If you or a loved one has suffered severe injuries in a pedestrian accident due to driver negligence, you need a powerful pedestrian accident attorney to fight for your right to just compensation. For residents of Nassau and Suffolk County or of any of the five boroughs of New York City, Kohan Law Group in Manhasset and Hempstead is ready to help you with your pedestrian accident, no matter how small or catastrophic.
Pedestrian accidents are among the top 10 leading causes of serious injuries and death for most age groups in New York State. This is because pedestrians are the most vulnerable parties in traffic accidents, no match for cars, trucks, motorcycles, or bicycles.
Even what would be fender benders for cars can cause catastrophic injuries for those on foot. As traffic in New York City and on Long Island (Hempstead, and Nassau County) gets heavier, drivers become more distracted, which means that pedestrians are at increased risk of being injured or killed.
The Severity of Pedestrian Accident Injuries
The level of pedestrian injuries depends heavily on the speed of the vehicle and the age of the victim. While a third of pedestrian accident victims escape with mild injuries, the majority suffer severe injury or wrongful death. Older adults and children are most vulnerable and the risk is much greater at dusk or after dark. Catastrophic pedestrian accident injuries include:
- Multiple bone fractures
- Neuromuscular dysfunction
- Spinal cord injuries (paralysis)
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Organ damage or loss
- Internal bleeding
- Amputation
Most often, serious and catastrophic injuries require surgery, lengthy rehabilitation, and/or long-term care. If the victim was a wage earner, the loss of income could significantly increase the family’s financial stress. This is especially true for New York City, Hempstead, and Nassau County residents who have suffered a pedestrian injuries. If it was a serious and catastrophic injury, it would be even worse for the victim, as medical bills pile up. Having an accomplished pedestrian accident attorney is critical to restoring financial stability. At Kohan Law Group, we have a track record of successful outcomes.
Our Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Are Committed to Your Cause
The skillful professionals at Kohan Law Group have experience working with and for the victims of pedestrian accidents throughout Hempstead and the rest of Nassau County. We will work tirelessly to make sure that the person who caused you serious harm is held accountable. We will evaluate all of your medical expenses, lost income, and injury-related costs both now and going forward, and fight to win you maximum damages for all you have been through.
Our legal team knows the intricacies of New York State law and has the skills to make sure you get every dollar you are entitled to. Moreover, we won’t charge you any attorneys’ fees until we recover damages.
The Sooner You Contact Us, the Better
The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim in New York State is three years and the wheels of justice turn slowly. Also, gathering evidence from the place you were injured is much more effective when undertaken shortly after the accident because:
- Damage to vehicles and property is still visible
- Forensic evidence is readily available
- Road spills are not cleaned
- Police reports are easy to locate
- Witness memories remain clear
- Medical records are more easily accessible
- Cell phone records can be more easily subpoenaed (if distracted driving is suspected)
As soon as you contact us, our pedestrian accident attorneys will begin the investigative process, examining the accident site, police records, and medical reports, paying attention to the details that will help us create a strong strategy. While many of our cases may result in a reasonable settlement, we are always prepared for an aggressive courtroom battle if necessary.
We have a network of experts (medical, automotive, accident reconstruction) who can be deciding factors in winning your case when they testify on your behalf.
Causes of a Pedestrian Accident
Driver negligence that may cause pedestrian accidents includes:
- Failing to obey traffic signals or signs
- Changing lanes or turning without signaling
- Driving with broken lights
- Speeding
- Driving with defective brakes or steering
- Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs
- Driving while distracted by electronic devices, passengers, etc.
- Driving without regard to poor road or weather conditions
Most pedestrian accidents occur either in congested, urban areas, though some occur on rural roads, residential streets, parking lots, or even in driveways.
The Defendant in a Pedestrian Accident is Not Always the Driver
Depending on what our investigation shows, we may be targeting someone other than the driver who hit you with the lawsuit. We may, for example, be targeting the manufacturer of the car’s defective brakes, the government agency that failed to fill a dangerous pothole or the owner of the construction company whose truck dropped debris onto the roadway.Â
Comparative Negligence in New York State
The state recognizes that in accidents, even some pedestrian accidents, there is more than one party to blame. For example, suppose that you were jaywalking at the time of the accident or that you were distracted by your cell phone. In such a case, the court will assign a percentage of fault to each party.
In New York, you may still win a settlement if you bear the majority of the blame, but your percentage of blame will be deducted from the total. If, for example, your settlement was $500,000 but you were assigned 20 percent of the fault, you would actually receive $400,000.
We Will Fight Hard To Win You the Highest Possible Settlement
Our goal is to help you receive the compensation you deserve for:
- Medical and rehabilitative costs
- Lost income (present and future)
- Replacement services
- Pain and suffering
- Long-term care
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Wrongful Death
If your family has tragically lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident, we will file a wrongful death lawsuit on your behalf to help you win damages for final medical costs, funeral expenses, loss of companionship and guidance, and loss of future income.
Contact Our Dedicated Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Today
At Kohan Law Group, your cause is our cause. We will support you in every way we can. When it comes to helping you get back on a solid footing, physically, emotionally, and financially, we will fight as if our lives depend on it because we know your life does. Contact our office today for a free consultation.
Kohan Law Group represents pedestrian accident victims throughout Nassau County as well as in New York City, including Queens and Brooklyn, from their Manhasset office in North Hempstead.