When a careless driver ignores pedestrian right-of-way laws and hits someone walking in Rochester, the consequences can be devastating, but you’re not alone in seeking justice. At Stanley Law Offices, our Rochester pedestrian accident lawyer helps injured pedestrians hold drivers, employers, or municipalities accountable. We take immediate action to protect your rights and fight for the full compensation you’re entitled to under New York law.
With over 90 years of combined experience, we know how to build strong, evidence-based claims that stand up to insurance companies. From day one, we take over the legal battle so you can focus on your recovery.
You’ll get honest answers, personal support, and a legal team that puts your needs first. Call 1-800-608-3333 for a free case review. You won’t owe us anything unless we recover compensation for you.
How Our Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Build Your Case
After a pedestrian crash, the first few days matter. Evidence can disappear, memories fade, and insurance adjusters may contact you fast, sometimes before you even know the full extent of your injuries. Our job is to step in early, protect your rights, and build a clear, well-supported claim from the ground up. Here’s how our Rochester pedestrian accident lawyers do it:
- Lock down the evidence: We gather police reports, photos, video footage (when available), witness statements, and any other proof that shows what happened.
- Pinpoint who’s responsible: We identify every potentially liable party, whether that’s a driver, a vehicle owner, an employer, or a public entity, based on the facts.
- Document the full medical impact: We work with your providers and records to show how the injuries affect your health, work, and day-to-day life now and in the future.
- Calculate your losses: We account for medical costs, lost income, and other damages tied to the injury, so nothing important gets left out.
- Handle the insurance process: We deal with adjusters and paperwork, push back on blame-shifting, and protect you from pressure to accept a quick, low offer.
- Prepare like it could go to trial: We build the case to be strong enough to stand up in court if the insurer won’t make a fair offer.
Your next steps matter – speak with a pedestrian injury lawyer today and get trusted legal guidance from day one.
Damages You Can Recover in Pedestrian Injury Claims
After a serious pedestrian injury, the impact goes far beyond physical pain. Medical bills stack up, lost wages create financial stress, and the disruption to your daily life can feel overwhelming. If a negligent driver caused your injuries, New York law gives you the right to pursue full compensation. Here are the damages you may be entitled to recover:
- Economic damages: These cover your financial losses and future expenses:
- Medical Expenses: Emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment.
- Lost Wages: Pay you missed while recovering, plus future income if you can’t return to your job.
- Out-of-Pocket Costs: Transportation to medical appointments, assistive equipment, or in-home care services.
- Non-Economic Damages: These address the personal and emotional impact of the injury:
- Pain and Suffering: Physical pain and the loss of quality of life caused by the accident.
- Emotional Distress: Anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other mental health struggles linked to the trauma.
- Permanent Impairments: Lasting disabilities, disfigurement, or visible scarring.
- Loss of Enjoyment: Inability to engage in hobbies, daily routines, or family activities you once enjoyed.
- Punitive Damages: In rare cases involving gross negligence or intentional harm, such as drunk driving or hit-and-run accidents, New York law may allow for punitive damages. These are meant to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar misconduct, not just compensate you.
Every case is different, and our personal injury attorneys in Rochester, NY, work to identify and pursue the full value of your losses, with no shortcuts or assumptions.
Serious Pedestrian Injuries We See in Rochester, NY
When a person on foot is hit by a car, the injuries are often severe, and the fallout can last for months or years. Our Rochester pedestrian accident attorneys regularly handle claims involving:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Concussions and more serious brain trauma that can affect memory, focus, mood, and long-term independence.
- Spinal Cord Damage and Paralysis: Damage that can limit movement, require ongoing care, and permanently change daily function.
- Broken Bones and Orthopedic Injuries: Fractures to the legs, hips, arms, or ribs, often needing surgery, hardware, and physical therapy.
- Internal Organ Damage: Organ damage and internal bleeding that may not be obvious right away but can be life-threatening without prompt treatment.
- Severe Lacerations and Disfigurement: Lacerations and road rash that may require stitches, skin grafts, or reconstructive care and can leave permanent marks.
- Crush Injuries: Severe tissue and bone damage that can happen when someone is pinned, dragged, or struck at higher speeds.
- Amputations: Traumatic limb loss or surgical amputation is required because of catastrophic damage from the impact.
