Glen Oaks Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Forms of Compensation you Could Recover After a Pedestrian Accident

You don’t have to cover the costs of an accident that someone else caused. Our attorneys can help you seek compensation to cover your injury-related losses, including:

Medical Treatment Necessary for Your Recovery

A pedestrian accident can be devastating. You may be suffering from a catastrophic injury such as a traumatic brain injury, or you could be facing other painful conditions. We will help you seek the compensation you need to recover the cost of your past, present, and future care needs, such as:

• Emergency room care
• Ambulance rides
• Hospitalizations
• Surgeries
• Medications
• Visits to a specialist
• Chiropractic care
• Physical therapy and rehab

Income Losses

Your career could be affected in many ways when you’re dealing with serious injuries. Our attorneys will learn about all the ways you’ve been affected and seek a recovery for:

• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Missed tips
• Missed bonuses
• Missed promotions

Non-Economic Losses

Some hardships after an injury accident are more emotional or psychological. These are also potentially recoverable losses. We can tell you if you qualify to seek compensation for your:

• Pain and suffering
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Disfigurement and scarring
• Reduced enjoyment of life

Wrongful Death Losses

If you lost a loved one to a pedestrian accident in Glen Oaks, we are truly sorry. Our attorneys can provide you with compassionate support through every step of a wrongful death case. We will tell you how we can seek justice and compensation for your family. You could make a recovery for:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Your loved one’s medical costs
• Lost income to your family
• Loss of guidance and support

You could qualify for other forms of compensation beyond those above.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Glen Oaks

Pedestrian accidents have multiple causes:

• Inattentive drivers are a common cause of pedestrian accidents. Drivers who talk or text on their cell phones, fix their hair, groom themselves, fiddle with the radio, or take their focus off the road often fail to see a pedestrian crossing an intersection or walking beside a road.
• Sun glare is another common cause of car-pedestrian accidents. Motorists driving into intense sun glare sometimes cannot see pedestrians in the road in front of them. This can cause a driver to strike a pedestrian, even if the pedestrian is in the crosswalk. Pedestrian collisions also occur in poorly lit areas or when poor weather conditions affect visibility.
• Fatigued drivers have reduced alertness and may be slow to make quick decisions to avoid a pedestrian accident. A fatigued driver may fall asleep at the wheel, causing a hazard to pedestrians and other motorists.
• Drivers who speed down residential streets or run traffic lights may cause pedestrian accidents. The faster a driver is going, the less time the driver has to react to a person on foot in the road and avoid a collision.

If you were a pedestrian hit by a car, you should contact a Glen Oaks pedestrian accident attorney’s team as soon as possible to discuss your legal options and what compensation may be available.

Call the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP at (866) 878-6774. If you prefer, you can also contact us by email or live chat to schedule a free consultation.

What to Do If You Were Involved in a Pedestrian Automobile Accident

If you were a pedestrian who was hit by a car, you should immediately call 911 or ask someone to call for you.

At the Scene of the Accident

Wait for the police and other first responders to arrive on site.

Once the police arrive, answer their questions about the accident. If you are able, you should take photographs of the location where the accident occurred as well as the vehicles that were involved.

While waiting for the police to arrive, don’t discuss the accident with others involved in the accident apart from exchanging information for insurance purposes. Anything you say could be taken as an admission of fault if a lawsuit later arises.

Get Medical Treatment Promptly

Serious injuries require immediate transport to the hospital. If the EMTs suggest that you need to receive emergency medical care, you should allow them to transport you to a hospital. If an ambulance has not arrived, you should ask someone to drive you to the nearest emergency room or immediate care facility.

Whether or not you require emergency medical care, it is important to be evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible. Pedestrian injuries such as internal bleeding and head trauma may not be readily apparent. If you delay seeking medical treatment, the insurance company for the at-fault party might argue that you were not seriously injured in the accident and deny your claim for pedestrian injuries.

Learn How a Lawyer Can Help

Once the situation stabilizes, you should speak to a pedestrian injury accident lawyer as soon as possible to learn about your legal options.

If you were a pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle and we handle your case, our pedestrian accident attorneys can help you with day-to-day issues such as finding doctors, fixing or replacing your vehicle, and dealing with persistent insurance adjusters.

A Glen Oaks personal injury attorney will explain your rights after a serious injury, allowing you to make educated decisions.

Does My Insurance Cover Me If I Get Hit By a Car in Glen Oaks?

If you have health insurance through your employer, or you pay for your health insurance on your own, your health coverage will pay for the initial medical treatment you receive. It is important to receive treatment.

