Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents are commonly associated with serious injuries, mounting medical costs, and emotional stress. If you’ve been struck while walking in Buffalo, NY, you may feel uncertain about your rights and the steps you need to take to protect yourself. Knowing that someone is on your side gives peace of mind to focus on your healing.

Lewis & Lewis has 80 years of experience, representing pedestrians injured in accidents throughout Buffalo and Western New York. Our attorneys understand the physical, financial, and emotional challenges that come with pedestrian injuries, and we fight to help victims secure the compensation they deserve. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury, call us today at (716) 854-2100 for timely legal support. A Buffalo, NY pedestrian accident attorney will evaluate your situation and help determine the next appropriate actions.

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Buffalo, NY Pedestrian Accident Guide

• Key Takeaways – Buffalo Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
• Why Hire the Buffalo Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Lewis & Lewis?
• Pedestrian Accident Compensation in Buffalo
• Where Pedestrian Accidents Occur in Buffalo, NY
• Types of Pedestrian Accident Law in Buffalo, New York
• What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Buffalo, NY
• Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accident Claims in Buffalo, NY
• Contact a Buffalo Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today

Key Takeaways – Buffalo Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

• Pedestrian accidents in Buffalo can cause severe injuries, financial strain, and emotional stress. Immediate legal guidance helps victims focus on recovery.
• Lewis & Lewis brings over 80 years of experience representing pedestrian injury victims in Buffalo and Western New York.
• Hiring an attorney allows them to investigate your claim thoroughly and hold the insurance companies accountable for your harm.
• Compensation covers medical expenses, lost income, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, permanent impairments, and out-of-pocket costs, like travel or adaptive equipment.
• Common pedestrian accident types include intersection collisions, mid-block/dart-out incidents, parking lot/driveway accidents, hit-and-run accidents, and left-turn collisions.
• After an accident, follow medical care, document injuries and expenses, gather evidence, and avoid speaking to insurers without attorney guidance. 
• Contact an attorney at Lewis & Lewis promptly to begin preserving evidence and strengthening your claim.

Pedestrian Accident Compensation in Buffalo

Fair compensation after a pedestrian accident means more than just covering your immediate medical bills. It’s about ensuring that your physical, emotional, and financial needs are fully addressed while you recover. For pedestrians injured in Buffalo, this can include medical expenses, lost earnings, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, and any long-term care or lifestyle adjustments required due to the accident.

At Lewis & Lewis, we fight to make sure insurance companies recognize the full scope of your losses. Compensation may cover:

• Medical Expenses: Hospital visits, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and follow-up care.
• Lost Income: Earnings lost while recovering, including time off for medical appointments or extended disability.
• Permanent Impairments: Compensation for lasting injuries that affect your mobility, independence, or ability to work.
• Pain and Suffering: Reimbursement for the physical and emotional distress caused by the accident.
• Out-of-Pocket Costs: Travel for medical appointments, adaptive equipment, or home modifications required due to your injuries.

Our team carefully evaluates each case to determine the total value of your claim, taking into account your unique circumstances and the impact the accident has had on your life. By pursuing full and fair compensation, our pedestrian accident lawyers ensure that you have the resources needed to recover and move forward with confidence.

Where Pedestrian Accidents Occur in Buffalo, NY

Pedestrian accidents in Buffalo can happen anywhere, but some locations and conditions make injuries more likely. Some of the areas where these incidents are likely to happen include:

High‑Risk Streets & Corridors

• Main Street Corridor: Heavy vehicle flow, frequent pedestrian crossings, and downtown foot traffic increase collision risk. 

• Elmwood Avenue: Popular for shopping, dining, and nightlife, with many pedestrians crossing mid‑block or at intersections. 

• Delaware Avenue: Major north‑south route with limited crosswalks and high vehicle speeds. 

• Niagara Street: High vehicle and foot traffic near waterfront areas and bus routes; visibility issues contribute to accidents. 

• Broadway Avenue: Busy east‑west corridor with commercial and residential use; inadequate lighting and mixed traffic increase risk. 

• Washington Street: Central downtown location with steady vehicle flow and pedestrian crossings. 

• Richmond Avenue & Massachusetts Avenue: Roads with high overall crash counts, which often involve pedestrians.

Notable Intersections & Hotspots

• Elmwood Ave & Hertel Ave: Known site of multiple pedestrian collisions due to foot traffic and turning vehicles. 

• Grant Street & Military Road: Busy intersection with neighborhood storefronts and high crossing activity. 

• Ferry St / Massachusetts Ave / Richmond Ave Complex: Multi‑way junction where merging traffic creates confusion and danger for pedestrians. 

• Bailey Ave & Amherst St: Signalized intersection with heavy traffic flows and potential conflicts between pedestrians and turning vehicles. 

Neighborhoods with Higher Crash Reports

According to city traffic incident data, several Buffalo neighborhoods report higher overall incidents, which correlate with increased pedestrian exposure. These include the following:

• Central Neighborhood: High volume of traffic incidents overall. 

• North Park & Parkside: Residential areas with significant pedestrian and vehicle flows. 

• Broadway‑Fillmore: Busy commercial and residential district with frequent traffic conflicts. 

• Genesee‑Moselle & Delavan‑Grider Areas: Elevated crash counts where pedestrians navigate mixed traffic environments. 

These locations are commonly identified in crash reports and local news as spots where pedestrian‑vehicle interactions occur most often, either due to heavy foot traffic, complex intersections, visibility issues, or high vehicle speeds. When your case involves one of these areas, our team understands the local accident patterns. We can better investigate the circumstances of your case and build a winning claim to hold negligent drivers accountable.

