Rockland County Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Were you injured in a pedestrian accident in Rockland County, NY?

At Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C., we pursue full recovery for injured clients and their families in pedestrian accident matters throughout Rockland County.

If a driver struck you while you were walking, jogging, or crossing the street, the injuries are likely serious. Broken bones, head trauma, spinal damage, and internal bleeding are common outcomes when a vehicle hits a person on foot. Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. has offices in New City and has represented accident victims across Rockland County since 1975. Our Rockland County, NY pedestrian accident lawyer from our firm can review your case at no cost and explain the compensation you may be entitled to.

Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Rockland County, NY

A pedestrian accident attorney investigates how a collision occurred, establishes which driver or property condition caused it, and pursues damages on behalf of the injured person. In Rockland County, 208 pedestrians were killed or injured in traffic crashes during 2024, according to the New York Traffic Safety Statistical Repository. Statewide, pedestrians account for nearly one-quarter of all traffic fatalities. The GHSA reported that 7,148 pedestrians were struck and killed nationally in 2024, a figure that remains nearly 20% higher than 2016 levels.

Those numbers reflect a pattern that Rockland County residents see firsthand. The county’s commercial corridors, particularly Route 59, carry dense vehicle traffic alongside heavy foot traffic from shoppers, commuters, and residents walking between neighborhoods.

Types of Pedestrian Accident Cases We Handle in Rockland County

Pedestrian collisions happen in a range of settings, and the liable party is not always the driver. We represent injured pedestrians across the full spectrum of cases, including:

• Crosswalk accidents. Drivers who fail to yield at marked and unmarked crosswalks cause a significant share of pedestrian injuries. We establish fault through traffic signal data, surveillance footage, and witness testimony.
• Intersection accidents. Turning vehicles strike pedestrians who have the right of way. Left-turn collisions at busy Rockland County intersections are especially dangerous because the driver’s attention is split between oncoming traffic and the crosswalk.
• Hit-and-run accidents. One in four pedestrian deaths nationally results from a hit-and-run crash. When the driver flees, we work with law enforcement and uninsured motorist coverage to pursue recovery.
• Parking lot accidents. Low-speed collisions in shopping centers and commercial lots still cause broken bones, hip injuries, and head trauma. Impaired visibility, distracted driving, and poor lot design all contribute.
• Distracted driving accidents. Cellphone use, navigation systems, and in-car distractions prevent drivers from seeing pedestrians until it is too late. We subpoena phone records to prove the driver was not paying attention.
• Drunk driving accidents. Impaired drivers pose an acute threat to pedestrians, particularly at night. We pursue both compensatory and, where the facts support it, punitive damages in DWI pedestrian cases.
• Accidents involving children. Children are struck near schools, parks, and residential streets at disproportionate rates. We represent parents on behalf of injured minors and account for future medical needs when calculating damages.
• Backing-up accidents. Drivers reversing out of driveways and parking spaces fail to check behind the vehicle. These incidents frequently injure children and elderly pedestrians.
• Wrongful death. When a pedestrian collision is fatal, surviving family members can pursue compensation for medical costs, funeral expenses, lost financial support, and loss of companionship.

Why Choose Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. as My Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Rockland County, NY?

Rockland County Attorneys With Courtroom Experience

Barry S. Kantrowitz has lived in Rockland County for decades and has practiced law for more than 40 years. He served as a Rockland County Legislator, holds the AV Preeminent peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and is recognized as a Super Lawyer in New York. He brings deep familiarity with Rockland County’s roads, courts, and insurance landscape to every pedestrian case.

Kate Carballo is a Certified Civil Trial Attorney designated by the Supreme Court of New Jersey and has been selected to the Super Lawyers list from 2024 through 2026. She has built an extensive personal injury practice handling cases for seriously injured clients across New Jersey and New York. Together, they bring the depth of preparation you should expect from a personal injury lawyer in Rockland County, NY.

A Track Record of Results

Our clients have recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements, including results directly relevant to pedestrian injury cases:

• $14 million jury verdict for three individuals harmed by a negligent professional
• $1 million+ structured settlement for a pedestrian struck by a delivery van on a sidewalk
• $1,038,000 jury verdict for a man injured in a fall on an interior stairway
• $926,000 jury verdict for a woman who fell on a broken curb in an apartment complex
• $836,000 settlement for a motorcyclist struck by a car

We handle pedestrian accident cases on a contingency basis. There is no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you, and we advance all case costs.

