Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, Despacho de abogados de Staten Island
Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, tiene un despacho de abogados en Staten Island, situado en 26 Watchogue Rd Suite 1, Staten Island, NY 10314.
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Staten Island’s road network, built largely around suburban residential streets, expressways, and commercial arterials, prioritizes vehicle movement in ways that frequently leave pedestrians exposed and vulnerable. Unlike Manhattan or Brooklyn, where dense foot traffic has driven meaningful infrastructure investment, many Staten Island streets have inadequate crosswalks, missing sidewalks, insufficient lighting, and speed limits that remain dangerously high for roads shared with pedestrians.
The result is predictable. When a pedestrian and a vehicle collide on Staten Island, there is no contest. The vehicle absorbs the impact. The pedestrian absorbs everything else. The injuries that follow are frequently catastrophic, like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, fractures, internal bleeding, and the financial, emotional, and physical consequences can last a lifetime.
If you or a loved one was struck by a vehicle as a pedestrian on Staten Island, the attorneys at Jacoby & Meyers, LLP are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. Our Staten Island office is located at 26 Watchogue Road, Suite 1, and we have been serving this community for over 50 years. We take every case on a strict contingency fee basis.
The Pedestrian Danger on Staten Island
Pedestrian accidents on Staten Island follow a consistent and troubling pattern. According to official New York State data, hundreds of pedestrian accidents occur on the island annually, with fatalities recorded every year. The borough’s most dangerous roadways for pedestrians include Hylan Boulevard, which accounts for a disproportionate share of Staten Island traffic deaths, as well as Richmond Avenue, Victory Boulevard, and the approaches to the Staten Island Expressway.
What drives this? The borough’s road design is a significant factor. Many Staten Island streets were built decades ago for a much lower volume of faster-moving traffic, without meaningful pedestrian infrastructure. Crosswalk markings fade and go unpainted. Sidewalks end abruptly. Lighting is inadequate in residential and commercial areas alike. Speed limits on roads like Hylan Boulevard remain higher than what Vision Zero researchers recommend for streets shared with pedestrians.
Driver behavior compounds the physical hazards. Distracted driving, failure to yield at crosswalks, speeding, impaired driving, and backing out of driveways without checking for pedestrians on the sidewalk are among the leading causes of Staten Island pedestrian accidents identified in official crash data.
None of this is the pedestrian’s fault. And none of it diminishes the injured pedestrian’s legal rights.
Common Causes of Staten Island Pedestrian Accidents
The pedestrian accident cases our attorneys handle on Staten Island typically involve one or more of the following driver failures:
- Failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections
- Distracted driving, like phone use, eating, adjusting the radio, or other inattention
- Speeding, especially on Hylan Boulevard and the borough’s commercial arterials
- Impaired or intoxicated driving
- Fatigued driving with reduced reaction time and attention
- Backing out of driveways or parking spots without checking for pedestrians on the sidewalk
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Failing to check for pedestrians when making turns
- Poor visibility due to inadequate road lighting
- Dangerous road design or unrepaired road conditions maintained by government entities
- Commercial vehicle and truck drivers failing to account for pedestrians near loading zones
Under New York law, pedestrians have the right of way at all intersections, whether or not a formal crosswalk is marked. Drivers must yield to pedestrians in the roadway and must exercise every reasonable precaution to avoid striking them. When drivers fail in that duty and injure a pedestrian, they are legally responsible for the consequences.
Injuries Our Staten Island Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Handle
In a collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian, the pedestrian absorbs the full force of the impact. The injuries that result are frequently among the most severe seen in all of personal injury law:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI), including concussions, subdural hematomas, and diffuse axonal injury
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis, including complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic amputation and crush injuries
- Fractures, including pelvic fractures, leg fractures, and complex orthopedic injuries requiring surgical reconstruction
- Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
- Soft tissue injuries requiring long-term treatment
- Lacerations, road rash, and scarring
- Facial trauma and disfigurement
- Muerte por negligencia
Many of these injuries do not fully reveal themselves at the scene. Brain trauma, internal bleeding, and spinal injuries can have delayed onset. Anyone struck by a vehicle should seek medical evaluation immediately and return for follow-up care if new symptoms develop in the days following.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Staten Island Pedestrian Accident?
