Fighting For Justice After Your Pedestrian Accident
Whether you are hit by a vehicle while walking across a crosswalk, or a car veers off the road and hits you, a pedestrian accident can have severe consequences. If you or a loved one suffered an injury after a pedestrian accident in New York, you need an attorney who understands the ins and outs of filing a personal injury claim.
At Rutberg Breslow Personal Injury Law, our Poughkeepsie lawyers can stand by your side and help fight for you in a pedestrian accident claim. We believe in your right to fair and just compensation after your accident. With over a century of combined experience, our personal injury lawyers have a reputation in the community for their negotiation and litigation skills. We will help you fight for what you deserve.
Understanding Pedestrian Accidents And Their Causes
From walking your dog to walking your kids to school, you are always at risk of drivers who do not pay attention to their surroundings and cause an accident. No matter how aware and alert you are, a car veering toward you can be difficult to avoid.
Common causes of pedestrian accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence
- Poorly marked crosswalks
- Poor visibility
- Unsafe turning
In New York, common pedestrian accidents include crosswalk collisions, sidewalk accidents and hit-and-runs.
Liability In Pedestrian Accidents
In a pedestrian accident, the liability and fault are typically on the driver who hit you. However, if a poorly marked crosswalk or bad road conditions contributed to the accident, the city or state government may also be held liable.
To establish liability, you must prove that the at-fault party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty and caused your injury. For example, if a distracted driver hit you while in a crosswalk, you can show that the driver owed you a duty and broke that duty by not paying attention.
Types Of Injuries From Pedestrian Accidents
With no automobile body to protect you, the impact of a car hitting you can be devastating and may lead to severe injuries and even fatalities. Common injuries victims of pedestrian accidents face include traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, internal organ damage, amputations and disfigurement. Some injuries, such as severe traumatic brain injuries, can cause symptoms and concerns for the rest of your life.
Seeking Compensation For Damages After A Pedestrian Accident
In New York, pedestrian accident victims can file a claim for economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages encompass tangible costs such as medical bills, lost wages, lost future wages and rehabilitation costs. Noneconomic damages include intangible harms, such as pain and suffering, mental trauma and diminished quality of life.
If you lost a loved one due to a pedestrian accident, you may file a claim for wrongful death on their behalf. In a wrongful death lawsuit, you can obtain damages for medical expenses, lost income, funeral expenses and loss of companionship.
Insurance Companies And The Legal Process In A Pedestrian Accident Case
In New York, pedestrians have three years after their accident to file a personal injury claim. That is why it is vital to get started on your case as soon as possible. After your initial consultation with one of our attorneys, our team will get started on gathering evidence and relevant medical records to start building your case.
Before you file a claim, you may receive communications from insurance companies offering you settlement agreements. While it may feel tempting to close out this chapter of your life sooner, you may lose out on your opportunity to obtain full and just compensation. Insurance companies only have their best interests in mind. Often, they will undervalue your claim and offer you much less than you deserve. At Rutberg Breslow Personal Injury Law, our attorneys will take over negotiations with insurers on your behalf.
Let Us Help You Fight For Justice
With experienced litigators and negotiators on our team, our attorneys at Rutberg Breslow Personal Injury Law can help you with your case from start to finish. You only have a limited time to file your claim, so don’t wait to get started.
Call us at 845-846-8120 or complete our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.