Call 911 and Report the Crash
Get medical help and ask for police to come to the scene. A police report creates an official record of what happened.
Pedestrian Accidents & Crosswalk Injuries
Hit by a Car While Walking?
Onx Law represents people hit by vehicles while walking. A person on foot has no protection, and even a low-speed impact can cause serious injuries.
(01) — Overview
Onx Law represents people hit by vehicles while walking. A person on foot has no protection, and even a low-speed impact can cause serious injuries.
Pedestrian accidents happen in crosswalks, parking lots, driveways, and along roads without sidewalks. You may be dealing with painful injuries and medical bills — and, after a hit-and-run, not even know who hit you.
We’ll evaluate your case, find the coverage that may apply, and identify who may be responsible, with the strategy, legal team, and resources your case needs.
(02) — What makes it different
What Makes Pedestrian Cases Different
A person on foot takes the full force of a vehicle. Even a crash at low speed — in a parking lot or a driveway — can cause fractures, head injuries, and injuries that change how you work and live.
The location, lighting, traffic signals, and insurance involved all shape what comes next. And because insurers often argue that a pedestrian stepped out without looking, the details of what the driver could see matter.
Common causes
- 01Crosswalk Accidents
- 02Left- and Right-Turn Crashes
- 03Parking Lot Accidents
- 04Backing Accidents
- 05Hit-and-Run Accidents
- 06Distracted Drivers
- 07Impaired Drivers
- 08Sidewalk and Driveway Crashes
- 09Nighttime and Low-Light Crashes
(03) — Evidence that matters
What the Driver Could See Matters
Pedestrian claims often turn on the crosswalk, the signal, the lighting, and the driver’s speed. Video from nearby businesses and doorbell cameras is often recorded over within days.
After a hit-and-run, report the crash to police promptly. Some coverage for hit-and-run victims, such as New York’s, requires a police report within a short time.
Evidence worth saving:
- The police report and report number
- Photos of the crosswalk, signals, lighting, and scene
- Names and contact details of witnesses
- Nearby business, traffic, and doorbell camera footage
- Photos of your injuries over time
- Medical records, bills, and receipts
(04) — Who may be responsible
Who may be responsible for a pedestrian crash.
The driver is often only part of the picture. Identifying every party matters, because each may have its own insurance.
- 01
The driver
A driver who failed to yield, ran a light, was distracted, or was backing without looking may be responsible.
- 02
An employer
If the driver was working at the time — on a delivery or in a company vehicle — the employer may share responsibility.
- 03
The vehicle’s owner
Depending on the state, the owner of a vehicle someone else was driving may also be responsible.
- 04
A property owner
Poor lighting or a dangerous layout in a parking lot or driveway may involve the business or owner that controls it.
- 05
A government agency
A broken signal or an unsafe crosswalk may involve a public agency. These claims usually have short notice deadlines.
(05) — What compensation may include
What a Pedestrian Accident Claim May Cover
A claim should account for the full impact of your injuries, including future care and time away from work. Depending on the facts and the state’s law, compensation may include:
- Medical bills, past and future
- Lost income and reduced ability to earn
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
- Future medical care and rehabilitation
- Out-of-pocket costs, such as mobility aids and help at home
What’s available depends on the facts, the insurance involved, and the state’s law. For example, Maryland caps noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering, and Florida and New York limit pain-and-suffering claims after many motor-vehicle crashes unless an injury meets a legal threshold. No particular result can be promised.
(06) — What to do next
What Should You Do After Being Hit by a Car?
Get Medical Attention
Some injuries, including head and back injuries, may not be obvious right away. Follow up on any new pain or symptoms.
Identify the Driver and Vehicle
Get the driver’s name, license plate, and insurance information. After a hit-and-run, write down anything you remember about the car and where it went.
Look for Cameras and Witnesses
Nearby businesses, homes, and buses may have video, but it’s often recorded over quickly. Save the names and numbers of anyone who saw what happened.