In the majority of Staten Island pedestrian accident cases, the driver of the vehicle that struck the pedestrian bears primary responsibility. But liability does not always stop there.
- The driver’s employer may be vicariously liable if the driver was performing job duties at the time of the accident, making commercial drivers, delivery drivers, and company vehicle operators sources of additional recovery.
- Vehicle owners may share liability when the person driving their vehicle caused the accident, under New York’s Vehicle and Traffic Law.
- Government entities may be liable when dangerous road conditions, such as missing crosswalk markings, inadequate lighting, confusing signage, or negligently maintained road surfaces, contributed to the accident. Claims against government entities require filing a Notice of Claim within 90 days, making prompt legal action essential.
- Property owners may bear premises liability when dangerous conditions on their property create hazards for pedestrians on adjacent sidewalks or walkways.
Our attorneys investigate every angle of your case, including reviewing police reports, traffic camera footage, witness statements, maintenance records, and road design documentation, to identify and pursue every available source of compensation.
New York’s No-Fault Insurance and Pedestrian Accidents
New York is a no-fault insurance state. When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, the pedestrian’s own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, if they carry auto insurance, typically covers initial medical expenses and a portion of lost wages regardless of fault.
If the pedestrian does not carry auto insurance, the driver’s PIP may cover them as a pedestrian involved in a motor vehicle accident.
PIP does not cover pain and suffering and frequently falls short of fully compensating serious pedestrian accident injuries. When injuries meet New York’s serious injury threshold, such as a fracture, significant disfigurement, permanent limitation of a body organ or member, significant limitation of a body function or system, or a medically determined injury preventing substantially all daily activities for 90 days, you have the right to pursue a full personal injury claim against the at-fault driver beyond what PIP covers. Given the nature of most pedestrian accident injuries, this threshold is almost always met.
Medical Expenses, Lost Wages, and Other Forms of Compensation You Can Recover
Recoverable damages in a Staten Island pedestrian accident case may include:
- All medical expenses, such as emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, and ongoing treatment
- Future medical costs for permanent or long-term conditions
- Physical, occupational, and cognitive rehabilitation
- Assistive devices and home modifications
- Salarios perdidos por el tiempo perdido en el trabajo
- Loss of future earning capacity if injuries prevent a return to prior work
- Dolor y sufrimiento
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life and loss of consortium
- Cicatrices y desfiguración
- Punitive damages in cases involving egregious recklessness or intentional conduct
Wrongful Death Pedestrian Accident Claims on Staten Island
When a pedestrian accident takes the life of a family member, New York law allows the surviving spouse, children, or representative of the deceased’s estate to pursue a wrongful death claim against the at-fault parties. Recoverable damages include the deceased’s projected future earnings, final medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, and compensation for the loss of companionship, guidance, and support.
Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death. Our pedestrian accident lawyers handle these cases with the seriousness, care, and urgency they require.
What to Do After a Staten Island Pedestrian Accident
The actions you take after being struck by a vehicle can significantly affect your ability to recover compensation:
- Call 911 immediately and seek medical attention, even if you feel your injuries are minor. Many serious conditions have delayed symptoms.
- Stay at the scene and do not move if you may have suffered a spinal injury.
- Ask for the driver’s name, license number, insurance information, and vehicle registration.
- Photograph the scene, your visible injuries, the vehicle, any crosswalk markings, road conditions, and traffic signals.
- Get contact information for all witnesses.
- Request a copy of the police report.
- Do not apologize, admit fault, or make any statements about the accident beyond the basic facts.
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with an attorney.
- Contact Jacoby & Meyers, LLP for a free case evaluation.
