Going the Distance for Pedestrians, Bicyclists, and Runners: How a Westchester Personal Injury Lawyer Can Pursue Maximum Compensation for Your Injury

In New York – particularly in New York City – injuries to pedestrians, cyclists, and runners from careless drivers have been on the rise in recent years. In fact, according to the New York State Department of Health, injuries to pedestrians are among the leading causes of injuries that require hospitalization or result in death. It is estimated that about 300 pedestrians are killed in New York each year and another 15,000 are injured. 

The Law Office of Michael J. McConnell is committed to protecting and vindicating the rights of pedestrians, bicyclists, and runners who are injured or killed by negligent drivers. The injuries from these types of accidents can be severe and often life changing. For victims who are killed in these accidents, their death is a forever heartbreak to their families.  Michael J. McConnell stands ready to help and is available for a free consultation, which can be done in person, by phone, or by video at a date and time that is convenient for you, including off hours, nights, and weekends. 

Areas served for pedestrian, bicycle and runner accidents include:

  • NYC – all 5 Boroughs: Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island.
  • Westchester County: Yonkers, White Plains, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, and more.
  • Rockland County
  • Long Island (Nassau County & Suffolk County)

If you or a loved one were injured or killed by a negligent driver, the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell is here for you and offers free consultations to evaluate your case.

To set up for free consultation with Michael J. McConnell, you can:

Common Causes and Injuries for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Accidents in New York 

Pedestrian and bicycle accidents in New York are typically caused the negligent conduct of drivers who either:

  • fail to yield for pedestrians and cyclists in cross walks
  • run red lights
  • drive too fast
  • refuse to share the road
  • text and drive
  • swerve out of control
  • drive fatigued
  • drive drunk
  • back out of parking spaces without checking their mirrors
  • or some combination of the above

The nature of these accidents – specifically, a vehicle weighing thousands of pounds striking a helpless victim on their feet or a bicycle – often causes very serious injuries and tragically sometimes a death. 

Common injuries for bicycle and pedestrian accidents in New York can include:

  • broken bones (fractures)
  • internal bleeding
  • traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
  • spinal cord injuries
  • paralysis
  • psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression, etc.)
  • and various other catastrophic injuries 

The Devastating Effect of Pedestrian, Bicyclist, and Runner Accidents in New York

Further adding to the severity of New York pedestrian and bicycle accidents is that often the victim relies on their ability to walk or ride a bicycle to get to work, especially in New York City and the surrounding areas like Yonkers, White Plains, New Rochelle, and Mount Vernon. 

Many of these victims do not even own a car, so taking away their ability to walk and bike makes it extremely difficult if not impossible to work. Additionally, for some the ability to ride a bike is actually a key feature of their job such as food delivery drivers who use a bike to make their deliveries. So whether it is one’s ability to get to work and/or actually work that is taken away by the negligence of a careless driver, the impact can be absolutely devastating. 

There are also many runners, recreational bicyclists, skateboarders, joggers, and walkers who are injured or killed by motor vehicles each year. Some of these individuals are competitive athletes training for marathons, ultramarathons, Ironman competitions, Tough Mudders, triathlons, half marathons, obstacle course races, bicycle races, 5Ks, and more. For these athletes especially, an injury caused by a negligent driver can take away from them a major part of their life, their passion, and their joy.  

As an avid runner and ultramarathoner himself, Michael J. McConnell is a New York personal injury lawyer who understands full well the significance that these injuries can have. He understands that for many, the process of training for these events and ultimately competing in them is at the core of who they are and that often there is a greater purpose behind why they push themselves to the limit in these vigorous athletic endeavors. Suffice it to say that having that taken from you by the negligence of someone else demands accountability and full justice under the law in the form of financial compensation for things like pain and suffering in addition to the economic damages such as medical expenses and lost wages. 

So whether a negligent driver has taken away your ability to get to work, to work, and/or to do the things you love, the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell encourages you to set up a free consultation with absolutely zero strings attached to explore your options and determine if hiring a lawyer is the right move for you. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accidents and Bicycle Accidents in New York

  1. Will it cost me any money up front to hire a lawyer for my pedestrian accident or bicycle accident in New York? 

Personal injury lawyers generally work on a “contingency fee basis” which basically means that they only get paid if you win. Consistent with that principle, at the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell, there are zero up front fees to hire a lawyer for your case and he will only get paid if you win your case by getting financial compensation from a settlement or verdict. So put simply: Michael J. McConnell doesn’t get paid on your case unless you do. 

Additionally, the typical fee will be 1/3rd of the overall settlement or verdict in New York for a personal injury case, but remember that the “fee” will not be paid unless or until you win your case, which again means that there are absolutely no up-front costs to hire a lawyer.  

  1. What types of things can I get compensated for if I sue for a pedestrian accident or bicycle accident in New York? 

There are generally two types of damages in New York that you can be compensated for in a personal injury case like a pedestrian or bicycle accident. 

First, there are economic damages, which include medical expenses, lost wages, and other forms of financial losses. 

