NY Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

Legal Options for Pedestrians and Bicyclists Hit by a Car

From our experience, lawsuits filed by pedestrians and bicyclists hit by a car in Upstate New York happen more frequently than you would think. Unfortunately, drivers accused of running into a pedestrian will blame the victim, the glare of the sun, an obstructed view, or anything but themselves. If your family member was a pedestrian or bicycle rider hit by a car, a lawyer with a successful track record handling these cases can keep the focus on the carelessness or recklessness of the driver.

The legal team at E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy has handled a significant number of pedestrian and bike accidents in decades of personal injury litigation, including wrongful death lawsuits for fatal accidents. Our attorneys work diligently to establish fault and convince the insurance companies to award full and fair compensation for the devastation.

We’ve prepared a valuable list of things to do (and not do) in the case of an automobile accident.

Download a copy for easy reference.

If a loved one was badly hurt in a bicycle or pedestrian accident, contact us now. Time is of the essence.

Injured Riding Your Bicycle in NY? Know Your Legal Rights

Our attorneys work fast to obtain witness statements, examine the vehicle, preserve debris, and document conditions at the site of the accident, with the help of expert investigators if necessary. We are skilled at establishing the failure to yield, lane change, illegal turn, sudden right turn, or other kinds of aggressive or inattentive driving that led to impact.

Our veteran trial lawyers are well aware of the drastic injuries to pedestrians and bike riders hit by cars: head trauma, spinal cord injuries, broken limbs, severe lacerations, scarring, and secondary injuries from striking the pavement. Usually, the initial settlement offer will not adequately compensate our client’s for their damages. Our lawyers prepare a comprehensive case that seeks damages for future medical care, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other appropriate compensation.

Under New York law, the actions of the victim do matter. Crossing against a light, jaywalking or other comparative negligence can reduce compensation. The amount of compensation awarded will be reduced by the percentage of a victim’s comparative fault. In such cases, we believe that our experience can make the difference between partial recovery and no recovery.

If the driver fled the scene without being identified, we will pursue compensation under the family’s underinsured/uninsured motorist policy or other avenues of recovery including the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC).