Pittsburgh
Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

On This Page

1. Recovering Damages Based on Your Pittsburgh Pedestrian Accident
2. How Berger and Green Helps Pittsburgh Accident Victims
3. Deadlines Apply to Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawsuits
4. We Pursue Wrongful Death Damages for Clients Who Lost Family Members
5. Someone Else’s Negligence Often to Blame for Pittsburgh Pedestrian Injuries
6. How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Pedestrian Injury Lawyer in Pittsburgh?

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

August 08, 2022

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

If you suffered injuries in a pedestrian accident a Pittsburgh Pedestrian Accident Lawyer at Berger and Green could help you hold the negligent driver responsible. You may have a case for compensation.

Our team offers free consultations for victims of traffic accidents in Pittsburgh, including pedestrian accidents. Let our Pittsburgh personal injury lawyers with years of experience in pedestrian accidents review your legal options, rights, and next steps for free today.

Recovering Damages Based on Your Pittsburgh Pedestrian Accident

Pennsylvania law allows pedestrians hit by cars to hold the driver responsible for their financial and intangible losses if that driver’s negligence caused the crash. The losses and expenses that the victim incurs following a collision can vary widely but may include:

• Medical care, both current and future
• Lost wages and other income
• Reduced ability to work and earn your previous salary
• Property damages
• Additional expenses
• Pain and suffering

When pedestrian accident lawyers from Berger and Green handle injury cases, we gather documentation to demonstrate our client’s specific losses and expenses and seek a fair and just payout based on that evidence.

We know how to pursue financial recovery based on these injuries common in pedestrian crashes:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
• Other head or facial injuries
• Other back or neck injuries
• Broken bones
• Amputated limbs
• Internal injuries
• Contusions and lacerations

How Berger and Green Helps Pittsburgh Accident Victims

Our personal injury attorneys fight to negotiate a fair settlement for our clients’ injuries or represent their best interests and present a convincing argument for an award at trial. We know how insurance adjusters work and the tactics they might use to convince accident victims to settle for the lowest possible amount. Instead, we’ll present strong evidence during settlement talks and are unafraid to file a lawsuit and go to trial if needed.

We know the evidence necessary to prove fault and liability and can uncover it during our investigation into a crash, including:

• The accident report filed by first responders
• Video of the collision
• Eyewitness statements
• Physical evidence
• Expert testimony
• Accident reconstruction

The personal injury attorneys from Berger and Green also manage pedestrian accident cases on an affordable, contingency-fee basis. You will not pay us any attorney’s fees if we do not win your case.

Deadlines Apply to Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawsuits

Under Pa. C.S.A. § 5524, you likely only have up to two years to begin a civil suit against the driver who hit you. You may not have to file a lawsuit, but there is no way to know until after you file an insurance claim and attempt to settle with the insurer.

In some cases, exceptions to the statute of limitations could mean you have less time to act. We encourage you to contact us as soon as your injuries allow to protect your rights.

We Pursue Wrongful Death Damages for Clients Who Lost Family Members

Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents do sometimes cause fatal injuries. If your family member died because of a negligent driver, you have our sincerest condolences. While you mourn their loss, we’d be happy to help you secure financial recovery through a wrongful death action. Our wrongful death lawyers serving the Pittsburgh area handle these cases regularly. Our team will discuss your case with you today for free.

Pennsylvania’s wrongful death statute (42 Pa. C.S.A. § 8301) limits who can file these lawsuits to immediate family members—specifically the deceased’s spouse, children, or parents.

The damages available in a wrongful death action include:

• Projected lost earnings and other financial benefits
• Outstanding medical bills related to their fatal injury
• Funeral and burial costs
• Estate administration expenses
• Pain and suffering of the family members
• Loss of consortium

Someone Else’s Negligence Often to Blame for Pittsburgh Pedestrian Injuries

Motorists are a significant cause of pedestrian accidents and must drive with greater care, primarily through areas with high pedestrian traffic. In 2020, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reported 2,831 pedestrian accidents, including 146 fatal crashes.

