Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
Pedestrian accident victims often sustain serious injuries requiring expensive medical care. They may be entitled to economic, non-economic, and punitive damages to help make them whole. Work with a Queens pedestrian accident lawyer at Shulman & Hill to fight for your rights after a serious injury.
There are plenty of things to love about living in Queens, including the borough’s walkability. Although walking should be one of the safest transportation methods, dangerous vehicles, and other factors can cause an accident. Even if you exercise care, there’s no way to ensure the people around you will act safely.
A pedestrian accident can be life-changing for the victim and their loved ones. These accidents often cause significant financial losses, pain, and suffering.
At Shulman & Hill, our personal injury lawyers in Queens will navigate this situation with you and protect your rights so that you get the fair compensation you deserve.
Trust the Expert Queens Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Shulman & Hill
Hiring a good lawyer for pedestrian cases is essential. Accident injuries are often severe, and determining liability can be complex. Your attorney will investigate all aspects of the incident and work with experts, medical providers, witnesses, and others to build a well-rounded case for compensation.
At Shulman & Hill, we are committed to putting our clients’ needs first. We offer multilingual support and have a history of aggressively representing our clients. Our case victories span over a decade. We’re here to fight for the compensation you deserve, too.
Shulman & Hill is honored to help our Queens neighbors, and our excellent representation and client service have won us acclaim from prestigious national organizations. Founder Alex Shulman has been listed among the New York Super Lawyers since 2017. Only 5 percent of attorneys in each state receive this honor each year. He has also been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40.
We’ve also helped thousands of New Yorkers recover over $700 million in compensation, including the following highlights:
- $1.35 million for a client involved in a head-on collision
- $1 million for a 51-year-old hit by a commercial vehicle
- $1 million for a client who suffered neck injuries in a motor vehicle collision
- $175,000 for a 56-year-old who suffered multiple injuries.
You deserve fair representation and a team that will fight for you. We work hard to get you the right compensation.
How Often Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen in Queens?
According to New York City’s Vision Zero program, which aims to prevent traffic accidents, there were 239 pedestrian injuries and 29 pedestrian fatalities in Queens alone in January 2024. That means the borough is on pace for more than 2,800 injuries and 340 deaths for the year.
Many of these accidents are caused by dangerous drivers, including those using their cell phones while behind the wheel. Just looking away for five seconds is enough to cause a crash—at 55 mph, it only takes that long to travel the entire length of a football field.
While distracted drivers often hit pedestrians, drivers aren’t the only ones who cause pedestrian accidents in Queens. Pedestrians also can put themselves in danger if they’re on their phones or distracted by something around them. While you walk in Queens, protect yourself by finding a safe location on a sidewalk or other secure area to take calls, text or otherwise handle distractions.
Common Causes of Queens Pedestrian Accidents
Distractions are a common cause of auto accidents in Queens involving pedestrians, but there are other reasons pedestrian accidents occur, including:
- Intoxicated drivers or pedestrians
- Failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian or vehicle
- Hazardous road conditions, such as during a storm
- Speeding or driving aggressively
- Failing to turn on headlights in foggy or low-light conditions
- Fatigue and sleep deprivation, which can result in falling asleep at the wheel
Pedestrians are at risk whenever they’re around the roads. They could be involved in crashes with Lyft rides, Uber rides, buses, trucks, taxis, or other vehicles. Pedestrian accidents aren’t just caused by automobile drivers, though. Pedestrians also may be struck by motorcyclists or bicyclists traveling unsafely.
How a Pedestrian Accident Law Firm in Queens Can Help
In the aftermath of an accident, you must put yourself first and seek medical attention. Once you’re medically stable and can reach out to our team, you’ll work with a Queens pedestrian accident attorney to review what you remember about the crash.
The team of attorneys at our Queens law office will investigate your case and work through the process of proving fault. With our help, you can make a successful compensation claim covering your financial losses and other damages.
Some of the steps our team will take include the following:
- Reviewing video footage from the crash site
- Taking witness statements
- Arranging to speak with the at-fault party or their attorneys
- Pulling police reports or accident information for your case
- Reviewing your losses
- Negotiating with the insurance company or other parties to seek a settlement
- Taking your case to court for a favorable verdict if you receive an unfair settlement offer
You deserve to have the support you need during this trying time. We will aggressively protect your best interests and pursue the justice you deserve.
Damages Available in Queens Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian victims may be entitled to several types of compensation after an accident:
- Economic damages: Economic damages refer to the financial losses you suffered from the incident, including medical bills and property damage costs.
- Non-economic damages: Non-economic damages are damages not related to actual financial losses. They may include intangible damages such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and the loss of enjoyment of life.
- Punitive damages: Punitive damages aim to punish a defendant when intentional, reckless, or malicious behavior caused the pedestrian’s injuries.
Every case is different. Exactly how much you’re entitled to receive may vary from other cases. Our attorneys will review your case closely to improve your chances of recovering every dollar you’re owed by law.
Can I Still Receive Damages Even if I Was Partially Responsible for the Accident?
The reality is that no two situations are alike, and you may be partially responsible for the accident. Even if that’s the case, you may still be able to recover damages thanks to New York’s comparative negligence law.
Under that law, you can still seek compensation if you have played a role in causing an accident. However, the amount of damages you recover will be decreased in proportion to your share of the fault. For example, if you have $100,000 in damages but were 20 percent responsible for the accident, you could only recover $80,000.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Queens Pedestrian Accident Claims?
In New York, pedestrian accident victims have up to three years from the accident date to make a claim. Should you miss this deadline, you may lose the right to pursue a claim for compensation.
Three years may seem like plenty of time, but the longer you wait, the harder it will be to gather evidence proving your case. Without essential evidence, you may not receive as much compensation as you deserve. Contacting an attorney promptly is essential to avoid missing this important deadline.