Pedestrian Accident Lawyer on Long Island

When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, the injuries are almost always serious — and the insurance process starts moving before you leave the hospital. Our Long Island pedestrian injury lawyers step in immediately to protect your rights, document what happened, and hold the responsible driver accountable.

Our Long Island pedestrian accident lawyers have decades of experience investigating crosswalk knockdowns, hit-and-runs, and distracted-driver collisions across Nassau and Suffolk County, and are Tier 1 rated for personal injury litigation in NYC by U.S. News - Best Lawyers® and Best Law Firms^® (2026).

Call (212) 268-3222 for a free, confidential consultation with a Long Island pedestrian injury lawyer nearby.

Quick Answers About Pedestrian Accident Claims on Long Island

If you were hit by a vehicle while walking on Long Island, the days immediately after the accident shape the strength of your entire claim and ability to recover fair compensation.

We start the legal process by documenting the scene, identifying every liable party, and preventing early missteps that insurance companies use against you. Here are common questions injured pedestrians ask our personal injury lawyers  every day.

Why Long Island Clients Choose Raphaelson & Levine

We earn trust through verified outcomes, real client feedback, and a clear approach, not promises. Here's what that looks like for pedestrian accident cases.

Our Core Values: The Four R's

Results. Our clients have recovered over $1 billion in compensation.

Resources. Big firm resources, but small firm attention to detail. We work with the top medical experts, accident reconstructionists, and life care planners on Long Island, and spare no expense building the strongest pedestrian injury case for our clients.

Reputation. Over 679 five-star reviews and numerous industry awards, including Best Law Firms Tier 1 rankings, Best Lawyers recognition for 7 attorneys, and New York Law Journal Verdicts & Settlements Hall of Fame.

Respect. Every client becomes a part of our family. We make sure every pedestrian accident victim understands their legal rights, the deadlines that matter, and whether they may have a claim — so they can make informed decisions about their future.

What Pedestrian Accident Clients Say

"I was hit by a car while crossing the street. Raphaelson & Levine proved the driver was at fault..." — Maria G., Pedestrian Accident (Google Review)

"We were lucky to have Mr. Andrew Levine representing our case...My husband was hit by a car, went to the Hospital and was sent home after 5 days." — Regina H., Pedestrian Accident (Google Review)

"I cannot speak highly enough of Raphaelson & Levine and, in particular, of Corey Flick who handled my case." — Travis T., Pedestrian Accident (Google Review)

"Highly Recommended - Went over and beyond. Obtained an excellent settlement for my personal injury case." — Ann P., Pedestrian Accident (Google Review)

Reviews reflect individual experiences; results may vary.

Recent Pedestrian Accident Case Results

• ‍$1.8 Million — Pedestrian Accident Settlement, New York. A pedestrian was struck by a bus while crossing a crosswalk. Our team gathered surveillance footage, witness statements, and the bus operator's driving history to establish the driver's failure to yield.‍‍
• ‍$1.5 Million — Fatal Pedestrian Injury Settlement. A wrongful death claim brought on behalf of a family who lost a loved one in a pedestrian collision. We established liability and secured compensation for the surviving family members.‍
• $1.3 Million — Commercial Vehicle Pedestrian Accident, Bronx. A woman was struck by a turning vehicle in a crosswalk where she had the right of way, sustaining a seriously dislocated elbow requiring surgery.‍
• $1.3 Million — Pedestrian Fractured Ankle Injury Settlement. We recovered full compensation for a pedestrian who sustained a fractured ankle after being struck by a motor vehicle.‍
• $950,000 — Pedestrian Crosswalk Knockdown. A left-turning vehicle struck our client in a crosswalk, causing multiple rib fractures and a head injury. We proved the driver failed to yield to a pedestrian with the right of way.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is unique.

How Pedestrian Accidents Happen on Long Island

Long Island's mix of busy intersections, suburban roads without sidewalks, and high-speed commercial corridors creates conditions where pedestrians face serious danger from distracted, speeding, and negligent drivers.

Each type of pedestrian accident involves different evidence, different liable parties, and different legal strategies. Our Long Island pedestrian accident lawyers handle all types of common pedestrian accident injuries.

Crosswalk Knockdowns

The most common pedestrian accident on Long Island involves a driver who fails to yield to someone in a marked or unmarked crosswalk. Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1151, drivers must yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing within a crosswalk.

We obtain traffic signal timing records, intersection surveillance footage, and witness statements to prove the driver violated their legal duty. Injuries from crosswalk knockdowns frequently include hip fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord damage — because the pedestrian has no protection against the force of a moving vehicle.

Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accidents

When a driver strikes a pedestrian and flees the accident scene, the injured person still has options to seek compensation. We work with police to identify the vehicle through surveillance cameras, license plate readers, and body shop records.

If the driver cannot be identified, uninsured motorist coverage under your own auto policy — or a family member's policy — may provide a path to recovery. Hit-and-run investigations require fast action because surveillance footage is routinely overwritten within days.

