Pedestrian Accidents

Every year, thousands of pedestrians are killed in traffic accidents. The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, with offices in White Plains and Peekskill, represents clients throughout Westchester County, the lower Hudson Valley and all of New York State who have suffered injuries or who are a surviving family member of a pedestrian killed as the result of a reckless or negligent driver. If you’re injured in a traffic accident, contact our team for a free consultation.

The Effects of Pedestrian Accidents on Victims

In a car accident, you’re protected by the crumple zone, air bags, seatbelts, and the glass and metal that surround you. As a pedestrian, you have none of these protections, so you’re more likely to be injured in a pedestrian accident. A vehicle can impact you directly or you may be thrown into the air, which can cause a variety of injuries, including:

• Fractures. Legs, arms, and ribs often bear the brunt of the impact, so bones in these areas are most likely to be broken.
• Head Injuries. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI), concussions, or skull fractures are common if a pedestrian is struck on the head or if they fall and hit their head on the ground. These injuries may result in cognitive impairments, memory loss, and even permanent disabilities. Head injuries are also a leading cause of fatalities in pedestrian accidents.
• Spinal Cord Injuries. Damage to the spine can lead to partial or complete paralysis, or victims may lose sensation or movement in parts of their body.
• Internal Injuries. These injuries can lead to life-threatening conditions such as internal bleeding, organ rupture, or damage to the lungs, liver, or kidneys.
• Soft Tissue Injuries. Sprains, strains, bruises, and tears to muscles, ligaments, and tendons are common in pedestrian accidents.
• Facial Injuries. Broken teeth, nose fractures, lacerations, and eye injuries can be both physically and emotionally traumatic.
• Knee and Leg Injuries: Pedestrians often sustain knee injuries such as ligament tears, fractures, or dislocations, which can limit mobility and cause chronic pain.
• Chest Injuries: A collision with a vehicle can result in broken ribs, lung punctures, or contusions to the chest, all of which can affect the ability to breathe and, in severe cases, can affect the lungs and heart, creating a life-threatening situation.
• Psychological Injuries: The psychological impact of a pedestrian accident can result in anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among other conditions.

In the most severe pedestrian cases, pedestrians lose their lives. In that situation, consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney is especially important, to make sure there is someone aggressively fighting for your right to compensation.

How Pedestrian Accidents Affect Victims’ Lives

The aftermath of a pedestrian accident may require long-term medical care, rehabilitation, and adjustment to new limitations. Many pedestrian accident victims experience physical limitations, such as temporary or permanent inability to walk, work, or perform daily activities. For some, the pain and discomfort may last for months or even years, while others may face lifelong disabilities requiring adaptive equipment or assistance.

Injuries sustained in a pedestrian accident can also lead to extended periods of missed work. Lost income can cause significant financial strain. In some cases, individuals may be unable to return to their previous careers due to permanent disabilities, which could mean finding new employment in a different field or relying on disability benefits.

At the same time as victims may be dealing with lost income, they may be facing expensive treatment and medical bills, which may not be fully covered by insurance. Some individuals may need long-term care, including home modifications or personal care assistance, which adds to the financial burden.

The trauma of being involved in a pedestrian accident, as well as the income loss and pain of the injury, can lead to psychological struggles. This can affect sleep, relationships, and even the ability to drive again. Victims may require long-term therapy or treatment to get back on track.

The trauma can affect the quality of life. Serious injuries can affect a person’s relationships with family, friends, and co-workers. Simple activities like walking, driving, or even cooking may become difficult or impossible, leading to feelings of helplessness, anger, or isolation. Simply being able to rebuild and enjoy life can feel out of reach for a time.

While insurance companies are supposed to help, the insurance process is often very challenging. Pedestrian accident victims may need legal representation to ensure that they are fairly compensated for their injuries.

Why Work With The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel?

The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel is dedicated to protecting pedestrians and bicyclists who are the victims of reckless and negligent drivers of cars, taxicabs, trucks, and other delivery vehicles who fail to stop at stop signs or drive at unsafe speeds. Particularly in the boroughs of New York City, taxi drivers and delivery vehicle operators routinely ignore traffic lights, fail to obey stop signs, and ignore other traffic controls.

New York City has now adopted a program called “Vision Zero”, which has been implemented in other cities across the United States and in other countries. This program is designed to reduce pedestrian and traffic fatalities through a number of different measures, such as reducing the speed limit on city roadways from 30 m.p.h., which was in place for 50 years, to 25 m.p.h. Another measure adopted as part of Vision Zero is to improve traffic signage.

Even with these changes in place, you may be impacted by a pedestrian accident. If you are injured, contact our law team for a free consultation. Our investigators will expeditiously obtain witness statements, secure photographs of the accident scene, vehicle debris and where possible, the damaged vehicles themselves. We will obtain the maintenance and driver records of the drivers involved in the crash, and utilize the services of accident reconstruction experts where appropriate who can analyze accident debris, skid marks, and other accident scene evidence.

Injuries suffered in pedestrian accidents are often extremely severe and life altering. The pedestrian accident victim may have suffered spinal cord paralysis, nerve damage, dislocated or broken bones, or a lost limb. The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel understands that in addition to recovering the maximum amount of compensation for past and future pain and suffering, other immediate goals of our clients are to insure that past and future medical and hospital bills get paid, any lost wages are reimbursed to prevent financial suffering, that loss of employment opportunities or earnings are recognized, and that loss of the ability to perfume activities of daily living is considered in the damages calculation.

We provide dedicated, aggressive, and comprehensive representation to make sure that our clients receive all possible compensation. We have been in practice since 1986 and do not hesitate to litigate a case through trial if this is necessary to obtain proper compensation for our clients. However, we also recognize that there are occasions in which the best resolution of the case is through arbitration, mediation, or settlement due to the financial constraints and needs of the client. Insurance companies are not in business to give the maximum settlement—they seek to pay victims as little as possible, and frequently attempt to settle cases “on the cheap” before an attorney is involved.

If you are injured in a pedestrian accident, before you sign or settle anything with an insurance company, please contact us. We can explain your legal options and talk about how much your case may be worth. We understand the financial pressure you may be facing, so there is no cost and no obligation with your first consultation. You risk nothing. If you work with The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, we may also be able to take your case on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t pay fees until we recover money for your case.

Please contact us online or call us at (914) 428-7386 to schedule a free consultation to find out more.