Pedestrian accidents are a serious issue in cities like Long Island and continue to be considered a significant public health concern. Not only can victims sustain serious injuries, but because of their vulnerability, these injuries can be life-threatening more often than not. Fortunately, an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer in Long Island can help you pursue compensation.
After suffering injuries as a pedestrian, the experienced legal team at Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help. We will put our 50+ years of combined experience to work for you, helping to ensure you get the money you need and deserve.
Contact us today to set up a free case evaluation with a Long Island personal injury lawyer.
Identifying the Liable Party
The first step to recovering compensation after a pedestrian accident is to identify the liable party. When you hire an experienced Long Island pedestrian accident attorney to handle your case, they will conduct a comprehensive investigation of your accident to determine liability and collect evidence supporting your claim.
Once your lawyer has identified the party responsible for your damages, they will file all the required paperwork for an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
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Damages You Can Recover Through a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit
When filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party after suffering injuries in a pedestrian accident, you must identify all the damages you are eligible to claim. Every pedestrian accident case is unique, which means the damages available will vary from case to case.
Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages are used to compensate an injury victim for the losses they incurred. These damages include both economic damages, which directly impact your finances, and non-economic damages, which decrease your quality of life.
Common compensatory damages available after a pedestrian accident include:
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium
- Permanent disability
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Lost income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Emotional distress
Punitive Damages
In addition to compensatory damages, you might also be awarded punitive damages. Unlike compensatory damages, punitive damages do not focus on the losses of the injury victim. Instead, these damages are used to punish the liable party for their role in causing the accident.
Punitive damages are only available in a small number of cases, as these damages are reserved for situations involving intentional harm or gross negligence.
Our Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in Long Island Work on a Contingency Fee Basis
When you hire an attorney from Chaikin Trial Group Injury Lawyers to help with your pedestrian accident lawsuit, you never have to worry about being charged for legal services you can’t afford. Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means they only get paid if you recover compensation for your losses.
If we are unable to secure compensation on your behalf, you won’t owe us a single cent for the time we spent on your case.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
A common cause that has been seen as both the pedestrian’s and the motorist’s fault in different cases involves alcohol consumption.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Traffic Safety Facts, 48% of crashes that resulted in a pedestrian death in 2022 involved alcohol for the driver and/or the pedestrian.
Unsafe Pedestrian Behavior
While intoxication is one of the primary problems seen in these accidents, many other factors can come into play. Contributing factors in many pedestrian accidents related to the actions of the pedestrian include:
- Jaywalking
- Failing to yield
- Jogging/walking in the wrong direction
- Working on, leaning on, or pushing a car
- Standing between parked cars
- Standing in the road
- Unawareness of laws
- “Herd Mentality”
Unsafe Driver Behavior
Even if a pedestrian is taking all of the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of an accident, the actions of the driver can still lead to the pedestrian suffering injuries. Common causes of pedestrian accidents where the driver is at fault include:
- Speeding
- Running red lights
- Hit and runs
- Turning at an intersection
- Vehicles backing up without paying attention
- Distracted motorists
- Failing to obey school bus stops
- Going around commercial buses
- Failing to yield to the pedestrian in the crosswalk
Regardless of who is to blame, the sad fact is that most accidents can be avoided by both participants paying more attention to their surroundings and being responsible.
Frequent Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Accidents that lead to pedestrian injuries can be severe and life–altering. Even in cases where pedestrian accidents aren’t fatal, many victims often need emergency attention and long-term recovery.
Here are a few of many potential injuries that can be inflicted upon the victim of a pedestrian-vehicle accident, with more focus on severe cases:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Tissue damage
- Pelvic injuries
- Upper leg injuries
Get Help From an Experienced Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Serving Long Island Today
Pedestrian accidents are far too common and involve high fatality rates, which is why they should never be taken lightly. At Chaikin Trial Group, we understand the challenges you are facing after a pedestrian accident and are here to help.
Our team has a proven track record of success in these cases and has recovered over $100 million since founding our firm.
Reach out to us today by phone or through our website to schedule a free case review with a member of our legal team. We’ll review all the details of your case, answer your questions, and explain your legal options.
Legal Disclaimer: If you believe this information is relevant to your situation, please contact our office directly to schedule a consultation. Mr. Chaikin is licensed to practice law in New York. The information herein is not legal advice and does not create an attorney/client relationship with Chaikin Trial Group. This page is in the form of legal education and is intended to provide general information about the matter within the question.
