Were you injured in a pedestrian accident in Hempstead, NY?
Trusted pedestrian accident lawyers serving clients across Hempstead and the surrounding area.
A pedestrian struck by a car has almost no protection, and the injuries are often severe while the driver walks away unhurt. A Hempstead, NY pedestrian accident lawyer can push back when an insurer tries to pin blame on the person who was hurt and pursue the full compensation they are owed. Rosenberg & Rodriguez Personal Injury Lawyers has represented injured Nassau County residents for 25 years and recovered millions of dollars on their behalf. Contact our office to discuss your pedestrian accident claim and learn what it may be worth.
Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Hempstead, NY
A pedestrian accident lawyer represents someone struck by a vehicle while walking, jogging, or crossing the street, pursuing compensation from the driver whose carelessness caused the crash. These cases often turn on right-of-way, crosswalk signals, and whether the driver was distracted, speeding, or simply failed to yield when they should have stopped.
Long Island pedestrian fatalities fell from 89 in 2015 to 60 in 2019, according to New York's Pedestrian Safety Action Plan, which funded dozens of audible signals and crosswalk upgrades along Hempstead Turnpike. That progress is real, but Hempstead remains a challenging place to be a pedestrian, and a single crash can still leave a victim facing serious injuries and a long, difficult recovery. Nationally, pedestrians were 18 percent of all traffic deaths in 2024, a reminder that walking near traffic carries real risk no matter where you live.
Types of Pedestrian Accident Cases We Handle in Hempstead
Pedestrian accidents in Hempstead happen in a range of settings, from marked crosswalks to parking lots, and each scenario changes how we prove fault. Some cases turn on a single traffic signal or a few feet of roadway, while others involve a driver who was clearly reckless. We investigate the specific circumstances of the crash before building a case. Our Hempstead pedestrian accident lawyer handles the following types of claims:
- Crosswalk accidents. A driver who fails to yield to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk, whether turning or going straight, can be held liable for the resulting injuries.
- Car accidents. When a passenger vehicle strikes a pedestrian in Hempstead, the driver's speed, attention, and line of sight are often central to the claim.
- Truck accidents. A pedestrian struck by a commercial truck faces a higher risk of catastrophic injury given the size and weight of the vehicle, and blind spots are often a factor.
- Lyft accidents. A Lyft driver searching for a pickup or drop-off spot can strike a pedestrian while double-parked, turning, or pulling to the curb.
- Uber accidents. Similar risks arise when an Uber driver is distracted by a navigation app while approaching a passenger.
- Motorcycle accidents. Though less common, a pedestrian can also be struck by a motorcyclist, particularly at intersections with limited visibility.
- Hit-and-run accidents. A driver who strikes a pedestrian and flees the scene leaves the victim to pursue uninsured motorist coverage or other legal options.
- Parking lot accidents. Backing vehicles and low visibility make parking lots a common site for pedestrian injuries, especially around shopping centers.
- Distracted driving accidents. A driver checking a phone or dashboard screen can fail to see a pedestrian who has the right of way.
Why Choose Rosenberg & Rodriguez as My Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Hempstead, NY?
Rosenberg & Rodriguez Personal Injury Lawyers has spent decades representing injured pedestrians and other accident victims throughout Nassau County. Robin Halstrom's background representing insurance companies before moving to the plaintiff's side gives our firm a real advantage as a personal injury lawyer in Hempstead, NY, since we understand how the other side builds its defense.
Robin Halstrom's Background on Both Sides of an Insurance Claim
Robin Halstrom has practiced law in New York for more than 25 years, focusing on personal injury matters including motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic negligence, and premises liability. She earned her law degree from Saint Louis University Law in 1990. Before representing injured clients, she spent years handling defense matters for co-operatives, condominiums, and Mitchell-Lama housing developments, which gave her direct, practical insight into how insurance carriers evaluate and dispute pedestrian accident claims.
