Queens Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Have you been injured in a pedestrian accident in Queens? You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. Do not face the insurance company alone. A skilled and knowledgeable Queens pedestrian accident attorney from Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers, can help you obtain the maximum compensation you are entitled to for medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.
Call our New York City law office to arrange a free consultation to learn more today.
Table of Contents
How Our Queens Personal Injury Attorney Can Help After a Pedestrian Accident
The Queens personal injury lawyers at Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers, have extensive experience in pedestrian accident cases. If you are considering filing a Queens pedestrian accident lawsuit, or any other type of personal injury claim, please review our case results and client testimonials.
For more than 40 years, Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers has successfully handled many pedestrian accidents and hit and run accident insurance claims and lawsuits.
You have many choices when looking for a lawyer in NYC. We stand out from our competition because we offer personalized, individualized representation, while achieving the success and results that are expected of larger firms. We are proud of our four decades of success and remain committed to helping our clients recover maximum compensation for their injuries.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian accident in Queens, Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers can offer you the best legal representation in New York.
Insurance Companies Are Not On Your Side After a Pedestrian Accident in Queens
Following a Queens pedestrian accident where the driver of a vehicle was at fault, you will deal with the driver’s insurance company, who may promise to treat you fairly and make you whole. However, for the insurance company, insurance settlements are business transactions.
At Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers, we know that behind every pedestrian accident insurance claim, is a real person with a real problem.
Our pedestrian accident verdicts and settlements have been substantial – including a $22 million recovery on behalf of a pedestrian who suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of being hit by a motor vehicle.
Many people do not know that insurance adjusters are trained negotiators. Initially, adjusters are good listeners, empathetic, and understanding – because these build your trust, and make you more likely to believe them when they offer you a low settlement and say it is the highest the company will offer.
If you do not offer it, they may suggest the company believes you are lying about your injuries or even attempting to commit fraud. These suggestions will make you more likely to accept an offer out of desperation and fear.
When dealing with insurance companies, anything you say can be used against you. The insurance company will scour your social media to find anything to use against you. For example, an “I’m fine” comment about your accident to an acquaintance on social media may be brought up as justification for paying you less for your personal injury claim.
Hiring our experienced Queens personal injury attorneys levels the playing field and stops the cycle of delaying, denying, and defending your pedestrian accident injury claim.
If you hire us to represent you or your family, we will be your advocate and fight for fair compensation while you focus on healing and recovering. We will equip you with strategies to maximize your claim, and help you avoid pitfalls which could decrease the value of your claim. Call us to get started today.
Queens Pedestrian Accident Statistics
Nationwide, pedestrian accidents have increased 53% since reaching a low point in 2009. Approximately 17% of crash fatalities are pedestrians. The Queens Pedestrian Safety Action Plan reports that more than 250 people are killed or severely injured in Queens each year – an average of one pedestrian every weekday.
Across the five boroughs, Queens is second only to Manhattan in terms of its per-capital fatality rate.
In the last three decades, pedestrian fatalities fell, but have risen recently, according to NYC’s Vision Zero initiative.
There are 2,169 miles of roadway and 18,150 intersections, in the 110 square miles that make up Queens borough. According to Queens Pedestrian Safety Action Plan, dangerous driver actions are a contributing factor or the primary cause in 75% of pedestrian fatalities. When driver negligence causes an accident, injured victims may be entitled to monetary compensation.
Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Queens, NY
Although these like crosswalk signal malfunctions and vehicle brake failures do happen, driver negligence and recklessness are far more common causes of Queens pedestrian accidents.
Some of the top causes of pedestrian accidents in NYC include:
- Driver distraction from cell phones
- Driver fatigue / falling asleep
- Drunk driving
- Speeding up through yellow/red lights
- Failing to look for pedestrians in crosswalks and intersections.
A police report may or not accurately identify the cause of an accident. Reaching out to a skilled lawyer promptly can allow an independent investigation into the cause of the accident to identify all liable parties.
Dangerous Corridors and Intersections in Queens
New York City is very aware of the problem of pedestrian accidents, injuries, and deaths in Queens. In 2015, NYC identified the most dangerous corridors and intersections in Queens.
