8 Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents often lead to serious injuries due to the weight and speed of a car and the pedestrian’s lack of protection. If you have been seriously injured in a pedestrian accident in New York, you must have an experienced New York personal injury lawyer handle your case. Pedestrian accident cases are often hotly contested by insurance companies who will try you for what occurred.

If you have been hurt in a pedestrian accident in New York, don’t try to handle your case alone. Allow the highly skilled and compassionate New York City pedestrian accident lawyers at Finz & Finz, P.C. to fight tirelessly for the maximum compensation you deserve. For a free and confidential consultation, contact us online or call Finz & Finz, P.C. now at 855-TOP-FIRM.

This blog will discuss eight common causes of pedestrian accidents in New York. The vast majority of pedestrian accidents are caused by negligent drivers. Motorists often fail to notice the pedestrians, or they get impatient in waiting for an opportunity to pass them. Common causes of pedestrian accidents include:

Failure to Yield Right of Way

Right of way is the legal right of a motorist or pedestrian to proceed. For example, if a traffic signal directs a pedestrian to cross the street, a driver must allow the pedestrian to cross before proceeding through the crosswalk. Failure to yield right of way can occur when a motorist drives through the crosswalk without giving precedence to the pedestrian.

Distracted drivers

Many pedestrian accidents happen when the motorist is not paying close attention to the road. Distracted driving can come in many different forms, such as talking on the phone, texting, adjusting the radio or a/c, manipulating the GPS, or any other activity that takes their attention from the road. When a motorist loses focus from driving for even a second, pedestrians are put at risk.

Impatient Drivers

In New York, pedestrians usually have the right of way. If a pedestrian doesn’t see a vehicle and begins crossing the road against the light, the pedestrian still has the right of way. Impatient motorists who don’t watch for pedestrians or try to drive around them are responsible for many accidents.

Speeding

When a car is traveling faster than the speed limit, the driver may not have the time required to react to a pedestrian. Speeding also ups the possibility of severe injuries to the pedestrian.

Passing a Car Stopped at a Crosswalk

Some pedestrian accidents occur when the pedestrian is legally crossing a crosswalk in front of a stopped vehicle. These accidents happen as a result of drivers approaching from behind the stopped vehicle who may not see the crossing pedestrians.

Reversing into a Pedestrian

Pedestrian accidents in parking lots are not uncommon. These generally occur when a motorist backs out of a parking space and does not check for pedestrians or does not see the pedestrian.

Drunk Drivers

Drivers who drive while drunk are much more likely than sober drivers to strike a pedestrian. Intoxicated drivers have difficulty pay attention to the road and their surroundings. Their reaction time is also significantly slowed. In many cases, drunk drivers don’t see pedestrians, and if they do, they may not be able to stop in time.

Lighting

When it’s dark, a vehicle has a greater risk of striking a pedestrian. Many pedestrian accidents happen at night or early in the morning before daylight. If the municipality does not provide adequate lighting for streets and sidewalks and a pedestrian is injured as a result, there’s a chance the city could be held liable. An attorney can help you identify all the liable parties.

How a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Help

Because driver negligence is often the cause of pedestrian accidents, a skilled attorney will protect your rights to compensation when you have been injured. The New York pedestrian accident attorneys at Finz & Finz, P.C. will be able to determine fault and prove that the driver was responsible for the accident.

Pedestrian accident victims can suffer severe injuries like spinal cord injuries and brain injuries. Injuries such as these typically require expensive long-term care. Victims might not be able to return to work. An attorney will take into account all the long-term effects of your injury when figuring out the types of compensation you are entitled to. A pedestrian accident lawyer will put you in the absolute best position to recover the maximum compensation you deserve.

If you have suffered serious injuries, you are probably not physically and emotionally able to handle complicated legal matters by yourself. You need the assistance of the skilled and compassionate New York pedestrian accident lawyers at Finz & Finz, P.C. Our legal team will take care of every aspect of your pedestrian accident case from start to finish. This will provide you with the peace of mind you need, so you can focus on your health and recovery.

Contact a New York Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

If you have been seriously hurt in a New York pedestrian accident, seeking compensation with a lawsuit can be confusing and intimidating. The New York pedestrian accident lawyers at Finz & Finz, P.C. can help. As a personal injury law firm with 40 years of experience, we have the resources to devote to your case.

The New York City personal injury attorney at Finz & Finz, P.C. can conduct an in-depth investigation of the pedestrian accident, protect your rights, ensure you don’t say anything that may compromise your claim. Allow us to fight tirelessly for the full and fair compensation you need and deserve. For a free initial consultation, call now at 855-TOP-FIRM.