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Pedestrian accidents in New York can leave injured people facing medical treatment, missed work, and pressure from insurance companies before the full impact of the crash is known. In Queens, these claims may involve no-fault benefits, serious injury issues, comparative fault disputes, and short deadlines when a public entity, hit-and-run driver, or uninsured vehicle is involved.
At K L Sanchez Law Office, P.C., attorney Keetick L. Sanchez handles pedestrian accident claims for injured clients in Jackson Heights, Flushing, Jamaica, Astoria, and the greater New York City area. Our Queens pedestrian accident lawyer works to identify available insurance coverage, preserve evidence, and pursue compensation from negligent drivers and other responsible parties.
This page covers common causes of Queens pedestrian accidents, injuries that may support a claim, New York no-fault and comparative fault rules, important filing deadlines, and compensation that may be available after a serious crash. Call K L Sanchez Law Office, P.C. at (646) 701-7990 to schedule a consultation.
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I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND! I will give more than 5 stars if I could! They are really so helpful and knowledgable. The team always made sure our case was up to date, especially YENNY. She’s one of a kind! She’s always there when I need her! So polite and so kind. We are so grateful to Attorney Sanchez and her team for winning our case!!! Thank you so much K L Sanchez Law Office!
Pedestrian Accidents in Queens, New York
Queens traffic deaths fell from 74 in 2024 to 57 in 2025. Citywide, pedestrians still accounted for 111 of the 205 traffic deaths recorded in New York City in 2025. Citywide traffic-crash injuries also remained high in 2025, with thousands of people injured in motor vehicle crashes. For an injured pedestrian in Queens, this data shows why it is important to identify the correct insurance coverage, document the injuries, and preserve evidence before an insurer disputes fault or damages.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Queens
Many pedestrian accidents stem from driver negligence, while some cases may also involve dangerous roadway conditions, poor traffic control, or unsafe property access points. New York law places clear duties on drivers to watch for and yield to people on foot, and violations of those duties form the basis of many claims. If a public entity may be responsible, shorter notice of claim deadlines can apply.
Failure to Yield at Crosswalks
New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1151 requires drivers to yield the right of way to pedestrians in crosswalks when traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation. When drivers fail to yield, serious collisions can result. In addition, Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1146 requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians and to give warning when necessary.
Distracted and Impaired Driving
Motorists using cell phones, adjusting navigation systems, or engaging in other distractions may not see pedestrians crossing the street. Impaired drivers often have reduced reaction times and impaired judgment, making pedestrian collisions more likely.
Speeding, Reckless Driving, and Poor Visibility
Vehicles traveling at high speeds have less time to react, increasing the likelihood of striking pedestrians and the severity of resulting injuries. Accidents also frequently occur at night or during inclement weather when drivers have difficulty seeing pedestrians.
Turn Collisions and Parking Lot Accidents
Drivers making turns at intersections may focus on vehicle traffic and fail to check for pedestrians crossing legally. Pedestrians are also vulnerable in parking lots and driveways, where drivers fail to check their surroundings before reversing or pulling out.
Key Takeaway: The cause of the crash helps determine who may be liable. In Queens pedestrian accident cases, signal timing, crosswalk use, driver conduct, visibility, and video footage can all affect the liability analysis.
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I would like to thank the KL Sánchez group and the lawyer Sanchez, for helping my mother and myself to fight the lawsuit in a car accident which turned out to be favorable to us due to the experience and the good work done. Likewise for Sonita Espinoza, who is the paralegal who assisted me in this almost 2-year process. I highly recommend this defense group for car accident cases, criminal defense, construction falls. Thank you very much and God bless you for your good work. Edwin Morazan.
High-Risk Areas for Pedestrian Accidents in Queens
Some Queens corridors and intersections may require closer review after a pedestrian accident because of traffic volume, pedestrian activity, transit access, road design, and available video evidence. Locations such as Queens Boulevard, Northern Boulevard, Roosevelt Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Main Street and Kissena Boulevard, and Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard may raise questions about signals, crosswalks, turning traffic, visibility, and driver behavior.
Queens Boulevard has a long traffic-safety history and has been the subject of major NYC DOT safety improvements, but location alone does not decide fault. Signal timing, crosswalk layout, visibility, driver conduct, witness accounts, and available video footage can all affect the liability analysis. K L Sanchez Law Office, P.C. can examine the accident location, request available footage, and look for scene-specific details that may show how the crash happened.
Injuries Sustained in New York Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians are among the most vulnerable road users, with no crumple zone, airbag, or seatbelt to absorb the force of a vehicle, compared to motor vehicle passengers or drivers. Medical records, imaging, specialist evaluations, and follow-up care can help connect the injuries to the crash and show how they affect daily life. Attorney Keetick L. Sanchez can use that medical history to address insurer disputes over the severity, cause, and long-term impact of your injuries.