Understanding Pedestrian Accident Cases

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Cases

Pedestrian accidents produce some of the most severe injuries in personal injury law because the person on foot has no protection from the force of a vehicle. Compensation in a Rockland County pedestrian case can include:

• Medical expenses. Emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, and long-term care. Pedestrian injuries frequently involve traumatic brain injuries, spinal fractures, and multiple orthopedic surgeries.
• Lost income. Wages lost during recovery and diminished earning capacity if the injuries prevent a return to prior employment
• Pain and suffering. Physical pain, emotional distress, disability, and permanent limitations on daily activities and quality of life
• Scarring and disfigurement. Road rash, surgical scarring, and amputation injuries carry substantial non-economic value
• Wrongful death damages. When a pedestrian collision is fatal, the estate can pursue medical costs, funeral expenses, and compensation for the family’s loss

New York applies a pure comparative negligence standard. Even if the pedestrian shares some responsibility for the accident, the injured person can still recover. The pedestrian’s percentage of fault reduces the award, but no threshold bars recovery entirely. Insurance companies routinely argue that the pedestrian was jaywalking, distracted, or wearing dark clothing. We counter those arguments with physical evidence, reconstruction analysis, and witness testimony.

What Are Important Aspects of a Pedestrian Accident Case?

Pedestrian cases move quickly in the first days after the collision. The decisions made during that period carry lasting consequences:

• Call 911 and get medical treatment. Police documentation and prompt medical records create the evidentiary foundation. Delaying treatment gives the insurer an argument that the injuries were not caused by the accident.
• Identify the driver and vehicle. License plate number, insurance information, and the driver’s identity are essential. If the driver fled, note the vehicle color, make, model, and direction of travel.
• Preserve evidence. Photograph the scene, your injuries, the crosswalk or roadway conditions, and any traffic signals or signage. Surveillance cameras from nearby businesses can provide critical footage that gets overwritten within days.
• The statute of limitations. New York gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under CPLR § 214. Wrongful death claims carry a separate two-year deadline.
• No-fault benefits. New York’s no-fault system covers initial medical bills and a portion of lost wages regardless of who caused the accident. But those benefits cap quickly, and a claim against the at-fault driver is necessary to recover full compensation.

What Is the Pedestrian Accident Case Timeline?

Pedestrian injury cases often involve longer treatment periods than typical motor vehicle claims because the injuries tend to be more severe. The general timeline includes:

• Emergency treatment, hospitalization, and follow-up care, which may continue for months or longer
• Filing for no-fault PIP benefits with the driver’s or your own auto insurance carrier
• Investigation of the accident, including police report review, witness interviews, and retrieval of surveillance footage
• A demand to the at-fault driver’s insurer once your medical condition reaches maximum improvement
• Filing suit in Supreme Court if the insurer will not offer a fair resolution, within the three-year statute of limitations
• Discovery, mediation, and trial preparation

Some pedestrian claims settle within a year. Cases involving catastrophic injuries, disputed liability, or government defendants (such as claims for inadequate crosswalk design or signal failures) take longer.

What Should You Bring to Your Pedestrian Accident Consultation?

Gather what you can. We will obtain the rest through investigation and formal discovery:

• The police accident report
• Photographs of the accident scene, crosswalk, and your injuries
• Medical records and bills from emergency and follow-up treatment
• Insurance information for the driver who struck you and your own auto policy
• Contact information for any witnesses

The consultation is confidential. We will review the facts, explain how New York’s no-fault system and the three-year filing deadline apply to your situation, and give you a direct assessment of your claim.

Most Dangerous Locations for Pedestrian Accidents in Rockland County, NY

Pedestrian crashes in Rockland County cluster in commercial corridors where heavy vehicle traffic intersects with high foot traffic. Local roads and intersections with recurring pedestrian injuries include:

• Route 59 at Airmont Road (Spring Valley). This intersection generated more than 80 reported crashes and 21 injuries in a single year. Dense commercial driveways and constant turning traffic create daily hazards for pedestrians.
• Route 59 through Spring Valley. Heavy foot traffic near retail centers conflicts with high-speed vehicle traffic along one of the county’s busiest commercial stretches.
• Main Street, New City. Downtown pedestrian crossings, bus stops, and shopping center entrances create conflict points along the Route 304 corridor.
• Route 45 at Route 59 (Chestnut Ridge). Poor sightlines and heavy cross-traffic make this one of the most dangerous intersections in the county for drivers and pedestrians alike.

The most dangerous highways for pedestrians in Rockland County include:

• Route 59. Multiple segments of Route 59 in Ramapo, Clarkstown, and Spring Valley appear on the state’s Five Percent Reports, which flag the most crash-prone road segments in New York.
• Route 202 (Haverstraw). Complex interchange geometry near the Palisades Parkway and high-speed traffic create risks for pedestrians crossing at or near ramps.
• Route 9W. Narrow shoulders, limited crosswalks, and inconsistent speed limits along this north-south corridor through the county’s river towns contribute to pedestrian crashes.

Reach Out to Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. to Schedule a Consultation

If you were struck by a vehicle while walking anywhere in Rockland County, Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. can evaluate your claim from our New City office. Consultations are confidential, and there is no fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Contact us today to schedule a case review.