Why You May Need a Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Highlights

Pedestrian accidents can result in serious injuries, medical expenses, lost income, and long-term challenges.
A pedestrian accident attorney may help investigate a crash and explain potential legal options.
Evidence such as surveillance footage, witness statements, and accident reports can become harder to obtain over time.
Insurance companies may dispute fault, the severity of injuries, or the value of a claim.
Federal safety data shows that pedestrian crashes continue to cause thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of injuries.
Understanding the facts and applicable deadlines may help an injured pedestrian make informed decisions after an accident.

Why Can a Pedestrian Accident Have Serious Consequences?

A pedestrian accident can create immediate physical, financial, and legal challenges, particularly when injuries require extensive medical treatment or time away from work. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 7,080 pedestrians were killed and an estimated 71,635 were injured in traffic crashes across the United States in 2024. NHTSA also reported that pedestrian deaths accounted for 18% of all traffic fatalities that year.

(NHTSA) Because pedestrians have little physical protection when struck by a vehicle, a collision can lead to significant injuries and unexpected expenses. In these circumstances, speaking with a pedestrian accident attorney may help an injured person better understand the issues that could affect a potential claim.

What Can a Pedestrian Accident Attorney Do After a Crash?

A pedestrian accident attorney can help an injured person evaluate the circumstances surrounding a collision and understand the legal options that may be available. Pedestrian crashes are not always straightforward, particularly when the driver, pedestrian, witnesses, insurance company, and law enforcement have different accounts of what happened. An attorney may review available evidence, examine relevant traffic laws, communicate with insurance companies, and help identify parties who may bear legal responsibility. Legal representation does not guarantee a specific outcome, but it can help an injured pedestrian better understand the claims process. This may be particularly important when serious injuries, disputed fault, or substantial financial losses are involved.

What Evidence May Be Important to a Pedestrian Injury Claim?

Evidence can play an important role in determining how a pedestrian accident occurred and what factors contributed to the crash. Some information may become more difficult to obtain as time passes, especially surveillance footage and witness statements. Depending on the circumstances, potentially relevant evidence may include:

Police or crash reports documenting the collision.
Photographs of the accident scene, vehicles, injuries, and road conditions.
Traffic camera, surveillance, or dash camera footage.
Statements and contact information from witnesses.
Medical records and documentation of treatment.
Records showing lost wages and other accident-related financial losses.

Collecting and reviewing this information may help establish the sequence of events and address disagreements about fault. The available evidence can vary considerably from one accident to another, making early documentation especially important.

Why Might an Insurance Company Dispute a Pedestrian Accident Claim?

An insurance company may dispute who was responsible for the crash, question the severity of an injury, or challenge whether certain treatment or financial losses were related to the accident. Factors such as vehicle speed, location, visibility, roadway design, and alcohol involvement can also become part of the investigation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies speed, location, vehicle size, and alcohol as major risk factors in pedestrian crashes. (CDC) These issues can become more complicated when multiple people provide conflicting accounts of the collision. A pedestrian accident attorney may help an injured person understand how the available facts and evidence could affect an insurance claim.

What Types of Losses Could Be Considered After a Pedestrian Accident?

The financial impact of a pedestrian accident can extend beyond an initial emergency room visit. Depending on the circumstances of the accident and applicable state law, a claim may involve different categories of losses, including:

Medical expenses for emergency care, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and future treatment.
Lost wages when injuries prevent someone from returning to work.
Reduced earning capacity when long-term injuries affect future employment.
Physical pain and other non-economic losses recognized under applicable law.
Property damage and other documented financial losses connected to the crash.

The specific compensation available depends on the facts of the case and the laws that apply. Reviewing medical records, employment information, and other documentation can help an injured person understand the full financial impact of an accident rather than focusing only on immediate expenses.

Why Do Pedestrian Crash Statistics Show the Importance of Understanding the Risks?

Pedestrian crashes remain a significant traffic safety issue throughout the United States. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, pedestrian deaths in 2024 were 72% higher than they were at their lowest point in 2009. IIHS also reported that 73% of pedestrian fatalities in 2024 occurred between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., while 62% occurred on major roads other than interstates and freeways. (IIHS Crash Testing) These statistics show that pedestrian accidents can occur under a wide range of circumstances and may involve factors beyond a simple question of whether a pedestrian was using a crosswalk. A careful review of the specific conditions surrounding a crash can therefore be important when determining what happened.

Why Is Acting Promptly After a Pedestrian Accident Important?

Taking action soon after an accident may help preserve important information before it disappears. Witnesses can become harder to locate, memories may fade, and video recordings may be deleted or overwritten. Medical documentation may also become important when demonstrating how an injury affected a person’s daily activities and ability to work. In addition, legal claims are generally subject to deadlines that vary by state and by the type of claim being pursued. Waiting too long may limit available legal options, even when the injuries are serious. Seeking information early can help an injured pedestrian better understand the relevant deadlines and determine what steps may be appropriate.

When Should You Consider Speaking With a Legal Professional?

Speaking with a legal professional may be worth considering when a pedestrian accident results in serious injuries, disputed liability, significant financial losses, or difficulties with an insurance company. A pedestrian accident attorney can review the circumstances of the crash, explain the evidence that may be relevant, and provide information about potential legal options. With thousands of pedestrians killed and tens of thousands injured in traffic crashes each year, the consequences of these incidents can extend well beyond immediate medical care. (NHTSA) Understanding the facts of the accident and applicable legal deadlines can provide a clearer foundation for deciding what to do next.

A pedestrian accident can change a person’s life in seconds, creating medical, financial, and legal concerns that may continue long after the initial collision. Preserving evidence, documenting injuries and expenses, and understanding how the accident occurred can all play an important role in evaluating the situation. When liability is unclear or the consequences are significant, consulting a pedestrian accident attorney may help an injured person understand the available options and make informed decisions about the next steps.