Long Island Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
-
Content reviewed by: Alex Shulman
- Last updated: Jun. 18, 2024
If you were hit by a motor vehicle while walking, you likely sustained severe or even catastrophic injuries. You could have costly medical bills, lost income, an inability to return to work, and immeasurable pain and suffering. Pedestrian accident victims deserve to recover appropriate compensation for their losses.
Our Long Island pedestrian accident lawyer today is prepared to advocate for you throughout the legal process. We will review your case facts to see if you qualify to hold the at-fault driver accountable and file a lawsuit or recover compensation in another way. If so, our personal injury lawyers at Shulman & Hill are prepared to help you pursue the money you deserve. Call (866) 880-0645 today to get started.
Why Choose Shulman & Hill for Your Long Island Injury Case?
At Shulman & Hill, we have a proven track record of success, having recovered more than $500 million for our clients over the years. We’ll put our years of experience and success to work on your case.
While our past success does not guarantee we can recover a large payout in your case, it does show that we know how to build a compelling case and fight for the compensation our clients need and deserve based on their accident circumstances. We know how to take the necessary steps to hold the at-fault driver or another party legally responsible for our client’s injuries.
At Shulman & Hill, our attorneys work on a contingency-fee basis. We do not ask our clients to pay anything upfront. Instead, we use the firm’s resources to manage the case and only charge our clients once we close their cases and recover compensation for them. You won’t owe us anything out of pocket.
How Our Long Island Pedestrian Accident Law Firm Can Help You
At Shulman & Hill, our attorneys litigate traffic accident cases daily. We know what it takes and how to navigate the process—and win. While there are no guarantees about the outcome of your case, our team takes the necessary steps and pursues the fair outcome our clients deserve.
When you trust us with your Long Island pedestrian accident case, our legal team can assist you in the following essential ways:
Investigating Your Accident
We will help you gather the necessary evidence. We need a compelling case that shows you were struck by a careless driver, how this occurred, and how it directly resulted in your injuries. This could include reviewing the police report, interviewing witnesses, reviewing security camera footage and pictures of the scene (if available), obtaining medical reports, working with experts, and hiring accident reconstruction specialists.
From our years of experience with similar cases, we understand the types of evidence available in different scenarios and how to uncover additional evidence to support our case against a careless driver. When we investigate a traffic incident, we often collect evidence our clients would not have identified on their own.
Handling Key Administrative Tasks
Putting together and submitting a claim for compensation after an accident can be a tedious process. If you have been injured, you should focus on your recovery. We will handle necessary administrative tasks on your behalf.
This includes managing all communication with the insurance carriers, other attorneys, and other parties involved in your case. Not only does this take the weight off your shoulders, but it also protects your right to fair compensation based on your case facts.
Negotiating With the Insurance Carrier
Negotiations can get tough, but the legal team at Shulman & Hill has experience standing up for what our clients deserve. We know that negotiating with insurance companies is not easy to do on your own, especially while you are recovering. We use tested and proven negotiation techniques throughout the claims process.
The negotiation process is often stressful and time-consuming. Letting our attorney handle it allows you to focus on healing and returning to your previous activities as much as possible.
Most case wins come through settlements. However, if we cannot settle your case with a negotiated payout, we will continue to work with you and pursue your other legal options.
Shulman & Hill obtained a $2,500,000 settlement for a non-union laborer
Shulman & Hill obtained a $2,000,000 settlement for an immigrant laborer
Shulman & Hill obtained a $1,600,000 settlement for a 53-year-old union bus driver
Shulman & Hill obtained a $1,500,000 settlement for an undocumented day laborer
Shulman & Hill obtained a $1,500,000 settlement for a bus driver
Preparing and Filing a Lawsuit
When necessary, our attorneys know how to prepare and file the complaint needed to start a personal injury lawsuit. We navigate this process regularly. We know what to expect, the applicable timeline, and how to develop a compelling case based on a pedestrian accident injury.
We are ready to handle any pre-trial motions, undergo discovery, gather further support for your allegations against the at-fault driver, and prepare the case for trial as needed. Our trial lawyers go in front of judges and juries regularly and are not intimidated by this process. We ensure our clients know what to expect if they need to make a court appearance, too.
Fighting for Your Best Interests
Throughout the case, we fight for our clients’ best interests. We aim to hold the careless driver accountable, get justice, and recover appropriate compensation based on your damages. This requires us to deal with insurance carriers, go toe-to-toe with other attorneys, and sometimes face large corporations who are not bothered by the money they have to pay to take a case to trial.
We protect our clients’ rights and pursue the case outcomes they deserve, including the money necessary to pay for their current and future medical care costs. This includes ongoing care and support if they suffered catastrophic, life-altering, or permanent injuries.
Recoverable Damages Our Long Island Pedestrian Accident Team Can Seek
When our Long Island pedestrian accident attorneys handle a case and seek compensation for our clients, we aim to recover compensation based on that client’s accident costs. The recoverable damages in these cases generally reflect the expenses and losses the victim experienced because of the collision.