Turning Vehicle Collisions

Left-turning and right-turning drivers frequently strike pedestrians in crosswalks because they focus on oncoming traffic instead of the crosswalk ahead. Under VTL § 1152, pedestrians must yield to vehicles when crossing outside of a crosswalk, but drivers still owe a duty of care to avoid striking any pedestrian.

When a driver fails to obey traffic laws or turns through an occupied crosswalk, we obtain the traffic signal phase data to establish that our client had the walk signal and the driver failed to check the crosswalk before completing the turn.

Distracted Driver Pedestrian Accidents

Cellphone use, GPS distractions, and in-vehicle screens are a leading cause of pedestrian accidents on Long Island. We subpoena phone records to establish that the driver was texting, browsing, or on a call at the moment of impact.

Cell tower data and app usage logs can pinpoint exactly when the driver was distracted. This evidence is time-sensitive in proving negligence — carriers may purge records without a preservation request.

Backing-Up and Parking Lot Incidents

Pedestrians struck by reversing vehicles in driveways, parking lots, and commercial loading zones suffer serious lower-body injuries because the driver never sees them. In parking lot cases, the property owner may share liability if sight lines were obstructed by poor design, overgrown landscaping, or missing mirrors.

Our legal team investigates whether the vehicle had a functioning backup camera and whether the driver checked before reversing.

No-Sidewalk Road Shoulder Accidents

Many Long Island roads (particularly in Nassau and Suffolk County's less-developed areas) lack sidewalks entirely, forcing pedestrians to walk along road shoulders. When a driver drifts onto the shoulder or fails to give adequate clearance, the resulting collision can be catastrophic.

We examine road design, shoulder width, speed limits, and whether the municipality knew about the pedestrian hazard and failed to install sidewalks or signage. Claims against towns and counties for dangerous road design require a Notice of Claim within 90 days.

Rideshare and Commercial Vehicle Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrians struck by Uber, Lyft, delivery trucks, or commercial vehicles may have claims against both the driver and the company that employed or contracted them.

Under VTL § 388, the registered owner of a vehicle may be held liable for injuries caused by anyone operating the vehicle with the owner's consent. Commercial vehicles typically carry higher insurance limits, which means more coverage for serious injuries — but also more aggressive defense teams.

Filing Deadlines for Pedestrian Accident Claims in New York

Under New York law, most personal injury claims must be filed within three years of the date of injury (NY CPLR § 214). Wrongful death claims must generally be filed within two years of the date of death (NY EPTL § 5-4.1).

Medical malpractice claims carry a two-year-and-six-month deadline from the act or from the end of continuous treatment for the same condition (NY CPLR § 214-a). Claims against government entities — including cities, counties, school districts, and public authorities — must generally be commenced within one year and 90 days of the incident (NY GML § 50-i).

When the injured person is a minor, filing deadlines may be extended (NY CPLR § 208), though notice-of-claim requirements for government entities still apply regardless of age.

Because specific circumstances can shorten or extend these timeframes, consulting a nearby Long Island attorney promptly after an injury is strongly recommended.

Notice of Claim Requirements for Government Entities

If your injury involves a New York government entity — including a city, county, town, village, school district, or public authority such as the MTA or NYCHA — you must generally serve a formal Notice of Claim within 90 days of the incident (NY GML § 50-e).

For claims against New York State itself, a claim or notice of intention must be filed with the Attorney General within 90 days under the Court of Claims Act § 10. The Notice of Claim must include your name, the nature of your claim, and the time, place, and manner of the incident.

Failure to meet these deadlines may permanently bar your claim, even if the underlying statute of limitations has not yet expired.

Pedestrian accidents on Long Island frequently involve government liability — poorly maintained crosswalks, missing traffic signals, broken streetlights, and roads without sidewalks. These claims carry the 90-day Notice of Claim deadline, which is why contacting our Long Island pedestrian accident attorneys quickly after a injury matters.

What is your Long Island Pedestrian Accident Case Worth?

A Long Island pedestrian accident case in New York can be worth anywhere from tens of thousands to several million dollars, depending on the severity of your injuries, available insurance coverage, and who is legally responsible.

Because pedestrians have no physical protection in a crash, these accidents often cause serious injuries that qualify for substantial compensation under New York law.

In Nassau County and Suffolk County, injured pedestrians may recover damages for medical expenses, lost income, future treatment costs, and pain and suffering, especially when the injuries meet New York’s serious injury threshold.

New York's Serious Injury Threshold

Under New York’s no-fault insurance system, your own auto insurance typically covers your initial medical expenses and lost wages. However, to pursue a lawsuit for pain and suffering against the at-fault driver, your injuries must meet the “serious injury” threshold defined by NY Insurance Law § 5102(d).

Qualifying injuries include:

• Fractures
• Significant disfigurement
• Dismemberment
• Permanent loss of use of a body part
• A medically determined injury that prevents you from performing substantially all of your usual daily activities for at least 90 of the 180 days following the accident
  

Most pedestrian accident injuries (like broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and internal organ injuries) meet this threshold.

Comparative Negligence in Pedestrian Cases

New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule (NY CPLR § 1411). This means your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault but is never completely barred.

