Long Islanders are busy–our congested roads prove it. For pedestrians, those roads can prove to be tragically dangerous. Some Long Island drivers do not take proper care when operating their vehicles.
For other drivers, and especially for pedestrians, this lack of care can be devastating. Pedestrians are entirely unprotected when hit by a vehicle, and the injuries they sustain can be life-changing–even deadly.
If you have been injured, or if someone you love has been killed as a pedestrian, trust a Long Island personal injury lawyer from Levine And Wiss for effective, compassionate legal representation. Our team cares about Long Islanders–volunteering to enhance students’ experiences and supporting people with disabilities and chronic illness.
In our professional roles, we fight for the rights of injury victims. Connect with a Long Island pedestrian accident lawyer from our firm and start moving toward justice today.
Pedestrian Safety on Long Island Roads
Talk to a Long Island personal injury lawyer if you’ve been involved in a pedestrian accident.
The title of a recent report by the New York Comptroller’s Office, “Moving in the Wrong Direction” is a clear indicator New York drivers need to change their behavior. In recent years, traffic fatalities have risen even as vehicle miles traveled have decreased. The most recent annual data shows the highest number of New York traffic deaths occurred in Long Island counties–164 in Suffolk and 81 in Nassau.
While most victims of traffic fatalities are in an involved vehicle (64%), the “overwhelming majority” of victims who are non-vehicle occupants are pedestrians. When it comes to pedestrian deaths, the report states, “New York has been consistently higher than the national average,” with foot travelers representing 25% of all crash fatalities for the most recent year of data collection.
County-by-County Statistics
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), for the same year of data collection, there were 7,522 pedestrian deaths and over 67,000 injuries nationwide.
The NHTSA ranking of county pedestrian fatalities, shows 21 and 52 pedestrian fatalities for Long Island’s Nassau and Suffolk counties, respectively. Queens County, which many Nassau County residents cross over on foot every day, had 30 deaths.
For a free legal consultation with a pedestrian accident lawyer serving Long Island, call 888-468-4878
New York’s Pedestrian Laws
On its government website, New York State addresses FAQs and Laws governing road safety, establishing rules for drivers and pedestrians. Pedestrians must follow traffic signals, use crosswalks, and take measures to keep themselves safe when traveling by foot. For example, pedestrians should not cross roads while texting or try to “beat” oncoming traffic by dashing across a busy street.
Still, drivers bear a tremendous legal responsibility–or duty of care–to pedestrians. Section 1146 of the New York Vehicle and Traffic Code emphasizes this responsibility. The law states, “Notwithstanding the provisions of any of the law to the contrary, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with a bicyclist, pedestrian, or domestic animal upon any roadway…”
If a motor vehicle operator fails to fulfill their duty and hurts you or kills your loved one, reach out to Levine And Wiss for help. Our case results demonstrate our dedication to clients and the exceptional representation we provide.
A pedestrian accident lawyer on Long Island is ready to help you hold the negligent party accountable for the damage they have caused you.
Long Island Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Near Me 888-468-4878
Causes and Consequences of Pedestrian Accidents
“Pedestrian deaths and large trucks,” a study published in Economics of Transportation, connects the increase in pedestrian deaths to the increased presence of larger passenger vehicles, such as SUVs and pickup trucks, on the country’s roads.
Though bigger vehicles better protect occupants, their taller front ends may make pedestrians harder to see and easier to hit. These heavier vehicles are also capable of doing even more damage to pedestrians than lighter vehicles–though a motor vehicle of any size still far outmatches an unprotected human body.
Other causes of pedestrian deaths include:
- Distracted or drowsy driving
- Speeding or aggressive or reckless driving
- Driving under the influence
- Driver error
- Failure to obey traffic laws
- Dysfunctional traffic signals
- Vehicle malfunction
No matter the cause, the effects of pedestrian accidents are typically severe, and a Long Island pedestrian accident attorney from Levine And Wiss will fight for the financial justice needed to mitigate them. Pedestrians can sustain
- Crushed bones
- Amputations
- Internal organ damage
- Traumatic brain injuries: the severities and symptoms
- Spinal cord damage
- Psychological trauma
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Recovering Damages from a Pedestrian Accident
Your pedestrian accident attorney on Long Island will review your losses to determine fair compensation. This calculation will factor in your medical costs and future care needs, income loss and continued income needs if you cannot return to work, other accident-related financial costs, the extent of your physical and emotional pain and disability, and the value of your diminished enjoyment of life.
To protect your potential settlement or trial award, do not speak to insurance company representatives or the at-fault party on your own–trust those discussions with your attorney.
Depending on your situation’s specific circumstances, you may collect compensation from your own insurance, if you have car insurance, or if the driver who hit you was not insured.
If the at-fault driver is insured (as New York law requires), your attorney will file against their insurance to recover damages. Our goal is to get you the highest amount of compensation possible from whatever source or sources apply.
Your attorney’s understanding of Comparative Fault in New York will help protect you from experiencing an unfair reduction in compensation. A skilled Long Island pedestrian accident attorney from our team will collect evidence to prove your claim against the at-fault party and challenge attempts to cast blame on you.
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Protecting Long Island Pedestrians
When someone else’s negligence causes you harm, you should not pay the financial price or have to face an unstable financial future.
A Long Island pedestrian accident lawyer at Levine And Wiss is ready to fight to hold the negligent party accountable and secure the compensation you need to cover your accident losses and related consequences.
Call 888-468-4878 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
