Hit by a Car in Philadelphia? Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Fight for You
Red SUV stopped in a Philadelphia crosswalk, supporting a legal claim of pedestrian impact.
Unfortunately, even the most careful pedestrians can encounter a careless or reckless driver, leading to an even that changes the course of their lives. If you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian collision anywhere in Philadelphia, you may have a personal injury claim. You need a top pedestrian accident lawyer on your side.
Call us today for a free consultation.
Pedestrian crashes can lead to serious injuries, which lead to huge medical expenses. Injuries from pedestrian accidents can cause you to have months of lost wages, doctor visits, and physical therapy in the future. You may be rightfully scared and confused about what to do about ever-increasing medical expenses, missing work for pain, or trips to the doctor.
You need an experienced attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys to help you fight for the compensation you might be due following the collision.
Why Are Philly’s Walkable Streets So Dangerous for Pedestrians?
Philly is one of the top five most walkable cities in the United States. From the historic Center City neighborhoods to the al fresco dining in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia’s restaurants, bookstores, cafes, local grocers, and shops are a short walk from many Philadelphia addresses.
According to this real estate report, Philly is becoming more walkable each year. “Some main retail arteries that run through hot residential areas are experiencing a huge renaissance,” said Philadelphia Redfin agent Jennifer Seal. “The likelihood that there’s a new grocery store, coffee shop, or even spinning studio within blocks of many homes has greatly increased in recent years.”
Pedestrian Accidents in Pennsylvania: What’s Behind the Numbers?
Unfortunately, pedestrian deaths have increased nationwide in recent years, and in Philadelphia, they are higher than the national average. The City of Philadelphia reports that pedestrian fatalities occur at a higher rate than in similar large cities; the pedestrian fatality rate in Philly is double that of New York City.
Vehicle fatalities nationwide spiked in 2020 despite the significant drop in overall miles traveled in 2020. The Governors Highway Safety Association recorded more than 6,700 fatal car crash occurrences in the U.S. in 2020 — up 5% from 6,412 the year before, or 21% when factoring in the reduced number of vehicle miles traveled.
In 2020, pedestrian crashes accounted for 34% of people killed in collisions in Philadelphia. Most car crashes involving individuals occurrences take place during the day, and this type of collision commonly takes place at intersections or a crosswalk – places where drivers should be most alert for people crossing the road to avoid an accident.
Philadelphia’s most vulnerable pedestrians, like children and the elderly, are more likely to suffer severe injuries or die after being in an car crash. Contact an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible after your collision so they can advocate for you, talk to any witness there may have been & rule out you are not at fault for the accident.
Who’s at Fault for Your Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Claim?
While both motorists and pedestrians must remain alert and adhere to the rules of the road, driver negligence is a major contributing factor to collisions in Philly. Motorists have a responsibility to take reasonable care and pay attention to their surroundings.
In Pennsylvania, pedestrians have the right of way within crosswalks or at an intersection, whether or not there is a traffic signal present. Pedestrians are to yield the right of way to vehicles in places where there is no intersection or crosswalk. It is illegal for motorists to pass a vehicle that is stopped for individuals on a crosswalk, as the second driver may not see them on the crosswalk and cause an accident.
What Causes Pedestrian Accident Victims’ Injuries in Philly?
There is no shortage of ways for drivers to get distracted and take their eyes off of the road at the wrong time. Some of the most common causes of Philadelphia car accidents with a pedestrian being impacted in some way are:
- Distracted driving. Smartphone-related distraction is the top cause of the spike in pedestrian deaths. Drivers who take their eyes and/or attention from the road to answer a text or scroll through social media are less likely to see an individual in the roadway or intersection.
- Speeding. Drivers who fail to maintain a safe speed, especially in congested areas where pedestrians and cars share the road, endanger the lives of the people around them. Speed is the number one factor in determining whether an collision will be fatal or not. When struck by a vehicle traveling at 20 MPH, a human being typically has a 90% chance of surviving. If the car is moving at 40 MPH, the pedestrian has just a 10% chance of surviving the impact. Maintaining a safe speed not only reduces the damage done in an car crash but can also decrease the likelihood of an accident in the first place.
- Aggressive driving. Some drivers fail to yield to pedestrians at a crosswalk or fail to wait until the individual has fully exited the crosswalk before proceeding, causing an accident.
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is wholly unacceptable and puts innocent people’s lives in danger. If you were struck by a driver who was intoxicated, even if you were on the sidewalk, we will help make sure that person is held accountable for the accident.
- Crosswalk/road design. Some crosswalks or intersections may have been designed in such a way that puts pedestrians at risk, despite traffic laws, especially if more multiple accident cases have occurred in the same place. We will look into this possibility and investigate all potential paths to recovery.
When Should You Call Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Attorneys?
After being hit by a car, you may think the situation is fairly cut and dry – the driver was in the wrong, and you are owed compensation. The at-fault driver’s insurance company may even offer you a sum of money upfront. However, it is extremely important that you do not accept an offer of settlement before speaking with an experienced lawyer. Most often, settlements offered by insurance companies won’t be enough to cover your losses and long-term expenses after such a terrible car crash. They may even attempt to suggest that you deserve less because you were partially at fault and may even be liable for damages. If you accept a settlement offer, you waive your right to seek additional compensation for damages, even if your condition or disability worsens over time.
Talking to an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer from a firm who has handled similar cases since 1959 and have reached some of the largest settlements and verdicts in the state of Pennsylvania. Let us put that experience to work for you. We will help you recover compensation for your medical bills, future treatment, lost wages, and/or earning power, as well as pain and suffering.
