Pittsburgh Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
Caring representation when walkers are struck by cars, trucks, and other vehicles
Whether you’re walking in Schenley Park, strolling through Shadyside, or exploring the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, there’s a chance of being struck by a motorist. Many Pittsburgh residents walk for exercise, to run errands, go to work, and attend schools. Car, truck, and bus drivers need to respect the right of way of pedestrians at crosswalks and need to be especially careful when driving through neighborhoods. A drunk, distracted, or speeding driver can cause a Pittsburgh pedestrian to suffer catastrophic injuries or die in an instant.
Pedestrians place their trust in drivers but is simply no match for the speed of a passenger car, an SUV, or a motorcycle – let alone a large tractor-trailer that is rumbling down the road. At Carmody and Ging, Injury & Accident Lawyers, our Pittsburgh personal injury lawyers are skilled at showing how drivers cause accidents and why they should be held liable. We represent pedestrians and their families after serious and fatal accidents. Our lawyers are respected by former clients, insurance carriers, and defense lawyers for our preparation and advocacy. We have obtained numerous settlements and verdicts worth hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars.
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What would you like to know?
- How often are pedestrians fatally injured in accidents?
- What causes Pittsburgh pedestrian accidents?
- What types of injuries happen in pedestrian accidents?
- Who is liable for my Pittsburgh pedestrian accident?
- What is the value of my pedestrian accident injury claim?
- How much time do I have to file my injury claim in Pittsburgh?
- Do you have a pedestrian accident lawyer near me?
How often are pedestrians fatally injured in accidents?
The Governors’ Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reports that nearly 3,000 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents in the first half of 2021. The GHSA also reported that the deaths of children younger than 15 have dramatically increased since 2018 from 5.8 percent to 11.9 percent. Here in Pennsylvania, 186 pedestrians died in the full 2021 year, according to preliminary data.
What causes Pittsburgh pedestrian accidents?
Many traffic accidents that injure or kill pedestrians occur at crosswalks. Parking lots are another place where walkers suffer injury because drivers are so focused on getting a parking spot or their purchases, they don’t slow down enough to see pedestrians. Construction sites are still another place where pedestrians can be hurt by falling objects or slips and falls on the changing and unstable level ground.
Our Pittsburgh pedestrian accident lawyers understand why pedestrian accidents happen and who is responsible. Common reasons cars strike pedestrians include:
- Driver intoxication
- Driver distraction
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding, running through a red light, running through a stop sign, and other traffic violations
- Not stopping before the crosswalk at an intersection
- Improper turns
- Failure to back out properly
Other common causes of pedestrian accidents include driving too fast in residential neighborhoods and driving around a bus that is picking up or dropping off children.
At Carmody and Ging, our Pittsburgh pedestrian accident lawyers can investigate the accident site, talk to witnesses, and review any police reports. We also question everyone involved in the accident through a formal written and oral question process. We can also work with local residents and businesses who may have videos of the accident.
What types of injuries happen in pedestrian accidents?
Pedestrian accidents in Pittsburgh often cause catastrophic, permanent, and serious injuries because the human body is no match for the mass of metal of a car or truck. Our personal injury lawyers represent you or your child if they suffer any serious injury, including:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) or head trauma
- Amputation/loss of limb
- Spinal cord injury, including paralysis
- Fractures or broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Back, neck, or shoulder injuries
- Nerve, tissue, muscle, or ligament damage
- Crush injuries
We also represent anyone who has scarring or disfigurement due to an accident. If a loved one died in a Pittsburgh pedestrian accident, we file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the family.
Who is liable for my Pittsburgh pedestrian accident?
Carmody and Ging files claims against all responsible parties, such as:
- The driver of a car, truck, motorcycle, or an Uber or Lyft
- The owner of the vehicle, if different than the negligent driver
- Construction companies
- The manufacturers of any defective vehicle parts
We may also file a claim against a seller of alcohol to someone who was visibly intoxicated, or the governmental agency responsible for the design of the roadway. For example, a local county may be liable if the crosswalks at an intersection didn’t have working lights or stop signs.
What is the value of my pedestrian accident injury claim?
The odds are that if you or your child are struck by a car or truck, you’ll need to be taken to an emergency room. You’ll probably need surgery. You’ll almost certainly need long-term rehabilitative care. Working may be difficult. The pain may be unbearable. The goal of our Pittsburgh pedestrian accident lawyers is to place you in as close to the same position you were in before the accident as possible.
We seek the following current and future damages:
- Your medical bills
- Any lost income or benefits including a permanent disability
- Your physical pain and emotional suffering
- Compensation for any scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of function of any body part
- Loss of consortium
If the driver’s actions were inexcusable, such as traveling 20 mph or more over the speed limit, we may seek punitive damages. In wrongful death actions, we seek compensation for funeral and burial costs, the loss of financial support your loved one would have provided, and the loss of emotional support and guidance your loved one would have provided.
We review with you, your doctors, and your family all the ways your injuries are making your life difficult and traumatic.
How much time do I have to file my injury claim in Pittsburgh?
Generally, in Pennsylvania, you must file a personal injury or wrongful death claim within two years from the date of the accident. Some exceptions do apply. For example, you must file claims against governmental agencies promptly after the accident.
The best advice we can give is – don’t wait. Contact us immediately. We need to investigate the accident site, speak with witnesses while they remember what happened, and review which doctors you are seeing. The sooner we speak with you, the sooner we can help you relax and guide you through the claims process.
Do you have a pedestrian accident lawyer near me?
Carmody and Ging is located at 801 Vinial Street in Pittsburgh, on the 3rd floor of the Deutschtown Center building. Our office is across the street from Penn Brewery. You should be able to find parking onsite. If you can’t reach us by car, there are plenty of options. There’s a bus stop on Troy Hill Road, around the corner. We can make other arrangements too, like setting up a video conference or coming to see you in the hospital or rehab facility.
We’ll answer all your questions and explain how the claims process works. We fight to help Pittsburgh pedestrian accident victims get their lives back on track. Our lawyers will honor your loved one by fighting to ensure your family secures the compensation you deserve.
Speak with our seasoned Pittsburgh pedestrian accident lawyers today
Injured in a pedestrian accident? Carmody and Ging has the experience and resources to help hold the driver who struck you accountable. We’re a local firm with deep ties to our community. We understand just how devastating your injuries are and how tragic it is when a parent, child, or spouse is killed. To schedule a free consultation with a respected Pittsburgh pedestrian accident lawyer on the North Shore, please call 412.455.3158 or fill out our contact form. We proudly represent personal injury victims in Allegheny County.