Types of Pedestrian Accident Law in Buffalo, New York

Pedestrian accident law in New York is governed by a combination of traffic statutes and premises liability principles. As a pedestrian, you have the right of way in crosswalks and are owed a high duty of care by drivers, but the legal process for securing compensation is complex. Insurance companies will aggressively seek to shift blame, arguing you were jaywalking or distracted. Managing these claims requires an attorney who can meticulously reconstruct the incident to prove negligence.

Common types of pedestrian accidents we handle include:

• Intersection Collisions: Often caused by drivers running red lights, failing to yield while turning, or disregarding pedestrian crossing signals at controlled crosswalks.
• Mid-Block/Dart-Out Incidents: Occur when a pedestrian crosses between intersections, sometimes due to a lack of safe, accessible crosswalks, and a driver is speeding or inattentive.
• Parking Lot and Driveway Accidents: Drivers backing out of spaces or exiting driveways frequently fail to check for pedestrians, leading to back-over collisions.
• Hit-and-Run Accidents: A devastating scenario where the negligent driver flees the scene, requiring immediate investigation to identify the vehicle and driver through camera footage, witnesses, and other evidence.
• Accidents Involving Left-Turning Vehicles: One of the most common types, where a driver focuses on oncoming traffic and fails to see a pedestrian legally crossing in the intersection.

Each of these accidents comes with a unique magnitude of impact. Our lawyers will evaluate the accident and how you suffered injuries or exacerbated your condition. Mostly, injuries associated with pedestrian crashes include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Caused by the head striking the pavement or vehicle, often leading to long-term cognitive, physical, and emotional impairments.

• Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis: Catastrophic damage to the spinal column from the impact, potentially resulting in partial or complete paralysis.

• Multiple Fractures: Broken hips, legs, arms, and pelvises are extremely common due to the direct force of a car bumper or the hard ground.

• Internal Organ Damage: Immense trauma from blunt objects can cause life-threatening internal bleeding and damage to the liver, spleen, or lungs.

• Severe Lacerations and Road Rash: Deep cuts from broken glass or metal and painful abrasions from sliding on pavement, which carry high risks of infection and scarring.

Pedestrian accidents may render victims unable to work, face mounting medical expenses, and experience long-term physical or emotional challenges. Lewis & Lewis can help you manage the legal process, ensuring your injuries are fully considered when pursuing compensation.

What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Buffalo, NY

As much as recovering from a pedestrian accident is about physical healing, it’s also about protecting your rights and documenting your injuries to ensure you receive fair compensation. In the days and weeks following a pedestrian accident, your actions during this time are also key to protecting your legal rights.

Here are key steps to take after an accident:

• Continue with Medical Care: Once you have received urgent medical care, it is essential to follow your treatment plan meticulously and begin documenting the full impact of your injuries. This systematic approach creates the foundation for a strong compensation claim.

• Document Everything:  Keep records of medical visits, prescriptions, therapy sessions, and any other related expenses. Take notes on your symptoms, pains, and how your injuries affect daily life.

• Gather Evidence: Collect witness contact information, take photos of the accident scene, your injuries, and any vehicle damage. Obtain a copy of the police report if one is filed.

• Avoid Giving Statements to Insurance Adjusters Without Guidance: Insurance carriers may try to undervalue your claim. Let your attorney handle all communications.

Armed with comprehensive details and facts of your case, it’s now time to speak with your attorney. Bring all documentation, medical records, and notes to our attorneys. We will use this information to build a strong case and pursue full compensation on your behalf.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accident Claims in Buffalo, NY

What if I was not in a crosswalk when I was hit?

You may still have a valid claim for compensation, as a driver always has a duty to exercise reasonable care not to hit a pedestrian, regardless of location. New York’s comparative negligence rules apply, meaning your percentage of fault may reduce your recovery, but it is not automatically eliminated. We investigate the specific conditions, such as lighting, signage, and driver speed, to build the strongest case possible.

Who pays my hospital bills while my case is ongoing?

In New York, your own No-Fault (PIP) coverage, usually from your auto insurance, is the primary source for initial medical bills and lost income, regardless of who was at fault. For injuries deemed serious under the law, you can then initiate a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance for additional compensation, including full medical costs, future care, and pain and suffering.

What if the driver who hit me was uninsured or fled the scene?

You still have options for financial recovery through your own insurance policy’s uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. For hit-and-run accidents, prompt reporting to police and your insurer is critical. Our firm can help manage these complex claims to seek the resources you need from your own policy when the at-fault party cannot be identified or is without insurance.

How is a pedestrian accident settlement calculated?

A settlement is calculated by totaling all economic and non-economic damages. The final amount is influenced by the severity and permanency of your injuries, the clarity of the driver’s liability, and the insurance policy limits involved. The team at Lewis & Lewis works with economists and medical experts to accurately project future losses and ensure the settlement reflects the actual, long-term impact of the accident on your life.

Contact a Buffalo Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today

A successful pedestrian accident claim means more than just covering medical bills. It also ensures that your ongoing impact and evolving needs are fully addressed. At Lewis & Lewis, we guide you through every step and stand up for your interests and justice. Our personal injury lawyers have recovered over $1 billion for clients who sustained serious injuries caused by negligence. Call (716) 854-2100 today to speak with an attorney who will fight for your legal recovery.

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Lewis & Lewis – Buffalo Office Location

Address: 37 Franklin Street #800 Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: (716) 442-8987