Insurance companies often argue that the pedestrian was jaywalking, distracted by a phone, or wearing dark clothing. These arguments can significantly affect a claim.

We counter these arguments with intersection geometry, signal timing data, surveillance footage, and witness testimony to establish what actually happened. Even if you are found partially at fault, you may still recover substantial compensation.

Damages in Pedestrian Accident Cases

Compensation in pedestrian accident claims may include:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Emotional distress

When the pedestrian accident was caused by extreme recklessness (like a drunk driver running a red light), the court may also award punitive damages.

In wrongful death cases, the estate may seek compensation for funeral expenses, lost financial support, and loss of parental guidance for surviving children.

How We Build Pedestrian Accident Cases on Long Island

Pedestrian accident cases require fast evidence collection because the most critical proof — surveillance footage, traffic signal logs, and witness recollections — degrades or disappears within days.

Here is how our Long Island pedestrian accident lawyers build your case from day one.

1. Immediate Evidence Preservation

Within hours of your call, our pedestrian accident attorneys send preservation letters to every business, municipal agency, and property owner that may have surveillance footage of the intersection.

We obtain the police accident report, request traffic signal timing records from the relevant Department of Public Works, and photograph the scene before road conditions change. For hit-and-run cases, we coordinate with law enforcement and check nearby license plate reader databases.

2. Accident Reconstruction and Liability Analysis

Our accident reconstructionists analyze vehicle speed, braking distance, pedestrian crossing time, and signal phase data to establish exactly what happened. In cases involving poor road design (missing crosswalks, broken signals, no sidewalks) we retain traffic engineers who can testify that the municipality failed to provide adequate pedestrian safety infrastructure. This expert analysis is what separates a contested liability case from a clear-cut one.

3. Medical Documentation and Future Needs

Pedestrian accident injuries often require extensive treatment: orthopedic surgery, neurological rehabilitation, cognitive therapy for brain injuries, and long-term pain management.

We work with your treating physicians and retain independent medical experts who document the full scope of your injuries — not just what hurts today, but what your medical needs will look like five, ten, and twenty years from now. Life care planners quantify the long-term cost of your care so that any settlement or verdict accounts for your future.

4. Insurance Negotiation and Litigation

Most pedestrian accident cases involve multiple insurance policies: the driver's liability coverage, your own no-fault and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and potentially a commercial policy or umbrella policy.

We identify every available coverage layer and negotiate simultaneously. When insurers refuse to offer fair value, we file suit and prepare for trial — our attorneys have tried pedestrian accident cases in courtrooms across New York.

Local Resources for Pedestrian Accident Victims on Long Island

After a pedestrian accident on Long Island, you may need to interact with courts, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies in Nassau or Suffolk County. These are the institutions most commonly involved in pedestrian injury cases.

Courts That Handle Pedestrian Accident Cases

Personal injury lawsuits on Long Island are typically filed in Nassau County Supreme Court or Suffolk County Supreme Court, depending on where the accident occurred. Cases involving government entities may require proceedings in the New York Court of Claims if the state is a defendant. Smaller claims may be handled in Nassau or Suffolk County District Court.

Hospitals and Trauma Centers

Pedestrian accident victims on Long Island are most commonly treated at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, Stony Brook University Hospital (a Level I trauma center) in Stony Brook, South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, and North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset. The treating facility's medical records become central evidence in your case.

Law Enforcement

Pedestrian accidents on Long Island are investigated by the Nassau County Police Department, the Suffolk County Police Department, or local village police departments depending on jurisdiction.

The police accident report documents the officer's observations, witness statements, and any traffic violations issued. We obtain these reports as part of our initial case investigation.

Related Long Island Personal Injury Practice Areas

Pedestrian accidents often overlap with other areas of personal injury law. If your situation involves any of the following, we handle these cases with the same commitment.

• Long Island Bicycle Accident Lawyer: Cyclists struck by vehicles face many of the same driver-negligence issues as pedestrians.
• Long Island Brain Injury Lawyer: Traumatic brain injuries are among the most common and serious consequences of pedestrian accidents.
• Long Island Bus Accident Attorney: Pedestrians struck by public transit or charter buses may have claims against the bus operator and the transit authority.
• Long Island Wrongful Death Lawyer: When a pedestrian accident is fatal, the family may pursue a wrongful death claim on behalf of the estate.

Speak With a Long Island Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today

If you or a family member was struck by a vehicle while walking on Long Island, the evidence that proves your case is disappearing right now. Surveillance footage gets overwritten. Witness memories fade. Insurance companies start building their defense the moment they learn about the accident.

Partners Howard Raphaelson and Andrew Levine have spent decades handling pedestrian accident cases across New York. A short phone call can clarify whether you have a claim, what deadlines apply, and what your case may be worth — without pressure and at no cost.

Conveniently located near the Long Island Expressway (I-495) and the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway (Route 135), our Long Island office serves pedestrian accident victims across Nassau County, Suffolk County, and the surrounding communities.We also offer home and hospital visits for clients whose injuries prevent travel.

Available 24/7 for free consultations. No fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Call (212) 268-3222 today to speak with a Long Island pedestrian accident lawyer at Raphaelson & Levine.