Our team identifies and documents the recoverable damages available to our clients. We believe this is an essential part of getting justice for pedestrian accident victims.
Each case has a unique value and types of recoverable damages. Some common examples include:
- Past and future pain and suffering
- Past and future medical expenses and related expenses
- Past and future lost income if you missed work or cannot return to your previous job
We also represent families who lost loved ones in pedestrian accidents on Long Island. If your spouse, child, or parent died because of a careless driver in Nassau or Suffolk County, we are here for you. We will explain your legal options, the applicable laws, and how we can help your family.
How Long Island Pedestrian Accidents Happen
The potential causes of a Long Island pedestrian accident are wide-ranging. They may include the following:
- Distracted driving (due to smartphone usage, eating, talking, etc.)
- Drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs
- Drowsy driving, which can be as dangerous as drunk driving
- Speeding
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Driving through stop signs or red lights
- Aggressive driving
- Driving without headlights on in dark conditions
- Other violations of traffic laws
These examples illustrate how drivers often cause collisions, making them the liable parties responsible for compensating victims when Long Island pedestrian accidents occur. However, there may be exceptions. Sometimes another party plays a role or is vicariously liable.
If you were struck by a truck driver, for example, the truck company that employed them may be considered vicariously liable under a legal doctrine known as respondeat superior. This law allows victims to hold the employer of most commercial drivers legally responsible when:
- The driver was an employee
- The driver was working at the time of the collision
This highlights one of the many reasons why it may be beneficial to enlist the help of our Long Island lawyers if you are involved in a pedestrian accident. We will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your accident to help identify the potentially liable parties. Then, we develop a compelling case to hold those parties legally responsible and recover fair compensation.
Long Island Pedestrian Accidents: Essential Information
Many areas on Long Island can have congested, high-traffic roads. When walking throughout Long Island, it is important to be aware of your surroundings.
Unfortunately, even if you are careful, you may still be injured in an accident.
Statistics indicate that pedestrian accidents on Long Island are substantially more common than they are in most other areas of New York State. Route 25 in Suffolk County and Route 24 in Nassau County report the highest number of pedestrian fatalities of any other roads throughout New York State.
The Most Dangerous Long Island Roads for Pedestrians
Pedestrian accidents on Long Island are particularly common on the following roads:
- Sunrise Highway
- Montauk Point State Highway
- County Road 39
- Route 1
- Route 24
- Route 27
- Hempstead Turnpike
- Merrick Road
One of the most dangerous roads for pedestrians on Long Island is Jericho Turnpike (Route 25). Jericho Turnpike is not a major highway, so pedestrians can walk alongside it on sidewalks and cross it at a few designated crosswalks.
However, it was designed to accommodate a high volume of traffic, and it has a higher speed limit than many other non-highway roads on Long Island. All of these factors contribute to the high number of pedestrian accidents and fatalities on the road.
Pedestrian Accident Injuries Are Often Severe
Being injured in an accident as a pedestrian can leave you with severe injuries. Vehicle occupants involved in a collision with another vehicle have some form of protection from the metal frame that surrounds them. You are far more vulnerable if a vehicle strikes you while you are walking or riding a bicycle.
The injuries you sustain in a Long Island pedestrian accident will likely require expensive medical treatment. They could prevent you from returning to work and earning an income, as well. Along with your economic losses, you might also face non-economic challenges, such as pain and suffering.
You may be entitled to compensation if your accident occurred because of an at-fault driver whose carelessness or recklessness caused your accident. In these cases, the at-fault party is typically the driver who struck you. Our Long Island personal injury law firm can assist you in pursuing compensation.
Long Island Pedestrian Safety Best Practices
There are many steps you can take as a pedestrian to minimize your chances of being injured in an accident on Long Island. They include the following:
- Use sidewalks and crosswalks where possible
- Walk against the flow of traffic when no sidewalk is present
- Do not look at your phone when walking, even in a seemingly safe location, such as an empty parking lot
- Do not wear headphones when walking
- Try to cross the street in well-lit areas at night
- Before using a crosswalk, make eye contact with approaching drivers to confirm they see you
- Be careful when approaching driveways where drivers’ views may be obscured
- Avoid walking when impaired by alcohol or drugs
Remembering these tips can help you stay safe on Long Island. However, accidents can happen even when you are careful. If you were struck by a vehicle while walking, our Long Island pedestrian accident lawyers are here to help fight for compensation on your behalf.
Speak to Our Team Today for Your Free Case Evaluation
At Shulman & Hill, our attorneys provide free consultations for pedestrians hit by drivers on Long Island. We can assess your case to determine your options for seeking a fair payout based on your injuries. Let our team handle your claim or lawsuit while you focus on healing.
For more information, call us today at (866) 880-0645 or contact us online for your free legal consultation.