Traumatic Brain Injuries and Concussions
Head injuries are among the most severe outcomes of pedestrian accidents. Concussions can cause headaches, dizziness, confusion, and memory issues, while a stronger impact can cause bleeding, swelling, or permanent brain damage. Some brain injuries take hours or days to manifest, so prompt emergency care matters both for your health and for connecting the injury to the crash.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
The impact of a vehicle striking a pedestrian can cause herniated discs, nerve damage, fractured vertebrae, and, in the most severe cases, partial or complete paralysis. Severe spinal cord injuries may require long-term medical care, home modifications, assistive equipment, and ongoing support, making future medical needs a major part of the damages claim.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Pedestrians struck by vehicles often sustain leg, arm, pelvic, and compound fractures from the force of impact or from being thrown onto the pavement. A fracture qualifies as a “serious injury” under New York Insurance Law § 5102(d), which may allow a claim for pain and suffering beyond no-fault benefits.
Soft Tissue Injuries and Internal Bleeding
Pedestrians struck in a car accident often suffer sprains, ligament and tendon tears, whiplash and other neck injuries, deep contusions, and internal bleeding that may not present symptoms immediately. Because insurers often dispute soft tissue injuries, treatment records, imaging, and follow-up care can help show how the injuries affect daily life.
Key Takeaway: Pedestrian crash injuries can worsen over time, and some may meet New York’s serious injury threshold. Prompt treatment helps protect your health and supports any later claim for benefits or damages.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Queens
After a pedestrian accident, the steps you take in the first few days can affect your medical care, insurance benefits, and injury claim.
- Seek medical attention right away, even if your injuries seem minor. Some conditions may take time to appear, and prompt treatment can help document your injuries and the timing of your care.
- Contact the police and report the accident. The responding officers can prepare an official accident report, which may serve as important evidence.
- Gather information if you are able. Try to get the driver’s name, license plate number, insurance details, and contact information from any witnesses.
- Document the accident scene. Take photos of the vehicle, the accident location, any visible injuries, traffic signals, crosswalks, and nearby cameras if you can do so safely.
- Avoid statements about fault. Do not admit fault at the scene or post about the accident on social media, since statements can be used against you later.
- Speak with a lawyer about the no-fault application and available coverage. Depending on the facts, the claim may involve the striking vehicle’s insurer, a household auto policy, uninsured motorist coverage, or MVAIC.
Attorney Keetick L. Sanchez can help identify the correct coverage path, prepare required filings, and communicate with insurers while the injury claim develops.
Queens Pedestrian Accident Attorney at K L Sanchez Law Office, P.C.
Keetick L. Sanchez, Esq.
Keetick L. Sanchez, Esq., is the principal attorney of K L Sanchez Law Office, P.C. and a lifelong New Yorker who represents clients in courtrooms throughout New York City. Her legal career began before she became an attorney, when she worked as a trial litigation paralegal on personal injury matters involving Labor Law claims, motor vehicle accidents, and slip and fall cases. After earning her law degree from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law School, she continued as a litigator at a New York City personal injury law firm, where she investigated and prosecuted a wide range of injury cases.
Attorney Sanchez brings a strong personal injury background to pedestrian accident cases in Queens. She also has broader experience in civil, criminal, administrative, and immigration-related matters, and she currently serves as an adjunct professor of law at Touro Law. Her selection to Super Lawyers Rising Stars from 2022 through 2026 further reflects her work as a personal injury attorney serving clients from her Jackson Heights office.
How Is Fault Determined in a Queens Pedestrian Accident?
Fault in a Queens pedestrian accident depends on the specific facts of the collision, including driver conduct, pedestrian conduct, traffic signals, crosswalk use, visibility, speed, and available evidence.
- Traffic laws and right of way can shape the fault analysis. A driver’s failure to yield to a pedestrian in a covered crosswalk situation may support a fault finding, but the signal, crosswalk, visibility, timing, and traffic-control facts still matter. Pedestrians may also be assigned fault if they start crossing against a pedestrian-control signal, step into traffic when a driver cannot reasonably yield, or cross outside a crosswalk.
- Speed and road conditions may indicate negligence. Excessive speed can indicate driver negligence, especially in school zones or areas with high foot traffic.
- Driver and pedestrian behavior can affect fault allocation. Distractions, impairment, and reckless actions by either party can play a role in fault allocation.
- Surveillance and witness testimony can help establish liability. Video footage, witness statements, and accident reconstructions help show how the crash happened and who may be responsible.
