Have you or a family member been injured while walking in Utica, NY? If a negligent driver caused your injuries, you deserve to be compensated. An experienced Utica pedestrian accident lawyer at Passalacqua & Associates, LLC can help you pursue compensation for medical costs, lost income, pain, suffering, and more.
Our lawyers have over 50 years of combined experience in personal injury law. We have the extensive experience and resources you need to be fully compensated for your injuries.
We’ve already recovered large awards and settlements on behalf of injury victims and their families. Learn more about how we can fight for you by calling our law offices in Utica, New York to schedule a free consultation today at (315) 500-6425.
How Can Passalacqua & Associates, LLC Help After a Pedestrian Accident in Utica?
Pedestrians are at high risk for catastrophic injuries when they’re involved in car accidents. That’s true even when relatively low speeds are involved.
Our Utica, NY personal injury attorneys at Passalacqua & Associates, LLC are equipped to help you recover every dollar you deserve. Our team consists of highly skilled negotiators and successful litigators. We’re prepared to put our track record of success to work for your family.
When you hire our top-rated law firm, expect us to:
- Provide personal support and guidance at all stages of the legal process
- Analyze all available evidence
- Conduct a full investigation to locate additional evidence
- Work with leading experts to resolve contested issues in your favor
- Carefully document your damages and determine your case value
- Protect you against any allegations of blame
- Negotiate with insurance for a full settlement
- File a lawsuit and advocate for you in court if the insurance company refuses a fair deal
Our Utica pedestrian accident lawyers don’t back down from a fight. Call us today to get started.
How Common Are Pedestrian Accidents in New York?
The streets remain dangerous for pedestrians in New York. According to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research (ITSMR), 14,723 pedestrians were injured across the state of New York in 2023 alone. Unfortunately, 308 pedestrians were also killed in traffic accidents statewide in 2023.
If you were one of the unfortunate victims of a pedestrian accident, you should consult with a personal injury lawyer to discuss your options.
What is My Utica Pedestrian Accident Case Worth?
Pedestrian accident claims often involve high-dollar settlements and verdicts. This is often because serious injuries are more expensive to treat. They’ll also impact your life in more meaningful ways.
Still, it’s important to examine the unique facts of your case to determine its value.
Different factors that might increase or decrease your case value include:
- The type of injuries involved
- Whether you will make a full recovery or suffer a life-changing injury
- The value of your financial losses, including medical care and lost income
- Expected future financial costs related to the injury
- Whether you share any blame for the accident
- The strength of the evidence to prove your case
- Your intangible losses, including damage to your quality of life and lifestyle changes
- The terms of any available insurance policies
When you hire our lawyers, you’ll benefit from a team of experienced attorneys who know what to look for. We’ve handled cases similar to yours in the past. We also have the resources to bring in experts to testify about the value of your future and non-financial losses.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Pedestrian Accident Victims in Utica?
If you can prove the defendant caused your accident, you can seek compensation for economic damages and non-economic damages. New York personal injury laws are meant to make victims “whole” again after accidents that weren’t their fault.
Examples of damages include:
- Medical expenses, including rehabilitative care, medications, medical devices, hospitalization, surgeries, etc.
- Lost income, including lost wages, lost job benefits, and reduced future earning capacity
- Long-term care expenses
- Out-of-pocket costs, including costs related to in-home assistance
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental health issues, including anxiety, depression and PTSD
- Reduced quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages are only available in New York when a defendant’s acts were intentional or particularly reckless. If there is evidence that the defendant displayed a conscious disregard for human safety, our attorneys will pursue punitive damages as punishment.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Lawyer in New York?
Our injury law firm works on a contingency fee basis. This is a common arrangement for personal injury firms.
Most victims are already struggling with sky-high expenses. Your attorneys only get paid if–and when–they recover compensation in your case. When they do, they take a set percentage of your settlement or verdict.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Pedestrian Accident in New York?
Many injured pedestrians mistakenly believe that the driver is always at-fault when pedestrian accidents occur. That’s not the case. Injured pedestrians can also share the blame for traffic accidents. Fortunately, you don’t automatically lose your right to damages even if you do share some fault.
New York follows a pure comparative negligence law. When multiple parties share blame, each party is assigned a percentage of fault. This is accomplished by presenting evidence to show each party’s side of the story. If you’re assigned some fault, your compensation will be reduced by that percentage.
It’s extremely valuable to have an experienced Utica pedestrian accident attorney on your team if you’re being blamed. Our lawyers know how to find and present the evidence you need to minimize any allegations that you share blame.
Our Lawyers in Utica Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Car accidents involving pedestrians can lead to severe injuries. When someone is hit by a car, their body experiences the full force of the impact. They don’t have a sturdy metal vehicle to protect them. Pedestrians are often thrown into the air and experience a second impact when they hit the ground.
At Passalacqua & Associates, LLC we’re prepared to handle even the most complicated personal injury claims, including those involving:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Severe burns and road rash
- Crushing injuries
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Dislocated joints
- Pelvic injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Chest injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
If you or a family member was hit by a car, immediate medical treatment should be your top priority. Once your condition is stable, reach out to our Utica pedestrian accident lawyers as soon as you can. Even if you’re still receiving medical care, we can start building your case today.
What Causes Most Pedestrian Accidents in Utica, New York?
The causes of pedestrian accidents mirror the causes of your ordinary traffic accident. Negligence, distraction, and reckless behaviors tend to cause pedestrian accidents.
Some of the most common causes of accidents involving pedestrians include:
- Texting while driving
- Other forms of distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way when crossing intersections or crosswalks
- Veering onto the shoulder
- Drunk driving and drug use
- Fatigued drivers
- Aggressive driving
- Dangerous or illegal turns
- Racing through an intersection
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Poorly designed intersections
- Unmarked or poorly marked crosswalks
- Inadequate lighting
Some recent studies found that pedestrians are twice as likely to be struck by electric powered vehicles compared to gas-powered vehicles. It could be because electric vehicles are quieter than gas-powered vehicles.
Our lawyers are here to help you determine how and why your accident occurred. To learn more, call for a free case review today.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Pedestrian Accident?
Most pedestrian accident victims must prove that someone else was negligent to recover damages.
The legal elements of a negligence claim are:
- The driver owed you a legal duty of care (all drivers have a basic duty to obey traffic laws and drive carefully)
- The driver failed to exercise reasonable care, so breached their duty
- That breach was the direct cause of your accident
- You suffered identifiable harm, or damages, due to the accident
Our lawyers will launch our own investigation to gain evidence that can support each of these elements. Give us a call today to learn more.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Pedestrian Accident in New York?
Like all other states, New York has a statute of limitations that limits the amount of time you have to take legal action. Most accident victims have three years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you sue for damages after that date, the court can simply dismiss your case.
Our lawyers at Passalacqua & Associates, LLC are prepared to help you fight to maximize your compensation award. After an accident, call to arrange a free consultation with a Utica pedestrian accident lawyer. We have the skills to help you stand up to the insurance companies and prove you deserve compensation.