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Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in NYC

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NYC Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

1As of this year, New York City’s population rose to 8.82 million, making us the largest and most densely populated city in the country. It also makes us one of the most traffic-congested cities in the world. And of all the people sharing NYC’s roadways and public spaces, pedestrians face the highest risk of sustaining serious injuries, even death, in motor vehicle accidents.

That’s why it’s so important for you to know that in the event you become one of them, you have a pedestrian accident lawyer on your side.

Recent NYC Pedestrian Fatality Statistics

Despite the pandemic and the consequent decrease in the number of vehicles on the road, NYC saw a 58% increase in fatal accidents involving pedestrians in the first four months of 2021 as compared to 2020. Specific fatality numbers for this time period over the past four years show the following:

  • 2018 – 31 deaths
  • 2019 – 34 deaths
  • 2020 – 26 deaths
  • 2021 – 41 deaths
 

Unfortunately, the pedestrian death toll just kept rising this year. May and June saw 23 pedestrian deaths combined, with eight more in July and nine more in August. This put the total number of 2021 pedestrian deaths at 81 as of Aug. 31, with four months to go. In all likelihood, 2021 will go down as the deadliest year for pedestrians in NYC history.

Pedestrian Accident Causes

As a premier New York City pedestrian accident law firm, William Schwitzer & Associates knows that as shocking as the fatality statistics are, they represent only a small part of the overall problem. They don’t account for the thousands of people who sustain serious injuries each year in pedestrian-vehicle accidents.

Whether the vehicle in question is a bicycle, a motorcycle, a passenger vehicle or a city bus, it’s not difficult to see that the pedestrian will almost invariably suffer the worst injuries in a crash

Some of the most common causes of these accidents include the following:

  • Speeding
  • Failure to yield right-of-way at crosswalks
  • Driver distraction
  • Poor visibility when making left turns
  • Running a red light or stop sign
  • Backing out of a driveway or parking space without looking
  • Impatient, aggressive or reckless driving
  • Alcohol or drug usage prior to driving
  • Inclement weather
  • Road construction
  • Poor nighttime lighting

Common Pedestrian Injuries

The list of serious injuries you can receive if a vehicle hits you while you’re walking are almost never-ending. Some of the most common include the following:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Broken or fractured bones
  • Musculoskeletal injuries
  • Chest injuries
  • Abdominal injuries
  • Amputations
  • Soft tissue injuries

Non Vehicular Pedestrian Injuries

Keep in mind that you can sustain a serious injury as a pedestrian from causes other than negligent vehicle drivers. For instance, consider the following:

  • You can fall on someone’s ice-covered or snow-packed sidewalk, steps or parking lot.
  • You can trip over cracked or uneven surfaces.
  • You can sustain a serious head injury if a construction tool falls from the scaffolding under which you’re walking.
  • You can receive any number of injuries if hit by falling debris caused by a crane collapse.

Pedestrian Accident Consequences

Depending on the seriousness of the injuries, injured pedestrians could face the following:

  • Extensive hospital stays
  • Post-discharge physical and occupational therapy
  • Follow-up doctors’ appointments
  • In-home care
  • Purchase of a hospital bed, a wheelchair, a walker, a cane, a prosthesis or other medical equipment
  • Significant loss of wages or salary during recovery

In other words, your medical expenses and other bills likely will skyrocket at the precise time as your income declines.

Necessity Of Hiring Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

Receiving adequate compensation for your injuries and medical bills requires the services of an experienced pedestrian injury accident attorney in New York City. That is exactly who we are at William Schwitzer & Associates.

We practice only personal injury and wrongful death law and have been doing so since 1985. While past results cannot guarantee future success, we are proud to have obtained hundreds of millions of dollars for our injured clients, including numerous multi-million-dollar settlements and jury awards. 

You can rest assured that our dedicated attorneys will go the extra mile for you to secure the maximum recovery possible under the law. Our experienced trial attorneys hold licenses to practice in all New York state courts, as well as before the four federal district courts, the New York Court of Appeals, the New York Supreme Court, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

So, when you’ve sustained injuries in a New York City pedestrian accident and are searching for an excellent pedestrian accident lawyer, search no further than William Schwitzer & Associates. We are here to help you.