Getting hit by a vehicle while walking changes everything in seconds. You need a Manhattan pedestrian accident lawyer who knows these streets, understands New York's pedestrian laws, and can fight for the compensation you need to recover.
The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler handles pedestrian accident cases throughout Manhattan, from Times Square to the Financial District, helping injured pedestrians get back on their feet after serious accidents.
Call the Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler at 914-220-1088 to discuss your pedestrian accident case today.
Why Choose the Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler for Your Pedestrian Accident Case
The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler brings years of experience handling pedestrian accident cases. Manhattan's dense traffic and constant construction create unique dangers for pedestrians every day.
Your case needs an attorney who knows how to investigate accidents at complex intersections, gather security footage from nearby businesses, and negotiate with insurance companies that try to blame pedestrians for their own injuries.
Deep Knowledge of Manhattan
We handle cases involving accidents on Broadway, Fifth Avenue, Park Avenue, and throughout Midtown Manhattan. We understand how delivery trucks block crosswalks, taxi drivers rush through red lights, and construction zones force pedestrians into dangerous situations.
Our local knowledge helps us build stronger cases by identifying patterns of negligent behavior specific to Manhattan's unique traffic environment.
Clear Communication Throughout Your Case
You'll work directly with your Manhattan pedestrian accident attorney throughout your case. We answer your calls, respond to your questions quickly, and keep you informed about every development in your case.
Our offices in Manhattan, Queens, and White Plains make in-person meetings convenient when you need face-to-face guidance.
Proven Results
We've recovered millions for our clients throughout New York City. We prepare every case for trial while working to negotiate fair settlements that reflect the true impact of your injuries.
Contact the Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler at 914-220-1088 to schedule your free consultation with a Manhattan pedestrian accident lawyer who fights for injured New Yorkers.
Types of Pedestrian Accident Cases We Handle
The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler represents pedestrians injured in various accident scenarios throughout Manhattan. Each type of accident presents unique legal challenges and requires specific investigation strategies.
Our experience with different accident types helps us anticipate insurance company tactics and build comprehensive cases for our clients.
Types of pedestrian accidents we handle include:
- Crosswalk Accidents: Pedestrians are sometimes struck while legally crossing at marked or unmarked crosswalks throughout Manhattan.
- Sidewalk Accidents: Vehicles jumping curbs may strike pedestrians on sidewalks.
- Parking Lot Incidents: Some pedestrians are hit by vehicles in garage entrances, parking structures, and commercial lots.
- Hit and Run Cases: We help victims pursue compensation when drivers flee accident scenes without stopping.
- Rideshare Accidents: We accept cases involving Uber, Lyft, and taxi drivers who strike pedestrians.
Intersection and Mid-Block Crashes
Many pedestrian accidents occur at Manhattan's complex intersections where multiple streets converge. Accidents at Herald Square, Columbus Circle, and other major intersections often involve multiple vehicles and disputed liability.
Mid-block accidents happen when pedestrians cross between intersections or when vehicles leave driveways without checking for foot traffic.
Construction Zone Accidents
Manhattan's constant construction creates temporary hazards for pedestrians. Scaffolding, barriers, and equipment force pedestrians into traffic lanes or obscure driver visibility.
Construction vehicles backing up, entering work sites, or blocking crosswalks pose serious danger to pedestrians throughout the city.
Commercial Vehicle Knockdowns
Delivery trucks, buses, and commercial vans present heightened danger due to their size and blind spots. These vehicles make frequent stops, pull to curbs suddenly, and often operate under tight deadlines that encourage risky driving.
Commercial vehicle accidents often involve corporate insurance policies and require an investigation into driver training and company safety policies.
Dooring Collisions
Dooring accidents happen when taxis, rideshares, and personal vehicles stop in traffic or at curbs without checking for approaching pedestrians. The sudden obstacle forces pedestrians into traffic lanes or causes direct impact injuries.
Compensation Available for Pedestrian Accident Victims
Pedestrian accident victims in Manhattan can pursue various forms of compensation depending on their injuries and circumstances. The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler fights for every dollar you need to rebuild your life after a serious pedestrian accident.
Types of recoverable damages include:
- Medical Expenses: All treatment costs from emergency care through future medical needs qualify for compensation. This includes ambulance rides, surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, and medical equipment like wheelchairs or crutches.
- Lost Income: Wages lost during recovery and diminished earning capacity create immediate financial pressure, especially when accidents prevent you from returning to your previous job or force you to accept lower-paying work.
- Pain and Suffering: You may pursue compensation for physical pain and emotional distress caused by your injuries.
- Property Damage: You may recover damages to cover the cost of replacing damaged clothing, phones, laptops, watches, or other personal items destroyed in the accident.
- Home Modifications: Serious injuries often require installing ramps, grab bars, accessible bathrooms, or stairlifts to make your home safe and navigable during recovery.
- Life Care Expenses: Catastrophic injuries may require home health aides, assisted living facilities, or round-the-clock nursing care for years or decades.
