Every year, thousands of pedestrians are struck by vehicles on New York City streets. The injuries are often severe, the medical bills pile up fast, and insurance companies move quickly to minimize what they pay out. If you or someone you love was hurt while walking, you deserve to understand your rights and what comes next.

At Jacoby & Meyers, we handle pedestrian accident cases across all five boroughs. Our attorneys work with injured pedestrians to build claims grounded in evidence, not guesswork. This page walks you through how these accidents happen, what your claim involves, and how we approach cases like yours.

 

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How Pedestrian Accidents Happen in NYC

New York City streets are among the busiest in the country, and that density creates real danger for people on foot. Understanding what caused your accident matters because it shapes who can be held responsible and what evidence needs to be preserved.

Driver Behavior That Puts Pedestrians at Risk

Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents in New York City. A driver who is texting, adjusting a GPS, or simply not paying attention can fail to see someone in a crosswalk until it is too late. Speeding, failure to yield, and running red lights are also frequent contributing factors in these collisions.

Dangerous Road Conditions and Defective Traffic Signals

Not every pedestrian accident is the result of a driver’s mistake alone. Poorly marked crosswalks, broken traffic signals, missing signage, and inadequate lighting can all contribute to collisions. When a city agency or property owner failed to maintain safe conditions, that may open the door to a claim beyond the driver’s insurance policy.

Delivery Vehicles, Bikes, and Other Hazards

NYC pedestrians face risks from more than just passenger cars. Delivery trucks backing out of loading zones, cyclists riding on sidewalks or against traffic, and ride-share vehicles stopping suddenly in travel lanes all create hazards that can result in serious injury. Identifying every party whose negligence contributed to the accident is an important early step in any pedestrian injury claim.

Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents and Why They Matter Legally

Pedestrians have no physical protection when struck by a vehicle. The injuries that result tend to be serious, and the connection between those injuries and the accident is central to any legal claim you may have.

Traumatic Brain Injuries and Head Trauma

Head injuries are common in pedestrian accidents because victims often strike the ground or a vehicle with significant force. A traumatic brain injury can affect memory, cognition, balance, and daily functioning in ways that may not be immediately apparent at the accident scene. Thorough medical documentation from the outset is important because the full impact of a brain injury often becomes clearer over time, and that documentation can support the value of your claim.

Fractures, Orthopedic Injuries, and Surgeries

Broken bones, torn ligaments, and joint damage are among the most frequently reported injuries in pedestrian accident cases. These injuries often require surgery, extended physical therapy, and time away from work, all of which carry real financial consequences. The medical records, imaging studies, and treatment history tied to these injuries form the factual backbone of your damages calculation.

Long-Term Disability and Ongoing Care Costs

Some pedestrian accident victims face a recovery that lasts years or never fully concludes. Spinal cord damage, nerve injuries, and amputations can permanently change a person’s ability to work and live independently. Building a claim that accounts for future medical costs and lost earning capacity, not just current expenses, requires careful documentation and, in many cases, input from medical and financial professionals.

What a Pedestrian Accident Claim Involves

Filing a pedestrian accident claim in New York involves specific legal requirements, deadlines, and procedural steps. Knowing what to expect helps you make informed decisions throughout the process.

New York’s No-Fault Insurance Rules and Their Limits

New York is a no-fault insurance state, which means that after an accident, your own auto insurance, or in some cases the vehicle owner’s policy, pays for your initial medical expenses and a portion of lost wages regardless of who caused the crash. However, no-fault coverage has limits, and pedestrians who suffer serious injuries under New York Insurance Law may step outside of no-fault to pursue a claim directly against the at-fault driver. Understanding where you fall in that framework is one of the first things our team assesses.

Gathering Evidence Before It Disappears

The strongest pedestrian accident lawsuits are built on evidence collected quickly. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras is often overwritten within days, and witness memories fade. Our team moves promptly to secure photographs of the scene, obtain police reports, gather medical records, and identify witnesses whose accounts can support your version of events.

Deadlines that Affect Your Right to File

New York’s statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is three years from the date of the accident. If a government entity, such as the City of New York, shares responsibility, a notice of claim must typically be filed within 90 days. Missing these deadlines can end your legal options entirely, which is why speaking with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer NYC residents trust sooner rather than later is worth doing.

How We Approach Pedestrian Accident Cases

Our approach to pedestrian accident cases is built around honest assessment, thorough preparation, and keeping clients informed at every stage.

Investigating Liability from Multiple Angles

Many pedestrian accidents involve more than one responsible party. A driver may have been negligent, but so might an employer whose vehicle the driver was operating, a municipality that failed to maintain a crosswalk, or a property owner whose obstructed sightlines contributed to the collision. We look at the full picture of what happened rather than accepting the first, most obvious explanation.

