Many people choose to get where they are going within New York City either by walking, riding their bikes or taking public transportation. Of course, taking public transportation almost always involves some walking or biking from a drop-off point to one’s destination.
While people may rightly believe that New York City is a relatively safe place to walk, pedestrians in New York are still vulnerable to serious motor vehicle accidents.
Given the difference in size and speed of a pedestrian and even a smaller car, pedestrians usually take the worse of it in an accident. In the most serious accidents, pedestrians may suffer severe spinal cord or brain injuries that leave them permanently disabled.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, thousands of pedestrians die in accidents each year. In 2022, NHTSA counted over 7,500 pedestrian fatalities and over 67,000 injuries.
NHTSA recommends that drivers can avoid pedestrian accidents by following some basic safety tips that, really, drivers should practice all the time:
- Drivers need always to drive sober and alert, without the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Drivers should drive the speed limit and adjust their speed downward for weather or traffic conditions when necessary.
- Drivers should use extra care when operating around crosswalks or intersections, but they should always be prepared to yield to a pedestrian.
- Drivers need to look carefully for pedestrians, especially when backing up, at night or in bad weather.
When drivers carelessly cause pedestrian accidents, they can be held accountable
Drivers who do not follow these safety tips could cause a major pedestrian accident.
If these drivers do carelessly cause an accident, the laws of New York, as well as neighboring states like Pennsylvania, allow the pedestrian to sue the negligent motorist for compensation. A pedestrian can use this lawsuit to cover their out-of-pocket costs, lost income, future expenses and non-economic damages like pain and suffering.