Punitive Damages in Extreme Cases
Courts may award punitive damages when drivers show extreme recklessness or intentional misconduct. Drunk driving, road rage incidents, or fleeing accident scenes may justify punitive damages. While rare, these awards punish dangerous behavior and deter similar conduct.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Manhattan
Manhattan sees hundreds of pedestrian accidents each month, many occurring at the same dangerous intersections and under similar circumstances. Pedestrian accidents in NYC often result from preventable driver errors and traffic violations.
Distracted Driving in Heavy Traffic
Drivers checking phones, adjusting GPS devices, or eating while driving pose deadly risks to pedestrians. Manhattan's stop-and-go traffic creates false confidence, leading drivers to multitask.
Even a momentary distraction can cause a driver to miss a pedestrian entering a crosswalk or stepping off a curb.
Failure to Yield at Crosswalks
New York law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks. Yet accidents happen daily when drivers turn without looking, speed through intersections, or ignore pedestrian signals.
These violations often occur at busy intersections near Penn Station, Grand Central Terminal, and Union Square.
Speeding Through Residential Areas
Drivers racing through neighborhoods in the Upper East Side, Chelsea, or Greenwich Village create extreme danger for pedestrians. Speed reduces reaction time and increases impact force, turning what might be a minor collision into a life-threatening event.
School zones and areas near Central Park see frequent speeding violations that put pedestrians at risk.
Impaired and Drowsy Driving
Drunk, drugged, or exhausted drivers have slowed reaction times and impaired judgment that make them deadly to pedestrians. Manhattan sees these accidents surge during evening hours near bars in East Village, Hell's Kitchen, and Lower East Side.
Drowsy drivers coming off long shifts or rideshare drivers working excessive hours struggle to maintain focus, drifting into crosswalks or onto sidewalks without warning.
How Your Manhattan Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Uses Evidence To Build Your Claim
Creating a winning pedestrian accident case requires immediate action and thorough investigation. The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler starts working immediately to preserve evidence, identify witnesses, and document your injuries.
Every pedestrian accident case needs solid proof of the driver's negligence and the full extent of your damages.
Key evidence in pedestrian accident cases includes:
- Traffic Camera Footage: Security cameras from nearby businesses, traffic lights, and buildings often capture accidents.
- Witness Statements: Pedestrians, other drivers, and people in nearby buildings may provide convincing testimony.
- Vehicle Data: Modern vehicles record speed, braking, and other data that prove driver behavior.
- Medical Documentation: Emergency room records, imaging studies, and treatment notes establish injury severity.
- Scene Evidence: Skid marks, vehicle damage patterns, and debris fields help reconstruct the accident.
FAQ for Manhattan Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
What Should I Do After Being Hit by a Car in Manhattan?
Start documenting everything about your accident and injuries while details remain fresh in your memory. Write down exactly how the accident happened, where you were, and what the driver did and said at the scene.
Keep a daily journal of your pain levels, mobility limitations, and how injuries affect your work and daily activities. Gather all paperwork from the emergency room, urgent care, or hospital, including discharge instructions, prescriptions, and follow-up appointment schedules.
Take photos of your injuries every few days to document bruising, swelling, and healing progress. Save all receipts for medical expenses, prescriptions, transportation to appointments, and any medical equipment you need to purchase.
Contact a Manhattan pedestrian accident lawyer before speaking with the driver's insurance company.
How Long Do I Have To File a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit in New York?
New York's statute of limitations gives you three years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, different deadlines apply in specific situations. Claims against New York City, MTA, or other government entities require filing a Notice of Claim within 90 days.
Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your right to compensation. Contact a Manhattan pedestrian injury attorney immediately to protect your rights and meet all applicable deadlines.
Can I Still Recover Compensation if I Were Partially at Fault?
Yes, New York's comparative negligence law allows recovery even if you share some fault for the accident. Your percentage of fault reduces your compensation. If you're found 5% at fault, you can still recover 95% of your damages.
Insurance companies often try to shift blame to pedestrians by claiming jaywalking, phone distraction, or wearing dark clothing at night. Strong legal representation challenges these tactics and fights for fair fault allocation.
Can a Manhattan Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Help Me if the Driver Who Hit Me Doesn't Have Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage from your auto insurance or a household member's policy may provide compensation. The Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC) provides limited compensation for New York residents injured by uninsured drivers in certain circumstances.
You might also pursue the driver's personal assets through a lawsuit, though collection may be challenging. An experienced attorney can identify all potential sources of compensation beyond the uninsured driver.
How Much Is My Manhattan Pedestrian Accident Case Worth?
Case values depend on injury severity, medical costs, lost income, and long-term impact on your life. Minor injuries with quick recovery might result in thousands of dollars, while catastrophic injuries can yield millions.
Factors affecting value include clear driver liability, available insurance coverage, documented medical treatment, and permanent disabilities or disfigurement.
An experienced Manhattan pedestrian accident lawyer evaluates all factors to pursue maximum compensation for your specific situation.
Take the Next Step Today
The legal decisions you make now affect your future financial security and ability to get necessary medical care. The Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler is ready to guide you with experienced representation tailored to Manhattan's unique legal landscape.
Taking action now protects your rights and strengthens your case for the compensation you need to move forward. Let us handle the legal fight while you focus on getting better.
Call the Law Offices of Jason B. Kessler at 914-220-1088 today for your free consultation with a Manhattan pedestrian accident lawyer who puts your recovery first.