Filing Deadlines You Cannot Afford to Miss
New York’s statute of limitations gives most pedestrian accident victims three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit against private parties. For wrongful death claims, the window is two years from the date of death.
If any government entity is involved, whether a city vehicle, a city agency, or a government contractor whose negligence contributed to the crash, you may have as few as 90 days to file a Notice of Claim. Missing this deadline can permanently bar your claim regardless of its merits.
Surveillance camera footage from businesses and traffic cameras is typically deleted within 30 to 90 days. Witness recollections fade. Acting quickly gives your legal team the best opportunity to preserve the evidence that makes the strongest possible case.
Do Not Deal with Insurance Companies Alone
In the aftermath of a pedestrian accident, you will almost certainly hear from insurance companies, either the driver’s insurer or your own. Be cautious. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize claim payouts, and they may attempt to get you to make statements that undermine your case or to accept a settlement offer that is far below what your injuries are actually worth.
Do not give recorded statements to any insurer before consulting with a pedestrian accident lawyer. Do not accept any settlement offer without having it reviewed by a pedestrian accident lawyer who can assess whether it reflects the full value of your claim. Once you accept a settlement and sign a release, you give up your right to seek any additional compensation, even if your injuries prove more serious over time.
Our pedestrian accident lawyers handle all communications and negotiations with insurance companies on your behalf, protecting your interests at every stage.
How Comparative Fault Works in the Legal Process Involved in Pedestrian Accident Cases
Some pedestrians worry that because they may have contributed in some way to the accident, whether by crossing mid-block, not making eye contact with a driver, or being present where a sidewalk was missing, they cannot recover compensation. Under New York’s pure comparative fault system, this concern is misplaced. You may still recover compensation even if you bear some responsibility for the accident. Your damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault, but you are not barred from recovering.
Additionally, New York law places a strong affirmative duty on drivers to avoid striking pedestrians, even when pedestrians are not in a formal crosswalk. If a driver had any reasonable opportunity to avoid the collision and failed to take it, that driver bears legal responsibility.
Why Jacoby & Meyers Is the Law Firm to Turn To When You Need a Staten Island Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Jacoby & Meyers, LLP has been fighting for injured New Yorkers for over 50 years. Our pedestrian accident lawyers are recognized by the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and we have recovered millions of dollars for pedestrian accident victims and their families on Staten Island and throughout New York City.
Our Staten Island office is located at 26 Watchogue Road, Suite 1, conveniently accessible to residents throughout the borough. If your injuries prevent you from coming to us, we can come to you at your home, a hospital, a rehabilitation facility, or by video conference. We work exclusively on contingency: no upfront fees, and no attorney’s costs unless we win your case.
Contact a Staten Island Pedestrian Accident Attorney for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one was struck by a vehicle on Staten Island, you deserve a legal team that will fight as hard for you as the insurance company will fight against you. Call our Staten Island office or reach out online to schedule your free consultation on how to seek fair compensation. There is never a fee unless we win.
Testimonio de un cliente
«Después de mi accidente, me puse en contacto con un bufete de abogados y les expliqué la situación. Me hablaron de casos que habían tenido en el pasado y de la mayor indemnización que habían conseguido para sus clientes. Me hicieron saber que en ese momento no estaban interesados, pero que podía ponerme en contacto con ellos en el futuro si cambiaba algo. Dos años después, tras mi operación, mi esposa me sugirió que contactara con un abogado. Como había ocurrido en otro estado, me puse en contacto con un abogado de ese estado y me dijeron que el plazo de prescripción había expirado. Mi esposa me dijo que no me rindiera, y fue entonces cuando me puse en contacto con Jacoby & Meyers. Ellos supieron cómo proceder con el caso y lo resolvieron por 15 veces la cantidad que el bufete de abogados original había dicho que era posible obtener. Recomiendo encarecidamente a Jacoby & Meyers, fueron muy profesionales y me mantuvieron informado durante todo el proceso». -Charles D.
★★★★★
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