Some of the priority corridors identified by the DOT included:
- Union St (from 25 Rd to Franklin Av)
- Archer Av (from Van Wyck Exwy to 168 St)
- Junction Blvd (from 32 Av to Queens Blvd)
- Sanford Av (from Delong St to Northern Blvd)
- Roosevelt Av [west leg] (from Queens Blvd to 126 St)
- Northern Blvd [west leg] (from Queens Plz to 114 St)
- Sutphin Blvd (from Rockaway Blvd to Hillside Ave)
- Kissena Blvd (from Parsons Blvd to Main St)
- Main St (from Northern Blvd to Queens Blvd)
- Fresh Pond Rd (from Flushing Av to Myrtle Ave).
Along with priority corridors, NYC identified 72 intersections with the highest rates of injury or death.
The highest rates of serious injuries occurred at these 10 intersections:
- 71 St & Grand Ave
- Albion Ave & Queens Blvd & Hillyer St
- 27 St & Qn Plz
- Union St & Northern Blvd
- Parsons Blvd & Hillside Av
- Springfield Blvd & Hempstead Av
- 71 Av & Queens Blvd & 108 St
- Woodhaven Blvd & Jamaica Ave
- 169 St & Homelawn St & Hillside Av
- Sanford Av & Kissena Blvd.
NYC’s approach to pedestrian safety in Queens is three-pronged and includes engineering and planning actions, enforcement, and education. Engineering and planning actions included designating Neighborhood Slow Zones, speed humps, and road diets to calm traffic.
One example of a dangerous intersection was the intersection of Broadway and Queens Boulevard, which at one point averaged 47 pedestrian crashes annually, making it one of the deadliest intersections in the borough.
After the Department of Transportation made engineering and planning improvements such as widening medians, extending the curb, and improving the crossing experience, the number of crashes with injuries fell 49%, with the number of injuries decreasing 79%.
Common Types of Injuries in Queens Pedestrian Accidents
The injuries sustained in a Queens pedestrian accident can include:
- Blunt force injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Bone fractures
- Spinal cord injuries, and
- Death.
Many pedestrians suffer long-term injuries and permanent disabilities, including paralysis. If you experience injuries that you will have to deal with for the rest of your life, the amount of compensation you receive will impact your future quality of life. Damages available for your injuries include medical care expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.
Choosing the right lawyer to represent you can be the difference between minimum financial compensation and maximum compensation.
Third-Party Liability for Queens Pedestrian Accidents
Negligent drivers are most often responsible for pedestrian accidents. However, third parties may also be liable for injuries in a pedestrian, including:
- Municipalities and public agencies
- Manufacturers of defective vehicle parts
- Passengers in a vehicle who distract the driver
- The owner of the vehicle (if someone else was driving).
Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers’s car accident lawyers thoroughly investigate every case. Our seasoned investigators will use all available evidence to hold liable parties accountable.
How Long After a Queens Pedestrian Accident Can I Sue?
You’ll have a limited time ot file a lawsuit or initiate legal action after a pedestrian accident in Queens.
The amount of time you’ll have will depend on the type of claim you file and/or who is named as a defendant:
- In New York, a personal injury claim must be commenced within three years of the date of the accident.
- If a pedestrian accident is fatal, a wrongful death action must be commenced within two years of the date of death.
- If you are bringing a claim against New York City or another government agency, a claim must be filed within just 90 days.
Because liability is not always clear, it is advisable to contact a lawyer as soon as possible, while evidence can be preserved and witness recollections are fresh. Speaking to an attorney promptly can ensure all your rights are protected and legal actions are commenced on time.
Pedestrian Accidents involving Older Adults
Being hit by a car can be devastating for an older adult, and sadly, these accidents happen far too often in Queens.
Queens has more than 350,000 older adults (age 65 and older), and more than 50,000 people over age 85. Many of these older adults do not own vehicles and walk or use public transportation to get around. They may not be able to quickly sprint out of the way to avoid a collision.
Nationwide, the rate of pedestrian deaths is highest for people ages 80-84. Older individuals injured in pedestrian accidents also face more difficult and longer recoveries. Even after recovery, older adults will be more susceptible to falls and re-injuries. Falls are the leading cause of injury and death for people aged 65+.
If a loved one has been hit by a car in Queens, time is of the essence. Contact a knowledgeable and experienced pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible. Do not accept any compensation offer without speaking to a lawyer first.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Queens Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Today
The Queens pedestrian accident lawyers at Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers, are here 24/7 to take your call and answer your questions. Contact us today to speak with an attorney about your case. As part of our contingency fee agreement, there are never any legal fees unless we recover money for you.