New York requires automobile owners to have no-fault insurance to cover certain expenses related to the accident. If you have no-fault insurance on your auto when you were injured in a pedestrian accident, the personal injury protection (PIP) portion of your car insurance policy could also cover your medical expenses and lost earnings related to the pedestrian accident up to the limits of your policy.

Compensation Available in a Hit-and-Run Accident

Hit-and-run drivers often are involved in pedestrian accidents. If the driver who hit you did not have insurance or was a hit-and-run driver and was not identified, then the uninsured motorist coverage in your auto insurance should pay for your injuries.

Seeking a Financial Recovery From the At-Fault Driver

If a motorist caused your pedestrian accident injuries and your expenses exceed the limits of your PIP insurance policy, you may need to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance and seek to recover compensation through a pedestrian accident claim.

As an injured pedestrian, you can seek compensation for medical and rehabilitation expenses, pain and suffering, and lost pay from the company that insured the driver who caused your injuries. For example, if the vehicle had $25,000 in liability coverage, you can recover up to that amount from the insurance company.

The amount of money recoverable depends upon the scope of your injuries and the negotiation and litigation skills of your Glen Oaks pedestrian accident lawyer. Our Long Island accident attorneys can help you evaluate your options.

What Is the Pedestrian Right-of-Way Law?

Under New York law, a pedestrian has the right-of-way if the pedestrian is in a crosswalk and there are no traffic signals present. Otherwise, the pedestrian is obligated to obey all traffic signals. Additionally:

• A pedestrian is not allowed to suddenly step off the curb into traffic or walk into the path of an oncoming vehicle that is too close to allow the vehicle to stop in time.
• A pedestrian must yield to a motor vehicle where a pedestrian tunnel or overpass has been provided.

New York State also requires all drivers to exercise due care with respect to pedestrians to avoid a collision with them, even if the vehicle has the right-of-way.

How Is Liability Determined in New York?

A pedestrian who is hit by a car in New York may seek to recover compensation for his or her injuries, even if the pedestrian was partially responsible for what happened. The pedestrian’s recovery is reduced by their own percentage of fault.

For example, if a court awards damages of $100,000 in a pedestrian accident and finds that the injured pedestrian was 20% at fault in an accident, the pedestrian’s financial recovery would be reduced to $80,000.

Can I Make a Claim Against the Local Municipality?

In some instances, the local city or town may be liable for a pedestrian accident. For example, if the town fails to repair a broken traffic light that caused the accident, it may be possible to bring a claim against the municipality for failing to repair the light.

If you suspect that the local municipality played a part in a car-pedestrian accident, speak to an attorney’s team about your case as soon as possible. Taking legal action against a governmental agency in New York involves special notification requirements with short deadlines. You should contact an attorney immediately to discuss your options.

The Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP Can Help After a Pedestrian Accident in Glen Oaks

If you were involved in a car-pedestrian accident in Glen Oaks, the attorneys at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP are here for you. At the negotiation table or in court, our team of experienced professionals knows how to present a persuasive case for pedestrian injury compensation on your behalf.

Here’s what our attorneys can do to help you after a pedestrian accident:

• Identify what forms of insurance coverage are available to you
• Tell you what types of compensation you could seek
• Gather evidence to prove liability and your losses
• Handle conversations with third parties for you
• Seek the best possible settlement available
• Take your case to trial, if necessary
• Advise you on relevant laws that may affect your case

Get Legal Help With No Upfront Costs Involved

At the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP our attorneys take cases based on contingency. This means that you don’t have to worry about financing your legal case out of your savings. We will only receive our lawyer’s fees at the conclusion of your case – and only if we secure results for you.

We don’t require any of the following forms of upfront payment:

• Hourly rates
• Retainers

This allows you to get started on your case immediately and with no financial risk to you.

Other Reasons to Choose our Team

When you choose a law firm, you’re taking a big step for your case. Here are a few more reasons to consider The Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP:

• Our record of results. We’ve won six-figure results for injury victims, including pedestrians hurt in vehicle accidents. In one case, we won $100,000 for a pedestrian who suffered spinal injuries when they were hit in a crosswalk.
• Our past clients have good things to say. Our attorneys take pride in offering support to our clients. Check out our client testimonials page for more about our track record for aggressive, effective, and compassionate legal representation.
• We’re responsive. We respond to all calls to our office within 24 hours. Our clients receive Richard Jaffe’s cell phone number for 24/7 accessibility.

To learn more about our firm’s core principles, which include accessibility and affordability, please review our letter to prospective clients.

Call the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP for a Free Case Review

Call the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP now at (866) 878-6774 to discuss your pedestrian accident. You can also reach us by email or live chat. Take advantage of a free consultation today.