Pedestrian Accidents

New York City has a lot of pedestrian traffic. Unfortunately, many motor vehicle drivers forget to stay alert for people crossing the streets of the City. If you have been struck by a negligent driver while walking in New York City, an NYC pedestrian accident lawyer can help you understand your rights and represent you in demanding compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. You owe it to yourself to be represented by a law firm that has the determination and resources to handle whatever may come up in your case. The attorneys at The Perecman Firm, are those attorneys and we are ready to assist you.

At The Perecman Firm, we have been advocating for accident victims for more than four decades. We have recovered more than half a billion dollars for our clients. Our attorneys are highly experienced in representing clients with catastrophic injury claims.

If you have been hit by a negligent driver in New York City, reach out to The Perecman Firm, today for a free initial consultation. We will help you understand the legal options available to you. If you have a valid personal injury claim, our New York City pedestrian accident lawyers can help you pursue full compensation from the negligent driver, vehicle owner, and their insurance company.

Why Choose Our Firm to Handle Your Case?

Pursuing compensation following a pedestrian accident in New York City can take a lot of time and energy. It’s time and energy you may not have while you are focused on recovering from your injuries. Our pedestrian accident attorneys can handle the dealings with the insurance companies while you focus on your health and recovery. But how do you decide which NYC pedestrian accident law firm is right for you?

Consider the following facts about The Perecman Firm:

• Our firm has a proven track record of success in catastrophic accident cases and has recovered more than half a billion dollars for our clients.
• We have been representing injured people across the New York City area for more than 40 years and have represented clients in cases that have reshaped the law to better protect the rights of accident victims.
• Our legal team includes highly experienced trial attorneys, many of whom have decades in the courtroom.
• Our firm is known as a leader in the field of personal injury law. Many attorneys refer their most difficult catastrophic injury cases to us.
• Our top priority is serving our clients’ interests. We are prepared to handle all the details of each client’s case so that they can focus on their physical and emotional recovery.

Understanding Your Insurance Coverage

A pedestrian who has been struck by a car in New York City should initially file a claim against the Personal Injury Protection no-fault policy of the car involved in the accident. You have 30 days from the date of the accident to file an application for no-fault benefits with the insurance company. The no-fault PIP policy should pay your medical expenses and lost wages up to the limits of the policy.

If you are injured as a pedestrian and you also own an automobile, you should submit a no-fault application to your insurance carrier as well. You may have excess PIP benefits beyond those provided by the at-fault driver’s no-fault policy.

Under the law in New York, you might also be able to bring a separate personal injury action if your injuries are “serious” as defined under the Insurance Law.  This is a separate claim from the claim for no-fault benefits.

In considering your auto insurance coverage, please note that your insurance coverage may include:

• Personal injury protection: In New York, all auto insurance policies are required to provide at least $50,000 in PIP (a.k.a. “no fault”) coverage. Policyholders can purchase higher amounts of coverage. PIP provides compensation for medical expenses and lost wages incurred due to injuries sustained in an accident involving a motor vehicle. In the case of pedestrian accidents, the initial PIP claim is submitted to the insurance of the vehicle involved in the crash.
• Uninsured motorist coverage: New York also requires auto insurers to include at least $25,000 of uninsured motorist (“UM") coverage. With UM coverage, your insurance company steps in to compensate you after an accident when an at-fault driver does not have adequate liability insurance or when a hit-and-run driver flees from the accident scene and cannot be located.
• Auto Liability Insurance: If your pedestrian accident injuries qualify as “serious” under New York law, you may file a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto liability coverage and sue the at-fault driver if necessary.