Working with Medical and Financial Experts

Calculating what a pedestrian accident has cost you, and what it will continue to cost, requires more than adding up current medical bills. We work with medical professionals to understand your prognosis and expected future care needs, and with financial experts where appropriate to assess lost earning capacity. This groundwork supports a more complete picture of your damages when negotiating or litigating your claim.

Keeping You Informed and in Control

We understand that being injured and dealing with a legal claim at the same time is stressful. Our team communicates regularly, explains developments in plain language, and makes sure you understand your options before any decision is made. You are not a file number here, and we take that seriously.

Skilled Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Across New York City and Beyond

We handle pedestrian accident lawsuits throughout New York City and the surrounding region. Whether your accident happened in a busy Manhattan intersection or a residential street in Staten Island, our team has the local knowledge and resources to pursue your claim. Below are some of the specific areas where we represent injured pedestrians.

Our pedestrian accident lawyers NYC clients across all five boroughs and surrounding areas rely on include New York pedestrian accident attorneys based in or familiar with:

If you were hurt in a car-related incident rather than a pedestrian collision, our New York car accident lawyers handle those cases as well. We also work with injured pedestrians in Long Island, Westchester, and other communities throughout the greater New York area.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accidents in New York

If you were hurt in a pedestrian accident in New York City, you likely have questions about your rights, your options, and how the legal process works. The answers below address some of the most common questions our clients ask when they first reach out.

Call 911 so police can document the accident, and so you receive medical attention, even if your injuries seem minor at the scene. Collect the driver’s name, insurance information, and license plate number, and photograph the area if you are physically able to do so. Seek follow-up medical care promptly, because some injuries take hours or days to fully manifest, and a documented medical record ties your condition to the accident.
Possibly, but New York changed this rule in 2026 for cases involving motor vehicles. Under CPLR 1411(b), a pedestrian struck by a vehicle recovers nothing if their own share of fault is greater than the share assigned to the parties they are suing. At or below an even split, damages are reduced in proportion to that share rather than eliminated. This makes the fault investigation far more important than it used to be, because arguments about where and how you were crossing can now end a claim instead of just discounting it, so if your case was already filed before the law took effect in late May 2026, the older rule may still apply.
For most pedestrian accident claims against a private party, New York’s statute of limitations gives you three years from the date of the accident. Claims against a city or government agency require a notice of claim filed within 90 days, with a lawsuit to follow within one year and 90 days. Missing either deadline can permanently bar your claim, so prompt legal consultation matters.
Recoverable damages in a New York pedestrian accident case typically include medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering. You may also be able to recover for future medical costs and reduced earning capacity if your injuries are long-lasting. The specific damages available depend on the facts of your case and the severity of your injuries.
Pedestrians who are struck by a vehicle are generally entitled to no-fault benefits through the driver’s auto insurance policy, which covers medical expenses and a portion of lost wages. No-fault benefits do not require you to prove the driver was at fault, but they are subject to coverage limits. If your injuries meet the threshold for a “serious injury” under New York law, you may pursue additional damages outside the no-fault system.
Most personal injury claims, including pedestrian accident lawsuits, are resolved through settlement negotiations before reaching trial. However, if a fair settlement cannot be reached, our team is prepared to take your case to court. We approach every case with that possibility in mind from the start, which shapes how we investigate and document your claim.
If the driver who struck you had no insurance, you may still have options. New York law requires motor vehicle insurance policies to include uninsured motorist coverage, which can cover your injuries in certain circumstances. We can review the available insurance policies, including your own if applicable, to identify potential sources of recovery.

Talk to a New York Pedestrian Accident Lawyer About Your Case

Andrew Finkelstein Jacoby & Meyers LLP

New York  Pedestrian Accident Lawyer, Andrew Finkelstein

Being hit by a vehicle changes everything, physically, financially, and emotionally. The legal process that follows does not have to add to that burden. At Jacoby & Meyers, our NYC pedestrian accident attorneys handle pedestrian accident claims across New York City and the surrounding region, working to make sure injured people have the representation they need to pursue a fair outcome.

If you were hurt in a pedestrian accident and want to understand your options, contact us to schedule a consultation. There is no cost to speak with us, and no obligation to move forward until you are ready.

Client Testimonials

“If it were not for the integral legal team of experts at Jacoby & Meyers I would not be where I am today with my recovery. I highly recommend hiring Jacoby & Meyers should you ever find yourself injured in an accident, and an individual or company needs to be held accountable for their negligence.” -C.J.

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Jacoby & Meyers, LLP
39 Broadway Suite 1910,
New York, NY 10006
(212)-445-7000