What We've Recovered for Injured Clients
Rosenberg & Rodriguez Personal Injury Lawyers has helped clients throughout Nassau County and New York City recover meaningful compensation in pedestrian and premises liability cases, including:
- A $250,000 jury verdict for a woman struck by a car while crossing the street, who sustained a fractured arm and back injuries
- A $100,000 settlement for a pedestrian who was knocked down by a mini school bus
- A $275,000 settlement for a bicyclist struck by a vehicle who sustained a head injury
- A $225,000 settlement for a woman who tripped and fell on a raised portion of a city sidewalk
No two cases are alike, and these figures aren't a prediction of what your claim is worth; they simply show the kinds of outcomes we've achieved when the facts and injuries supported it.
Understanding Pedestrian Accident Cases
What Is the Pedestrian Accident Case Timeline?
A pedestrian claim moves through the usual phases, but gathering the evidence that fixes fault, from video to signal timing to witness accounts, has to happen early, before it is gone.
- Emergency care and the follow-up treatment recovery requires
- An investigation securing the police accident report, traffic camera footage, signal data, and witness statements
- A claim presented to the driver's insurance carrier
- Negotiation, or filing a lawsuit in Nassau County before the deadline runs out
- A settlement or, when the insurer resists, a trial
An injured pedestrian generally has three years from the date of the crash to sue in New York, under CPLR Section 214.
What Are Important Aspects of a Pedestrian Accident Case?
Several factors shape how a pedestrian accident claim unfolds, starting with whether the pedestrian had the right of way at the time of the crash.
- Whether the pedestrian was in a marked crosswalk or crossing legally
- Traffic signal timing and whether the driver had a red light or stop sign
- The driver's speed and whether distraction played a role
- Any shared fault argument the insurance company raises about the pedestrian's own conduct
- Available video footage from traffic cameras, doorbell cameras, or nearby businesses
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Cases
An injured pedestrian can pursue recoverable damages covering medical care, lost income, pain and suffering, and damaged belongings. Because a pedestrian claim arises from a motor vehicle, it falls under the fault rule New York revised in 2026.
CPLR Section 1411(b) can shut a claimant out of recovery in a motor vehicle action filed on or after May 26, 2026 if that claimant carried more of the fault than everyone they sued combined. When a pedestrian's fault stays below that mark, the older comparative-fault standard governs instead, trimming the recovery by their percentage of responsibility.
Damages in a pedestrian accident case can include:
- Emergency care, surgery, and any long rehabilitation the injuries demand
- Paychecks missed during recovery and a permanent reduction in earning power
- Pain and suffering for the lasting physical and emotional harm
- Replacement of belongings damaged in the crash, from a phone to a cane or walker
- A wrongful death claim on behalf of a family that has lost a loved one
Most Dangerous Locations for Pedestrian Accidents in Hempstead
Certain roads in and around Hempstead see a disproportionate share of pedestrian crashes, and knowing where these crashes cluster helps us understand how a given collision likely happened. Since 2005, at least 36 pedestrians have been killed crossing Hempstead Turnpike alone, according to Nassau County, which has partnered with the state and federal government on engineering, enforcement, and education efforts to reduce that number.
Dangerous highways:
- Hempstead Turnpike (Route 24)
- Sunrise Highway
Dangerous streets and roads:
- Fulton Street
- Merrick Road
What Should You Bring to Your Pedestrian Accident Consultation?
Bringing the right documentation to your consultation lets us assess your pedestrian accident claim right away. We typically ask clients to bring:
- A copy of the police accident report, if one was filed
- Photos of the accident scene and any visible injuries
- Medical records and bills related to the accident
- Contact information for any witnesses
- Any video footage you have access to, such as doorbell or dash camera recordings
Consultations are free, and we'll walk through what happened, review any evidence you already have with you, and explain the options available to you.
Reach Out to Rosenberg & Rodriguez to Schedule a Consultation
Insurers are quick to suggest a pedestrian stepped out carelessly, and countering that story takes prompt investigation and solid evidence. Rosenberg & Rodriguez Personal Injury Lawyers builds that case for injured pedestrians across Hempstead, taking these claims for no fee up front and collecting only if it wins compensation for you. The first consultation is free and confidential. Contact us to speak with our Hempstead pedestrian accident lawyer about what your claim may be worth.
