According to the Traffic Safety Facts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4,884 pedestrians and 726 bicyclists died in 2014 as a result of crashes with motor vehicles in the United States. This means that more than 12 pedestrians were killed every day of the year. The same year, 65,000 injuries were reported – this accounts for nearly 1 injury every 8 minutes. Although pedestrian injuries had decreased for almost 2 decades, there was a jump in 2012 and approximately 4,800 pedestrians have been injured every year.
Common Questions about Pedestrian Accidents and Personal Injury
People in New York have many questions about pedestrian accidents and personal injury. Here is a look at the most common ones:
Q: As a pedestrian, do I have a duty to avoid accidents?
A: Yes. Every pedestrian, no matter where, has the duty to obey traffic rules and also reasonably observe the conditions of traffic surrounding them. Pedestrians, generally speaking, should not begin or continue moving forward across a street if they are aware that a vehicle is approaching.
Q: Is a pedestrian accident treated like a normal car accident?
A: Pedestrian accidents should NOT be treated like any other car accident. The fact is that pedestrians are 10 times more likely to lose their life in a crash compared to a car driver or passenger. There are often devastating, life-altering injuries which require more financial resources for injured pedestrians to recover or resume life as normally as they can. The New York No-Fault law covers injured pedestrians, allowing them to obtain financial compensation for medical bills and loss of income. However, this law only provides protection for medical expenses and a portion of lost income – up to $50,000, which is a significantly small amount of money when the cost of medical treatment and hospitalization in New York is considered.
Q: Why should I get legal help after a pedestrian accident?
A: There are many reasons why getting the help of an experienced personal injury attorney is important after being injured in a pedestrian accident. Consulting one is an important step to holding the party at fault in the accident responsible for the injury and harm caused by their negligence.
Q: What should I do if I was injured in a hit-and-run accident?
A: The first thing you should do is call the police and report the accident. Next, file a Notice of Claim with the New York State Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC). This will provide you with an opportunity to collect No-Fault insurance of up to $50,000 as well as a maximum of $25,000 as coverage for bodily injury. Make sure that you provide as much accident-related documentation as possible, including the police report and that your lawyer has experience dealing with MVAIC claims.
Get Legal Assistance for Pedestrian Accidents in New York
If you or a loved one has been injured as a pedestrian in an accident, you should immediately seek the help of the reliable personal injury attorneys at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff of RMFW Law at 212-344-1000. Someone did you wrong! There is a legal way to handle this. We know how to attack these types of cases. You do not pay us anything until the end and since we only take a percentage of the final verdict it is like you never pay us at all. RMFW Law knows which legal doors to open and when to open them. We know how to squeeze the other side and know what type of evidence is required to this case in your favor. Call RMFW Law today!
