Every two hours a pedestrian is killed and every eight minutes is injured in a car crash in the United States. This is often due to the unfortunate failure of drivers of taxicabs, cars, trucks, and city buses to observe crosswalks and their failure to yield the right of way to pedestrians at intersections. The victim of these accidents is often not doing anything wrong at the time. They are just walking, jogging, crossing the street, hiking, playing, standing on a sidewalk, or any number of ordinary activities when the accident happened. And when a collision between a motor vehicle and a pedestrian occurs, it is almost always the pedestrian who loses.
In 2011 there were 4,432 pedestrian fatalities as a result of car accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”). Pedestrian death accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities that year.
Pedestrians who survive car crashes suffer injuries such as:
- Back and spinal cord injuries;
- Broken bones;
- Disfigurement causing scaring;
- Herniated discs;
- Injuries to the tibia or femur bones;
- Internal injuries to the kidney, spleen, liver, or other organs;
- Mental distress;
- Torn cartilage and tendons;
- Traumatic brain injury;
- Paralysis; and
- Death.
Hudson Pedestrian Collision Attorney
The pedestrian accident attorneys at the law office of Greenberg and Greenberg will work closely with investigators in tracking down eyewitnesses, collecting evidence, and reconstructing what occurred in your pedestrian knockdown accident. We will consult with medical experts to verify the extent and nature of your injuries. This will undermine the claims of the no-fault insurance doctors who will attempt to downplay the severity of your injuries.
Protecting Yourself After a Pedestrian Accident
Most insurers will try to settle your case as quickly as possible after a pedestrian accident, usually before the full scope of your injuries is clear. It can take months for the full impact of a head, neck, or back injury to be made known; therefore, insurance claims adjusters often try to convince you to accept a quick settlement. Unfortunately, some victims who have been hit by a car while walking will too often accept a settlement, believing that they have only suffered minor contusions and a few sore muscles.
However, weeks or months after they have returned home, they may experience debilitating pain, numbness, loss of mobility, or cognitive impairment. Unfortunately, if the victim has accepted an offer and signed a legally binding claims agreement, they will not be able to pursue any further damages in court. The attorneys at Greenberg and Greenberg will handle all communications between you and a claims adjuster to ensure that you will not be taken advantage of or misled into accepting a low settlement offer.
The Cost of a Pedestrian Knockdown
Pedestrians can suffer serious injuries in crosswalk accidents. There are significant costs associated with head trauma, spinal cord injuries, and disfigurement. In order to obtain compensation for our clients that is proportional to their injuries, the attorneys at Greenberg and Greenberg consult medical economists and life care planners. In addition, we take into account the costs associated with surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, medical equipment, in-home nursing, and lost wages.
The Hudson pedestrian collision attorneys at Greenberg and Greenberg handle cases throughout New York State, including Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, and Albany County. Our legal team has earned a reputation for dedicated service to our clients injured in New York personal injury accidents. Please contact us today to receive a FREE case evaluation by dialing locally to 518-828-3336 or call toll free at 877-469-9300.