Many times, a driver’s carelessness or reckless behavior causes a collision, and the victim is an innocent pedestrian. Unfortunately, many pedestrian accident victims are small children or older adults. Berger and Green handles child injury cases and cases involving seniors.

Safety Tips for Pedestrians and Motorists

For pedestrians, the best way to avoid an accident is to obey all traffic laws and use caution when walking near and through traffic:

• Always cross at designated sidewalks whenever possible
• Avoid walking at night or while wearing dark clothing
• Be aware that not all drivers will give you the right-of-way
• Walk defensively, looking out for your well-being at all times

However, some accidents are impossible to avoid because of a driver’s negligence. For example, many vehicle-pedestrian accidents result from a negligent driver:

• Disregarding the speed limit
• Ignoring a traffic signal
• Driving distracted
• Failing to yield the right-of-way
• Not looking carefully for pedestrians in crosswalks or intersections

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a pedestrian accident, you might be able to recover compensation. You could receive a payout for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other intangible damages.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Pedestrian Injury Lawyer in Pittsburgh?

If a car hit you while crossing the street, you likely suffered tremendous physical injuries and emotional trauma, leaving you struggling to cope financially with the extent of your losses. The last thing you need is to face massive attorney’s fees in the hopes of recovering compensation for your suffering.

However, our Pittsburgh pedestrian injury attorneys work on contingency. This arrangement means you will not cover any upfront or out-of-pocket expenses. Instead, you only pay us if we win your case. So, there is no risk to you as you seek the compensation and benefits that are rightfully yours.

Who Is Responsible for Causing My Pittsburgh Pedestrian Accident?

Establishing culpability in a pedestrian accident is essential. A court can order the liable party to compensate you for every way the trauma of the accident and your resulting injuries have affected you.

Many pedestrian accidents happen as an individual crosses the road or walks along the side when a motor vehicle suddenly strikes them. Thus, examining how your accident occurred can help determine responsibility for your damages. We might find any of these factors led to the accident:

• Driver negligence
• Unsafe road conditions
• Inclement weather
• Defective auto parts
• Failure to yield the right of way

Depending on how your pedestrian accident occurred, an investigation might implicate any of these parties:

• Motorists
• Government agencies
• Employers
• Rideshare companies
• Safety inspectors
• Distribution centers and retailers
• Parts manufacturers and designers
• Construction workers
• Contractors and subcontractors
• Maintenance technicians

I Was Hit by a Car as a Pedestrian. What Are My Next Steps?

After a car hit you as a pedestrian in Pittsburgh, you may be unsure what your next steps should be. Here are a few steps you can take.

Hire a Pedestrian Injury Attorney

Start by contacting a pedestrian injury attorney for help. Our firm is here to help you recover the compensation and damages that your injuries demand. So, we will carefully review the circumstances of your case to determine whether you have grounds for an insurance or civil claim against the liable party.

Establish Fault

Next, we will evaluate the details of your pedestrian accident to gather the evidence we need to prove liability in your case:

• Video footage of the pedestrian accident from traffic cams
• Photos of your injuries
• Statements from bystanders who witnessed the car hit you

This evidence will help us in proving liability and negligence in your case.

Calculate Damages

The value of your damages will determine how much we can seek in filing a claim with the insurance company or bringing your case to court. We will review not only your economic damages but your noneconomic damages as well. We will fight to ensure your claim considers every loss so you can be awarded fairly for your pain and suffering.

Seek Compensation

Our team will review the circumstances of your case to determine whether we should file a claim with the insurance company or bring your case to court. For many people, filing both insurance and civil claims is appropriate. You can find out what is best for your case when you contact our Pittsburgh pedestrian accident attorneys for help.

Speak With a Berger and Green Team Member Today

Did you sustain injuries in a pedestrian accident and now don’t know whether you have a claim? You can speak with a team member from our Pittsburgh pedestrian accident law firm. Berger and Green could help you secure the compensation you need to cover your accident injuries and other damages.

Contact us today at our Pittsburgh office for your free evaluation.