should I say to the insurance adjuster after the accident?
As little as possible, and nothing without speaking to an attorney first. Insurance adjusters may contact you quickly after an accident, sometimes within 24 to 48 hours. Their goal is to gather information that can be used to minimize the claim. Statements you make early, before the full extent of your injuries is even known, can be used against you later. You are not required to give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurer. Directing them to contact your attorney is the safest and most effective approach.
Does New York’s no-fault insurance system apply to pedestrian accidents?
New York’s no-fault system, which covers medical expenses and lost wages through the vehicle owner’s personal injury protection coverage, extends to pedestrians struck by motor vehicles. You may be entitled to no-fault benefits through the insurer of the vehicle that hit you even though you were not inside the vehicle. No-fault benefits cover initial medical costs and a portion of lost wages. They do not cover pain and suffering, which requires a separate liability claim against the at-fault driver, and they are available only if you meet certain filing deadlines.
What if the vehicle that hit me was an MTA bus?
Accidents involving MTA buses or other public transit vehicles require filing a Notice of Claim against the relevant public authority within a specific and short window after the accident. The timeline is much tighter than the standard personal injury limitation period. Failure to file on time can bar your claim entirely. If an MTA bus or another government-operated vehicle was involved in your accident, contacting an attorney immediately is essential.
Are pedestrian accidents at construction sites in Long Island City handled differently?
Construction-related pedestrian injuries often involve multiple liable parties beyond just the driver of a vehicle. A contractor responsible for routing pedestrians unsafely, a property owner who failed to maintain adequate signage, or a general contractor who did not supervise subcontractors properly may all bear legal responsibility. New York’s scaffold and construction safety laws also intersect with some pedestrian accident scenarios in active work zones. These cases typically require careful investigation of site permits, OSHA records, and contractor agreements.
My injuries seemed minor at first but got worse. Does that affect my claim?
Delayed symptom development is medically common after pedestrian accidents, particularly for neurological injuries and spinal conditions. What matters legally is that you sought medical evaluation promptly after the accident and continued to receive care as symptoms developed. Gaps in treatment can create arguments that your injuries were not caused by the accident or that they are not as serious as claimed. Keeping consistent medical records that document your ongoing symptoms and treatment is important throughout the life of your case.
How is fault determined when a pedestrian is hit in a crosswalk with a walk signal?
When a pedestrian is crossing legally, with the signal, within a marked crosswalk, the driver who strikes them faces a strong presumption of fault. New York law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians who have a walk signal and to exercise due care to avoid collisions with pedestrians at all times. The investigation will typically focus on traffic camera footage, eyewitness accounts, the driver’s speed, cellphone records, and physical evidence like skid marks and point of impact. Our team works to preserve and analyze this evidence quickly.
What does it cost to hire Cohan Law Firm for a pedestrian accident case?
Cohan Law Firm handles pedestrian accident cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs and no fees unless we recover compensation for you. This structure ensures that access to legal representation does not depend on your financial situation at the time of the accident. All consultations are free, and we handle the process digitally so you can move your case forward from wherever you are.
Representing Pedestrian Accident Victims Across Long Island City and Surrounding Queens Communities
Cohan Law Firm represents pedestrian accident victims throughout Long Island City and across the broader Queens and New York City area. Our clients come from the Court Square and Hunters Point neighborhoods at the core of Long Island City, as well as from Astoria, Sunnyside, Woodside, and Maspeth to the north and east. We also serve clients in Greenpoint and Williamsburg in Brooklyn, which sit just across Newtown Creek from Long Island City and share many of the same traffic corridors. Our representation extends through the broader Queens borough, including Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Forest Hills, Rego Park, Flushing, Jamaica, and Howard Beach.
Across the Bronx, we represent clients in Mott Haven, the South Bronx, Fordham, and Pelham Bay. In Manhattan, we serve clients from Midtown through the Upper East Side, East Harlem, Washington Heights, and Lower Manhattan. Pedestrian injury claims across all five boroughs fall within our regular practice, and we regularly represent clients from Staten Island as well. If you were hit by a vehicle anywhere in New York City or on Long Island and you need an attorney who understands pedestrian injury law and knows how to build a serious claim, our team is ready to help.
Speak with a Long Island City Pedestrian Accident Attorney About Your Case
Cohan Law Firm is available now to evaluate what happened to you and what your options are. There is no pressure, no cost, and no obligation attached to that conversation. A Long Island City pedestrian accident attorney from our team will listen to the specifics of your case, explain how New York law applies to your situation, and give you an honest assessment of what pursuing a claim would look like. We handle the entire legal process so that you can concentrate on recovery, and we do not collect a fee unless we recover money for you. Call us today or reach out online to set up your free consultation.