At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we won’t spare any time getting to work on your case. We will deploy investigators and experts right away to begin building your case. As your lawyers, we will be your resource for anything you might need in the aftermath of the incidents that occurred. We will answer any questions you may have, help you rebuild your life, and take care of the legal process on your behalf.
How Much Does a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Cost You?
The Philadelphia pedestrian accident legal team at Munley Law, ready to stand up for injured victims.
Our Philadelphia personal injury lawyers do not get paid unless they win your case. It’s only after you receive financial compensation, we take a lesser portion of the settlement to cover our expenses for the case. If we cannot get results for you, you owe us nothing. We incur all of the risks and cover all of the upfront costs so that you never pay anything upfront or out of your own pocket.
Since Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys was founded over 60 years ago, it has been our philosophy that justice is for everyone, and cost should never keep someone from getting the help they need.
Got Pedestrian Accident Questions? Your Philly Lawyer Has Answers
How Common Are Pedestrian Accidents in Philly?
Despite advancements in technology, as well as efforts to increase awareness, these types of crashes remain far too common. A individual is injured or killed in an car crash every six hours. Philly has a higher rate of pedestrian fatalities per resident than other major U.S. cities like Boston, New York, and Minneapolis.
Who’s the Most Likely Victim of a Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident?
The age groups most likely to be struck by a car, truck, or bus are the most vulnerable members of our society: seniors and children. Almost half of pedestrians killed in accidents by vehicles are over the age of 50; another 30% of fatal pedestrian accident cases involve individuals under the age of 19.
Where Do Fatal Pedestrian Accidents Hit Hardest in Philly?
Northeast Philly, Kensington, Elmwood, and parts of Center City see the highest number of pedestrian deaths in the city.
Got Limited Tort? How It Impacts Your Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit
If you were struck by a vehicle as a pedestrian, your auto insurance tort option will not apply. Instead, you will be granted the benefits of full tort in the context of this claim. As such, you have the right to seek compensation for your pain and suffering without the need to prove that you meet the threshold of “serious harm.”
What Injuries Do Accident Victims Suffer?
Although we are all aware of the dangers of crossing the street, nobody ever plans on being struck by a moving car. When it does happen, the outcomes are frequently catastrophic.
The amount of physical stress caused by thousands of pounds of metal striking the human body, possibly at extremely high speeds, is beyond the capacity of the human body to withstand. As a result, people hit by cars frequently suffer very serious injuries such as:
- Internal bleeding
- Broken ribs
- Head injuries such as concussion
- Shoulder displacement
- Vertebrae injuries
- Neck injuries
- Jaw Fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Skull damage
- Injuries leading to death
Which Philly Streets Are Riskiest as a Motorist or Pedestrian?
Crashed vehicle with airbags deployed on a Philadelphia street, illustrating injury case context.
“Vision Zero” is a five-year action plan implemented by Mayor Jim Kenney to reduce and eliminate fatal accidents accidents across the city. According to the project’s website, “Using a five-year trend of crash data (PennDOT, 2014 – 2018; excludes interstates), the High Injury Network is comprised of the corridors across the city on which fatal crashes and crashes that result in severe bodily harm occur. These crashes may have involved people in vehicles or people walking and biking.
Eighty percent of all traffic deaths and serious injuries occurred on just twelve percent of Philly streets. This twelve percent of streets comprise the High Injury Network. These streets are:
Fifth Street & Olney Avenue
- Broad Street & Race Street
- Broad Street & Girard Avenue
- Cottman Avenue & Roosevelt Boulevard
- Broad Street & Olney Avenue
- Broad Street & Lehigh Avenue
- Market Street & 40th Street
- Market Street & 11th Street
- Chelten Avenue & Wayne Avenue
- Market Street & 12th Street
- Cobbs Creek, Market Street & 63rd Street, and
- Cecil B. Moore Avenue & Broad Street.
How Long Do You Have to File a Lawsuit?
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, injured parties have two years to file their investigation and claim, but as a defendant you want to talk to your lawyer soon after the car crash occurs. Your recollections can fade as time passes, witnesses can be more difficult to contact, and gathering a record of the incident and collecting any data and evidence is always most effective when done as soon as possible.
What Damages Can for You in Court?
Compensation for any loss of income due to the accident, such as lost time at work due to harm suffered as a result, such as lost work due to pain or physical therapy, or doctors’ visits
- Direct medical costs related to harm caused by the accident
- Pain and suffering resulting from the accident
- Cost of mental health treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder
- Cost of physical therapy related to the accident
To discover what compensation you may be entitled to, call us for a free consultation with your attorney at Munley Law. To schedule an appointment about your case at your convenience, please call or tell us about the accident online now.
Contact Our Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Exterior of Munley Law’s Philadelphia office, representing their work in pedestrian injury cases.
Our lawyers are ready to get to work for you today. Start with a free consultation to get answers to your questions and learn about your legal options. We will explain the process and help you decide what to do next. There is no obligation associated with the consult and no charge. If you are unable to come to us, we will travel to meet with you, or we can meet with you virtually to discuss your accident case and get justice.
With Munley Law, you can rest assured that your case will be in the best possible hands. Our personal injury lawyers are consistently listed in the Best Lawyers in America. Our attorneys are regarded as experts in the field and frequently travel the country to educate other attorneys on complex personal injury and accident-related matters. But most importantly, we put our clients first. See what some of our past clients have to say about their experience with our firm.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
1617 John F Kennedy Blvd
Suite 1690,
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 515-7747
