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Hit by a car while walking? The law gives pedestrians important protections.
Since 1997, the attorneys at Flaherty Fardo Rogel & Amick have represented injured people and their families throughout Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. We work closely as one team. Every case that heads toward trial has the whole team behind it.
Everyone is a pedestrian at some point, whether walking to work, crossing a parking lot or standing on a corner waiting for a bus. A person on foot has no protection in a collision with a car, SUV, truck or bus.
After a Pedestrian Accident: What to Do
- Get medical care right away, even if you think you can walk it off.
- Call the police so there is an official report. Get the driver’s name, plate and insurance.
- Photograph the scene: the crosswalk, signals, lighting, the vehicle and your injuries.
- Get witness names. Note nearby businesses or buses that may have cameras.
- Call a lawyer before you give a statement to any insurance company.
Common Causes
- Drivers who fail to yield in a crosswalk
- Drivers turning right or left without checking for people crossing
- Distracted, speeding or impaired drivers
- Drivers backing out of driveways and parking spaces
- Poor lighting, broken walk signals and dangerous sidewalk conditions
Why Pedestrian Injuries Are So Serious
Pedestrians are often hit more than once in the same crash. The bumper may strike the knees, the body may hit the hood or windshield, and then the person lands on the pavement. Common injuries include:
- Broken legs, hips and pelvis
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal injuries and paralysis
- Internal organ damage
- Soft tissue injuries and scarring
Pennsylvania Rules You Should Know
- Crosswalks. Where there is no working traffic signal, drivers must yield to a pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk or in an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.
- No passing at a crosswalk. When a vehicle stops at a crosswalk to let someone cross, drivers behind it may not pass it.
- Pedestrians have duties too. The law says a pedestrian may not step off the curb into the path of a vehicle that is so close it is a hazard.
- Who pays your medical bills first. Medical benefits generally come first from your own car insurance policy or a policy that covers you, such as a household family member’s. If no policy covers you, benefits can come from the policy on a vehicle involved in the crash.
- Shared fault. You can recover if you were 50% or less at fault. Your award is reduced by your share.
- Deadline. Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years. Claims against a government agency, such as a city, township, PennDOT or a transit authority, require written notice within six months, and immunity laws limit some claims. Claims involving a federal government vehicle follow separate federal rules.
How We Build Pedestrian Cases
- Early investigation. We gather the police report, scene photos, witness statements and video from businesses, homes and buses before it is lost.
- Experts when they matter. Reconstructionists can show speed, sight lines and where the impact happened.
- Medical proof. We work with your doctors to document every injury and what your recovery will require.
- Experience with government defendants. Our firm has won cases against the Port Authority of Allegheny County, now Pittsburgh Regional Transit, including cases involving pedestrians.
What You Can Recover
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain, suffering and loss of life’s pleasures
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Wrongful death and survival damages for families who lost a loved one
Representative Results
- More than $2.3 million for a pedestrian seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle
- $500,000 for a pedestrian struck by a federal government vehicle, pursued under the Federal Tort Claims Act
See more case results. Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome.
Related Cases We Handle
Talk to an Injury Lawyer
Every case starts with a conversation with a lawyer. We will tell you honestly whether you have a case and what it may be worth. Our injury cases are handled by Noah Fardo and Bill Rogel, working with Shawn Flaherty.
Call 412-802-6666 or email Managing Partner Noah Fardo at npf@pghfirm.com. Prefer to text? Use 412-855-5511. More answers: Personal Injury FAQ.
There is no fee unless we obtain a monetary recovery. We advance the case costs and are reimbursed from the client’s share only if we are successful. General information only, not legal advice. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.