Second, there are non-economic damages, which can include, among other things, financial compensation for pain and suffering. 

These non-economic damages can be more subjective than economic damages, but they can often be a really significant part of an injured person’s overall financial compensation and even far surpass any economic damages they receive. The basic idea of non-economic damages is that there should be a serious recognition of the larger impact that the injury has had on things like their overall quality of life.  

There is technically also another form of damages called “punitive damages” that you may have heard about, but those will only apply in cases where there is conduct by the person who injured you that goes beyond standard negligence as these punitive damages are meant to punish the person for extreme misconduct rather than as a means to compensate you like is the case for economic and non-economic damages. So as a general matter, punitive damages are usually unlikely to apply in most pedestrian and bicycle accident cases.

If you have questions about the types of categories you can be compensated for after your accident, the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell would love to hear from you and for that reason encourages you to schedule a free consultation. 

  1. How much money will I get if I sue for a pedestrian accident or bicycle accident in New York? 

Every case is unique and there are a bunch of factors that will end up influencing the potential amount of compensation you could get for your injury. It can be especially difficult to predict in the early days after your accident when there might still be a lot of uncertainty regarding how much and what type of medical treatment you might need, which can in turn affect other important variables in determining the dollar value of your case such as the amount of lost wages and the negative  impact that the injuries have had on your overall quality of life. 

There are countless other things that can impact the potential money you could get as well, including how severe the injury is, which specific body part you injured, the degree to which the injury has prevented you from doing the things you enjoy, the precise facts and circumstances of how the accident happened, how clear the issue of liability is, and the amount of insurance available to pay a settlement or judgment. 

As you can see, there is a lot that goes into this, but what you should know is that a personal injury lawyer can help guide you in assessing the value of your case. Savvy insurance companies with their seemingly endless resources will often try to shortchange you by trying to settle for less than you deserve. Some of their nonsense will include things like downplaying your injuries, questioning your motives, blaming you for the accident, and lowballing you with settlement offers that are far from the full justice you deserve. A personal injury lawyer who is duty bound to represent your interests can push back on all of that in an effort to get you the money you are entitled to. The lawyer will generally start by thoroughly investigating your case, gathering evidence, and taking any other appropriate legal action all for the purpose of maximizing your compensation. 

The Law Office of Michael J. McConnell knows the challenges you face overcoming a pedestrian or bicycle accident injury and recognizes that the legal process can feel overwhelming. That is why Michael J. McConnell offers free consultations so that you can make an informed decision about your next steps after speaking with an attorney who will compassionately listen to what you have gone through and answer all of the questions you might have. 

  1. If I think I want to sue for my pedestrian accident or bicycle accident, how soon should I get a lawyer? 

Since most personal injury lawyers offer free consultations, it is generally recommended that you at least give one a call as soon as practicable after your injury. After all, the consultation is free, so you really don’t have anything to lose. 

Additionally, there are some really important things in the days and weeks that follow your accident that can be critical for your case. Having a lawyer to represent your interests and protect your rights during that time could end up making a big difference. 

For example, your lawyer can ensure a proper investigation is done, gather key evidence, protect you from the other drivers’ insurance company’s representatives, help you make informed choices about your case, file the lawsuit within the proper statute of limitations, and more. Additionally, personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, so it costs nothing to hire one up front since they would only get paid a fee if you win. 

Given all of this, it is fairly easy to imagine scenarios where there could be serious harm done to your case if you wait too long to get a lawyer. In contrast, there is seemingly no real downside to at least talking to a lawyer during a free consultation after your accident to help you find out if you should hire one. 

With all of that said, the choice of whether to get a lawyer is completely up to you. If you’re thinking about it, the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell strongly encourages you to reach out right now to set up your free consultation. 

  1. What types of evidence can be important after a pedestrian accident or bicycle accident in New York?

There are certain pieces of evidence that are going to be important in a pedestrian or bicycle accident lawsuit. The list below is not by any means close to an exhaustive list, but it includes some of the most important things you might want to have to prove your case:

  • Police reports
  • Photos of the accident scene
  • Photos of your injuries (at the time of the accident and in the days/weeks that follow)
  • Surveillance footage (if it exists)
  • Witness names, contact info, and statements 
  • Medical records 

Generally speaking, the more evidence you have the better. Not every item of evidence will be as important as others, but there are countless occasions where some seemingly minor piece of evidence ends up playing a huge role later in your case. This is why having a personal injury lawyer sooner rather than later on your case can be so important as the lawyer will know what things to look for and can help preserve certain forms of evidence that expire (such as surveillance video, which sometimes automatically gets deleted very quickly if not requested timely). 

Conclusion 

The Law Office of Michael J. McConnell knows that recovering from a pedestrian or bicycle accident is an uphill battle. A New York personal injury lawyer can help protect your rights and fight for the full compensation you deserve while you focus on recovering from your injury. If you are interested in learning more about what your rights are after an accident, please contact the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell today for a free consultation.