If you’re facing a long recovery or adjusting to a permanent injury, we take your case seriously and work to make sure the full harm is documented and valued.
Protecting Your Rights Under New York Pedestrian & Right-of-Way Laws
New York law gives pedestrians real protections, but insurance companies don’t hand out fair compensation just because the law is on your side. After a Rochester pedestrian crash, we use the right statutes, the right evidence, and the right medical documentation to show exactly how the driver violated their duties and what the collision has cost you.
Here are a few key rules we lean on when building your claim:
- Crosswalk right-of-way: Drivers must yield to pedestrians who are crossing within a crosswalk when signals aren’t in place or operating, and a crosswalk can exist at an intersection even if it isn’t painted.
- Drivers must use “due care”: New York requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians.
- Mid-block crossing rules: If someone crosses outside a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, the pedestrian generally must yield to vehicles, so we gather the facts early and address fault arguments head-on.
- No-fault benefits still matter: In many pedestrian crashes, no-fault (PIP) can cover basic economic loss up to $50,000 (medical expenses and other covered losses) regardless of fault, while a lawsuit for pain and suffering generally requires meeting New York’s “serious injury” threshold. No-fault can be time-sensitive; written notice is generally required within 30 days of the crash, so it’s smart to act quickly.
- Partial fault doesn’t erase your claim: New York’s comparative fault rule means you can still recover, but your compensation can be reduced by your share of fault, so we work to limit unfair blame.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics in Rochester, NY
Rochester continues to face serious pedestrian safety challenges:
- Recent city data shows that, on average, more than one person is killed or injured every day in a traffic-related crash in Rochester.
- Between 2017 and 2021, the city recorded more than 47,000 traffic crashes, resulting in 90 fatalities and nearly 1,000 serious injuries.
- In 2023, Monroe County reported nearly 300 pedestrian crashes that resulted in injuries or fatalities, highlighting the persistent risk on local roads.
These statistics highlight why pedestrian crashes continue to pose a public safety crisis in Rochester, and why injured pedestrians often require legal assistance to secure fair compensation.
Why Injured Pedestrians Trust Stanley Law Offices in Rochester
Hiring a pedestrian accident lawyer from Stanley Law Offices isn’t just about credentials; it’s about having someone in your corner who will stand up for you when the pressure is high and the outcome matters. Our injury attorneys are trusted throughout Rochester and Upstate New York for taking on tough cases and holding insurance companies accountable.
Here’s why injured pedestrians continue to choose our team:
- Proven Experience: Over 90 years of combined legal experience handling complex pedestrian injury claims.
- Real Results: We’ve recovered millions for clients hit by reckless or distracted drivers.
- Clear Communication: You’ll get straightforward answers and consistent updates, not legal jargon or runarounds.
- No Upfront Fees: You pay nothing unless we win your case.
- Local Insight: We know Rochester’s roads, courts, and legal landscape inside and out.
Deadlines for Filing a Pedestrian Accident Claim in Rochester, NY
New York has strict deadlines for filing pedestrian injury claims. If you miss a deadline, you can lose your right to seek compensation, so it’s smart to act early and identify who you’re claiming against.
Key deadlines (most common):
- Most pedestrian injury lawsuits: 3 years from the date of the crash (against a private person/business).
- Wrongful death: 2 years from the date of death.
If a city, county, or public authority may be involved (government cases):
- Notice of Claim: Often must be served within 90 days.
- Shorter lawsuit deadline: Many municipal cases must be started within 1 year and 90 days (not 3 years).
If the defendant is New York State (Court of Claims):
- Different rules and timelines apply, including short notice/filing requirements that can be as little as 90 days, depending on the type of claim.
Deadlines can also change based on details like the defendant type, the injured person’s status, and other exceptions. The earlier we review your case, the more options we have to protect it.
Speak with our Rochester Pedestrian Accident Attorney for your Free Consultation
A serious pedestrian accident can turn your life upside down. Stanley Law Offices has 90+ combined years of experience building strong, insurance-proof claims, and you’ll get straightforward answers from day one.
Your consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win. Led by Attorney Joey Stanley, we help clients across Rochester and nearby communities, including Greece, Irondequoit, Brighton, Henrietta, Webster, and Penfield.
Reach out today and get the answers you need, with no cost and no obligation.