New York’s comparative fault rules can reduce an injured pedestrian’s recovery if the pedestrian shares responsibility for the crash. For motor-vehicle injury claims subject to Article 51 of the Insurance Law, current CPLR § 1411 provides that recovery may be barred when the claimant’s share of fault is greater than the fault of the person being sued, or greater than the combined fault of the people being sued. Attorney Keetick L. Sanchez can gather evidence and respond when an insurer tries to place unfair blame on you.
Important Deadlines After a Queens Pedestrian Accident
Several deadlines can affect a Queens pedestrian accident claim. The right timeline depends on the insurance available, who may be responsible, and whether the injuries meet New York’s serious injury threshold.
| Issue | Time Limit | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| No-fault notice | Usually 30 days | A pedestrian generally submits written no-fault notice to the insurer of the vehicle that struck them |
| Medical bills and lost wages | Usually 45 days after each medical service is rendered and 90 days for wage proof | Late proof can delay or risk no-fault benefits |
| Injury or wrongful death lawsuit | Generally 3 years for personal injury; generally 2 years from death for wrongful death | These deadlines are separate from the no-fault deadline |
| City or public entity claim | Notice may be due within 90 days | A shorter lawsuit deadline may also apply if a public vehicle, public employee, or dangerous public road condition was involved |
| Hit-and-run or unidentified driver | Report promptly; MVAIC notice may be due within 90 days | The accident generally must be reported to police or another proper authority within 24 hours, unless reporting was not reasonably possible |
| Uninsured vehicle or coverage denial | MVAIC notice may be due within 180 days, depending on the coverage issue | Household auto insurance and any denial or disclaimer date should be reviewed before relying on MVAIC |
Key Takeaway: Several deadlines may run at the same time after a Queens pedestrian accident. Early review can help identify the correct insurer, preserve evidence, obtain any police report, and protect claims involving no-fault benefits, MVAIC, or a public entity.
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I had a really good experience working with my lawyer Keetick Sanchez. She greatly helped me through a stressful time in my life and made the whole process go very smooth. Ms. Sanchez’s paralegal Sonia Espinoza was always available and took the time to answer all of my questions. Neither of them ever rushed me through anything, rather they provided me with thoughtful support and advice.
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Hit-and-Run and Uninsured Driver Accidents in Queens
Hit-and-run collisions are a serious problem on Queens streets, but being left at the scene by a fleeing driver does not mean you are without options. If you cannot identify the driver, you may be able to pursue available uninsured motorist (UM) coverage through your own auto policy or a household relative’s policy.
Pedestrians who do not have access to an applicable household auto policy may qualify for benefits through the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC), a corporation established under New York Insurance Law Article 52 for certain victims of uninsured and unidentified drivers in New York. MVAIC imposes strict notice and filing requirements, so it is especially important to involve an attorney quickly after a hit-and-run.
Attorney Keetick L. Sanchez can review whether a household policy, uninsured motorist coverage, or MVAIC may apply, help prepare required notices, and gather evidence. If the driver fled or had no insurance, the available policy language and MVAIC deadlines should be reviewed before choosing a recovery route. Call K L Sanchez Law Office, P.C. at (646) 701-7990 for a free consultation about coverage options.
Compensation After a Pedestrian Accident in New York
Pedestrians injured in New York accidents may pursue various forms of compensation, depending on the severity of their injuries and the specifics of the incident.
- Medical expenses. This category covers hospital stays, surgical procedures, medications, physical therapy, and ongoing rehabilitation, including assistive devices and future care expenses.
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity. If injuries prevent you from working temporarily or permanently, you can seek compensation for income lost during recovery and for reduced future earning potential.
- Property damage. Damage to personal property such as smartphones or other belongings carried at the time of the accident can be included in a claim.
- Pain and suffering. New York law generally requires that a pedestrian meet the serious injury threshold to recover these non-economic damages beyond no-fault coverage. Fractures, significant disfigurement, permanent loss of use, permanent consequential limitations, and significant limitations may qualify.
In limited cases involving especially egregious conduct, punitive damages may also be available. Drunk driving alone may not automatically support punitive damages, but additional evidence of wanton or reckless conduct can strengthen that request.
If a pedestrian is killed, the estate’s personal representative may bring a wrongful death action for the benefit of the decedent’s distributees. Recoverable damages may include fair and just compensation for financial losses caused by the death, reasonable funeral expenses, and, in specific cases, punitive damages if they would have been recoverable had the decedent survived.
Attorney Keetick L. Sanchez can review medical bills, wage records, treatment history, and the impact of your injuries to your daily life to help identify the damages that may be included in your claim.
