Pedestrian Hit By Car. How to respond if injured in New York?

New York Personal Injury Lawyer Representing People Injured in Pedestrian Accidents in New York

Even low speed car accidents can leave pedestrians with permanent injuries. What should you do when hit by a car and become a victim of a pedestrian accidents in New York City? Your first priority is health. You only have one body, probably the best thing is to take care of it first.

After being hit by a car, you may experience shock, which may decrease awareness to the injuries. Seeking medical attention by a primary care physician or a specialist is a good idea. A physician will make sure that the injuries sustained are not life threatening. This should be done as soon as possible. People often wait too long to see a doctor in hopes of pain going away on its own. While this approach may workout, it’s still not recommended. Pedestrian hit by a car may have serious damage to internal organs which may not be evident right away however, may be deadly.

Medical doctor will likely have instructions and recommendations and it is critical that you follow these instructions. This may include staying home and missing time from work. If the doctor believes that work will interfere with your recovery for the injuries sustained in an accident. If a personal injury claim is made, you’ll be able to show you that you have taken all the appropriate steps toward a recovery. However, the injuries sustained at the time of the accident prevented you to return to normal daily activities.

What to do If Injured in a Pedestrian Accident in NYC

If conscious and you are able after the accident, try to obtain as much information from the driver as possible. This includes:

• driver’s insurance information
• license plate of the car
• names and contact information of all possible witnesses
• if you have a phone handy try to take as many pictures as possible of the accident scene:               (check out our post on how a cell phone can be a very valuable tool following an accident)

New York law requires the driver to provide the name of his or her insurance company and policy number.

Even though it is a felony to leave the scene of an accident, sometimes drivers involved in a pedestrian accidents will attempt to flee away rather than face the consequence. If involved in a hit-and-run accident it is even more crucial that the witness’s statements and contact information is obtained. This will not only help the police locate the driver, it may help with your personal injury claim. Moreover, it is imperative that the motor vehicle accident must be reported to the Police (Peace Officer) within 24 hours of the accident occurring. A Notice of Intention (NOI) is submitted to MVAIC within 90 days of the accident, if the accident was a Hit and Run or unidentified motor vehicle. A Notice of Intention (NOI) is submitted to MVAIC within 180 days of the accident, if the accident was with an identified motor vehicle.

Injury Claims

New York allows to make a claim for damages from a negligent driver. Most of the time the claim will be made against the driver’s insurance company. However, if the driver does not have insurance, or if the identity of the driver is unknown because they fled the scene, you may still have options for a recovery.

A pedestrian may have an auto insurance that has a policy provision for an uninsured driver and may be able to file a claim through their own insurance company for damages, even though a pedestrian was not operating a vehicle. A pedestrian may be entitled to coverage through Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC). If you’re involved in a pedestrian accident in New York and are a resident of New York you may be covered. Under special circumstances, residents of other states may be eligible for MVAIC benefits.

Contact an experienced Personal Injury Lawyer in Brooklyn NY of The Rybak Firm, PLLC., today and we will help you navigate the complex world of the New York Laws. Our Personal Injury Attorneys  represent victims of pedestrian accidents. We offer free consultation to help victims of a pedestrian accidents understand and evaluate their case. Stay Safe!