New York Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
New York is one of the most walkable cities in America, but our streets are far from safe. Over 100 pedestrians are killed in New York City every year, while thousands sustain serious to life-threatening injuries, all because of driver negligence. If you were hit by a distracted, aggressive, drunk, or otherwise negligent driver, we can help you get the compensation that you deserve. The New York pedestrian accident lawyers here at Cohan Law Firm know how to get results, and will never stop fighting for you and your rights as a victim of traffic violence.
Damages in New York Pedestrian Accident
The amount of compensation you receive from the at fault party depends on the policy size of the at fault party(s), the driver’s degree of fault, the competency of your lawyer, and the damages that have been caused to you. Compensable damages in a pedestrian accident include:
- Medical expenses
- Ongoing and future medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Lost earning ability
- Emotional distress
- Loss of joy of life
- Property damage
Common Pedestrian Injuries
A pedestrian is defined as any person on foot: walkers, joggers, runners, and people getting in and out of parked vehicles. Wheelchair users are also considered pedestrians under New York law. Because pedestrians have zero protection in the form of metal, safety glass, air bags, and seatbelts, their injuries are almost always severe when struck by vehicles, even at low speeds. Some of the most common pedestrian injuries include the following:
- Fractured leg or ankle
- Fractured arm
- Fractured collarbone
- Fractured wrist
- Fractured vertebrae
- Fractured hip
- Soft tissue injuries
- Whiplash
- Lacerations
- Deep contusions
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
Proving Fault in a New York Pedestrian Accident
Sometimes proving fault—or liability—is simple. Other times, it requires additional evidence on top of what is documented in the official accident report. This may include witness statements, expert witnesses, dashboard camera footage, surveillance camera footage, evidence based on the pedestrian’s injuries or damage to the vehicle, and crash scene forensic evidence. Proving fault is key in a successful pedestrian accident claim, as it determines the degree of liability of the driver, and how much the pedestrian victim can recover in damages. For example, if the driver is found to be only 80 percent at fault, the pedestrian can only be compensated for 80 percent of the worth of their total damages, and if the driver is only 70 percent at fault, the victim will only recover 70 percent of their damages, etc.
Call a New York Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
Even though pedestrians are given too little thought during the design of streets and cities, those on foot have a right to use roadways, sidewalks, crosswalks, parking lots, driveways and other public and private streets. If you were injured because a texting driver hit you while crossing the street, or a delivery van driver backed into an alleyway while you were using the sidewalk, or you were injured in any other way, call the New York pedestrian attorneys at Cohan Law Firm at 855-855-0321 for a complimentary consultation today.