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Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident was tough, but having this Keetick by my side made all the difference. Her skill in the courtroom and compassion during my recovery period were more than I could have asked for. Truly the best in Queens.
Why Hire a Queens Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?
New York’s no-fault system may cover some immediate medical bills and lost wages, but it does not resolve every issue after a serious pedestrian crash. A separate injury claim may be needed when the injuries meet the serious injury threshold, damages exceed no-fault benefits, or another party disputes fault.
Important evidence can also become harder to obtain after a crash. K L Sanchez Law Office, P.C. works to obtain traffic camera and surveillance footage, secure witness statements before memories fade, and, when needed, consult accident reconstruction professionals. Our Queens pedestrian accident lawyer can also handle insurer communications, address comparative fault arguments, and pursue settlement or litigation when needed.
Service Areas
K L Sanchez Law Office, P.C. serves injured pedestrians throughout Queens and the greater New York City area, including Jackson Heights, Flushing, Jamaica, Astoria, Forest Hills, Elmhurst, Woodside, Ridgewood, Sunnyside, Bayside, Corona, Rego Park, Howard Beach, Far Rockaway, Ozone Park, and nearby communities.
Attorney Keetick L. Sanchez also represents injured pedestrians in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Manhattan.
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I just recently had an awesome experience with the team at K L Sanchez law office. The lawyer, Kettick Sanchez, was very professional and knowledgeable throughout the whole process, her assistant Kelly was also great at communicating and helping me with any concerns I had. Would definitely recommend their services due to their high quality of work and passion!
Speak With a Queens Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
A pedestrian accident may involve more than the driver who hit you. Nearby camera footage, crosswalk layout, signal timing, road conditions, no-fault coverage, and short deadlines may all affect how the case develops.
Attorney Keetick L. Sanchez reviews crash locations, identifies potential sources of coverage, and explains which steps may help protect your claim. She can also address insurance or liability disputes and help preserve time-sensitive evidence. Early guidance from a Queens pedestrian accident lawyer helps identify these issues while your medical treatment and insurance matters are still ongoing.
Call (646) 701-7990 for a free consultation. Our office is located at 37-06 82nd St #304, Jackson Heights, NY 11372.
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The legal office of Lawyer K L Sánchez, provided us with an excellent service with very qualified personnel, Lawyer Sánchez is a very professional, very qualified and very responsible person, in the same way Ms. Yenny is a very professional and qualified person, they They show interest and concern for your case and do not rest until it is 100% resolved, which I certainly recommend. For my part you have my gratitude and thanks.
Frequently Asked Questions, Queens Pedestrian Accidents
How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident claim in New York?
You generally have three years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit under CPLR § 214(5). A wrongful-death action generally must be filed within two years after death, while no-fault, municipal, hit-and-run, uninsured-vehicle, and MVAIC matters can carry shorter notice periods. Review our car accident filing deadline guide that matches the responsible party and coverage involved.
Can I sue if I was jaywalking when I was hit?
Possibly. A pedestrian may still have a claim if the driver also acted negligently. Fault depends on the facts, including speed, visibility, traffic signals, crosswalk location, and whether the driver used due care. Any share of pedestrian fault may reduce the recovery. In some motor vehicle injury claims subject to Article 51 of the Insurance Law, recovery may be barred if the pedestrian’s share of fault is greater than the fault of the person being sued or greater than the combined fault of the people being sued.
What if the driver who hit me fled the scene?
A hit-and-run claim may involve uninsured motorist coverage through your own auto policy, a household relative’s policy, or MVAIC if no applicable policy is available. Prompt reporting and timely notice are important because MVAIC has strict eligibility requirements.
What qualifies as a "serious injury" in a New York pedestrian accident?
A serious injury may include death, dismemberment, significant disfigurement, fracture, loss of a fetus, permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function, or system, permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member, or significant limitation of use of a body function or system.
How is fault determined in a Queens pedestrian accident?
Fault usually turns on traffic signals, crosswalk use, driver speed, visibility, distractions, witness accounts, and available video footage. New York law requires drivers to yield in covered crosswalk situations and use due care to avoid pedestrians.
How much does it cost to hire a Queens pedestrian accident attorney?
K L Sanchez Law Office, P.C. handles pedestrian accident cases for injured clients in Queens. During a free consultation, the firm can review your situation, explain how fees and case costs are handled, and discuss the next steps for your claim. Call (646) 701-7990 to speak with the office.
What compensation can I recover after a pedestrian accident in Queens?
Recoverable compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, and pain and suffering if the serious injury threshold is met. In fatal cases, the estate’s personal representative may bring a wrongful death claim for eligible distributees.