A person on foot has no protection against a two-ton vehicle. Pedestrian and bicycle knockdowns cause some of the most serious injuries we see.
Drivers must use care to avoid hitting people in the road. When they do not, they are responsible.
How Pedestrians Get Hit
- Drivers turning through a crosswalk without yielding
- Speeding and running red lights
- Distracted driving
- Trucks and buses with large blind spots
- Vehicles backing up
- Opening a car door into a cyclist
- Hit and run drivers
Related Pedestrian Injury Pages
Results
Settlement recovered for a pedestrian who sustained catastrophic injuries after being struck by a runaway truck.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Who Pays
A pedestrian struck by a vehicle is most often covered under that vehicle's no-fault insurance, which generally pays medical bills and part of lost wages, even if you do not own a car.
For everything beyond that, including pain and suffering, we bring a claim against the driver and the vehicle owner. If the driver fled or had no insurance, other coverage may apply. Notice rules for those claims are strict.
Were You Outside the Crosswalk?
Partly at fault? You can still recover in New York. Your award is reduced by your share of the fault. It is not wiped out.
What You Can Recover
- Medical bills, past and future
- Lost wages and loss of future earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- In death cases, the financial losses to the family
Deadlines
No-fault benefits pay medical bills and part of lost wages, up to $50,000 per person, no matter who caused the crash. Written notice to the insurer is generally due within 30 days of the accident. There are some circumstances where the insurance company will make exceptions.
Most New York injury lawsuits must be filed within three years of the accident.
If a City vehicle or MTA bus hit you: Claims against the City of New York, the Transit Authority, NYCHA, or another public agency move faster. A written notice of claim is generally due within 90 days, and the lawsuit generally must be filed within one year and 90 days.
Common Questions
The driver left the scene. Do I have a case?
You may. Report it to the police immediately and call us. Coverage may be available through a household auto policy or a state fund, but the deadlines are short.
I do not own a car. Who pays my hospital bills?
Generally the no-fault coverage on the vehicle that hit you.
I was on a bike. Is that handled the same way?
In most respects, yes. A cyclist hit by a motor vehicle is generally treated much like a pedestrian. Our office will confirm what applies to your claim after we discuss it and complete the necessary research.
Hit by a City vehicle?
Claims against the City of New York have a much shorter deadline. In most cases a Notice of Claim must be filed within 90 days. Call us right away.
Talk to a Lawyer Today
The consultation is free. There is no fee unless we win, and we advance the costs of the case. You speak with your attorney directly, not a call center.