Talk to an Attorney
An attorney can help request video, identify every policy that may apply, and deal with the insurers involved.
(07) — State-specific considerations
On foot, the rules differ by state.
General information, not legal advice. Laws change, exceptions apply, and how a rule affects you depends on the facts of your case.
Florida
FL
Florida PIP can cover a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle — for example, through your own policy or a household member’s. Getting care within 14 days matters for those benefits.
Source: Fla. Stat. § 627.736Maryland
MD
Insurers often argue a pedestrian was partly at fault, for example by crossing outside a crosswalk. Under contributory negligence, that argument can defeat a claim, so what the driver saw and could have done matters.
Source: Coleman v. Soccer Ass’n of Columbia (Md. 2013)Washington, D.C.
DC
A pedestrian hit by a vehicle generally isn’t barred by contributory negligence unless their own negligence is greater than that of everyone they sue combined.
Source: D.C. Code § 50-2204.52New York
NY
Pedestrians struck by a car can usually claim no-fault benefits, with written notice generally due within 30 days. If a city vehicle was involved, a 90-day notice of claim may also be required.
Source: N.Y. Ins. Law § 5102
(08) — The Onx approach
Hurt While Walking?
Every case is evaluated individually. Depending on what yours needs, Onx Law may handle the matter directly, work with co-counsel, or connect you with trusted counsel when doing so better serves your case.
01/ 05
- 01
Listen
Tell us what happened, in your own words — online or by phone, in English or Spanish. Every case starts with understanding the people involved.
- 02
Evaluate
An attorney reviews the facts, the injuries, the insurance, and the law that applies, to determine what your case actually needs.
- 03
Build the Right Team
We put the right legal team and resources around your case. Onx may handle it directly, work with co-counsel, or connect you with carefully vetted counsel whose location, experience, or resources better serve it.
- 04
Move the Case Forward
Disciplined case management, data, and technology keep the work organized and moving, while legal judgment sets the strategy — and you’re kept informed along the way.
- 05
Pursue the Outcome
We pursue the resolution your case supports — through negotiation or, when it’s needed, in court — so you can focus on your recovery.
(09) — Questions
Frequently asked questions.
General information only, not legal advice. Every situation is different, so the best answer starts with a conversation.
Ask us directlyDepending on the state, benefits may come from the driver’s insurance, your own auto policy, or a household member’s policy — even though you weren’t in a car. In Florida and New York, for example, pedestrians hit by a car may be eligible for no-fault (PIP) benefits.
Report the crash to police as soon as you can and write down everything you remember. Even if the driver is never found, uninsured motorist coverage — your own or a household member’s — may help, depending on the state and the policy. Some hit-and-run claims require a prompt police report, so don’t wait.
You may still have a claim. Drivers are generally expected to use care to avoid pedestrians, though where you were crossing can affect how fault is shared, and the rules differ by state. In D.C., for example, a pedestrian’s own negligence generally won’t bar recovery after a collision with a motor vehicle unless it was greater than the combined negligence of the defendants.
You may have a claim against the driver, and in some cases the property owner or manager may share responsibility — for example, if poor lighting or a confusing layout played a part. Parking lots often have cameras, so it helps to ask about footage quickly.
An employer’s or rideshare company’s insurance may apply, depending on what the driver was doing at the time. Note any company name, logo, or app the driver was using, and share it with your attorney.
(10) — More practice areas
Other ways we can help.
- 01Car AccidentsRear-End Collisions · Intersection Accidents · Uninsured Drivers · Distracted Driving · Impaired Driving
- 02Bicycle AccidentsDooring · Right Hooks · Unsafe Passing · Road Defects · Hit-and-Run
- 03Wrongful DeathCar Accidents · Pedestrian Accidents · Poor Property Conditions · Animal-Related Incidents · Defective Products
(11) — Next step
You focus on recovery. We’ll help with the rest.
A pedestrian accident can affect your health, your work, and your independence. Onx Law can help you understand what happened, find the coverage that may apply, and determine what options may be available.