Staten Island Hit In Crosswalk Attorney

Struck By A Car While Crossing The Street?

For a pedestrian, New York City is one of the most welcoming places in the world. With close to 13,000 miles of sidewalks, thousands of signaled crosswalks, and perhaps the finest public transportation system in North America, it’s very easy to get around without using a car. As a matter of fact, New York is the only American city where fewer than half of all households own a car.

Unfortunately, car culture still dominates in the US, and New York City pedestrians share the streets with more than 2 million locally registered vehicles, plus a quarter million commuter automobiles, as well as the thousands of buses and work vehicles that keep the city humming. Up to 100,000 bicyclists join this mix every day, creating a traffic and mobility picture that is complicated, to say the least. Accidents are bound to happen in any transportation environment with this many moving parts, and New York is no exception.

Pedestrians accounted for 52% of traffic fatalities from 2005-2009. Approximately 300 pedestrians are killed and 15,000 are injured by motor vehicles each year on the state’s roadways, and more than 3,000 pedestrians are admitted to the hospital annually. Additionally, around 4,000 bicyclists are also seriously injured and about 20 of them die from serious collisions involving motor vehicles. When this kind of accident happens to you or a family member, it’s important to discuss your situation with a Staten Island lawyer who understands pedestrian injury cases.

The law favors pedestrians over automobiles in New York. Even if the light has changed or a signal has been ignored by a pedestrian, a vehicle operator might still be liable for an accident: drivers are required to operate safely and look out for dangers, including pedestrians and cyclists. Even if a pedestrian is hit while crossing a street away from a crosswalk, a driver will commonly be found to be at fault, especially if the pedestrian was clearly visible.

There are important considerations regarding pedestrian accidents that need to be taken into account. It is sometimes the case, for instance, that the injuries caused in a pedestrian knockdown accident don’t always show up immediately. It could take weeks, or even months, for the seriousness of a serious head, neck, or back injury to be revealed. Insurance companies will frequently attempt to quickly resolve pedestrian accident claims by offering cash settlements, but this might not be in the accident victim’s best interest. Working with a law firm that understands this kind of case, and has the resources to track down witnesses, reconstruct the accident, collect evidence, and consult with outside medical experts about your injuries is one of the best things you can do.

Hardworking Crosswalk Injury Attorneys in Staten Island

More than 30 times every day a car, truck, taxi, bus, or other vehicle hits a pedestrian or cyclist and leaves the victim with serious and lasting injuries. If you or a loved one has been the victim of one of these serious accidents, don’t accept a quick settlement before discussing your case with a professional.  Certain kinds of claims must be submitted within 30 days of an accident, so you need to act swiftly. Meet with Kuharski, Levitz, & Giovinazzo today to discuss your case. Call 1-877-328-5792 now.

See Also: Fatal Car Accident Experienced Lawyer, Click here.

Citations

Key Findings of the New York City Pedestrian Safety Study
https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/nyc_ped_safety_study_action_plan.pdf

Pedestrian Safety: It’s No Accident, NYS Department of Health
https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/injury_prevention/pedestrians.htm