New York changed its motor vehicle fault rule on May 26, 2026. In a claim subject to the state’s no-fault article, a pedestrian whose share of the fault is greater than the driver’s now recovers nothing, so how fault gets assigned in the first weeks matters more than it ever has.

Trial-Tested Advocates for Pedestrians Struck on New York City Streets

The Pryor Law Firm represents people hit by cars, trucks, buses, and other vehicles while walking in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and on Long Island. Kenneth A. Pryor has spent more than 25 years trying injury cases in New York courts, and he handles pedestrian claims himself rather than routing them to staff. A pedestrian claim is not a smaller version of a New York City car accident case. It runs on separate insurance rules, separate deadlines, and, since May 2026, a separate rule for measuring fault. A case can depend on details including a walk signal, a turning driver, a blocked crosswalk, a bus camera, or the first account recorded in the police report. Prompt legal guidance can help preserve those details and clarify the insurance and fault rules that may apply.

Why Injured Pedestrians Trust The Pryor Law Firm

Pedestrian cases turn on evidence, such as skid marks, traffic camera footage, witness accounts, that disappear within days, so the firm you call first affects the outcome. Here’s what sets The Pryor Law Firm apart for injured New Yorkers:

  • A trial lawyer on the file. You work directly with Kenneth Pryor, not a case manager, and the case is prepared as though a jury will decide it.
  • More than $45 million recovered in verdicts and settlements.
  • A former prosecutor’s read of the evidence. Kenneth Pryor served in the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, and he knows how a police file is built and where it goes wrong.
  • Recognition from outside the firm. New York Magazine has recognized the firm as a Leading Personal Injury Firm in New York, and AVVO has named it a Top Personal Injury Firm with a 10.0 rating.
  • Offices where these crashes happen. Garden City, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, all by appointment.
  • No fee unless we win. There is never a fee until we recover for you.

You can read the firm’s verdicts and settlements before you call. Reviewing those results can help you gauge experience, but every pedestrian case turns on its own facts, injuries, and insurance posture. The sooner Kenneth Pryor can examine the police report, traffic camera footage, and witness statements in your case, the stronger your position under New York’s new fault rules.

What Changed for Pedestrian Claims in 2026

Two rules that shape nearly every pedestrian claim in New York changed on May 26, 2026, and they apply to actions commenced on or after that date. New York had long allowed an injured person to recover a reduced share of compensation no matter how much fault was assigned to them.

Under the rule that now measures a claimant’s share of fault, in a personal injury action subject to the state’s no-fault article, a claimant whose culpable conduct is greater than the defendant’s, or greater than the defendants’ combined conduct, recovers nothing. A pedestrian found 50% responsible is not barred. A pedestrian found 51% responsible is barred from recovering damages.

The definition of a qualifying injury also narrowed. The threshold that governs pain and suffering claims still bars a claim for non-economic loss against another covered person unless the injury is a serious injury. The category covering a non-permanent injury that kept someone from usual daily activities for 90 of the first 180 days was deleted. What remains is:

  • Death
  • Dismemberment
  • Significant disfigurement
  • A fracture
  • The loss of a fetus
  • Permanent loss of use, permanent consequential limitation of use, and significant limitation of use

Both changes push the same work earlier: the fault picture and the medical proof have to be built in the first weeks, not at the first deposition.

The Deadlines That Decide Pedestrian Claims

A pedestrian struck by an insured vehicle in New York is a covered person under the no-fault law, which means the vehicle’s insurer is the first payer for medical bills, not your health plan. That coverage carries short deadlines, and the lawsuit carries a different one. Three clocks run at the same time:

  • 30 days for no-fault notice. Written notice goes to the vehicle’s no-fault insurer as soon as reasonably practicable and no more than 30 days after the crash, though a late notice can be excused with written proof of clear and reasonable justification.
  • Three years for the lawsuit. New York’s general limitations statute gives three years from the date of injury to commence a negligence action, subject to exceptions.
  • 90 days when a public vehicle is involved. A claim against a public corporation, such as a city or a transit authority, generally requires a notice of claim within 90 days after the claim arises. The deadline for filing the lawsuit is shortened too, and it is not the same for every public entity, so it has to be confirmed against the statute that governs that particular defendant.

No web page can tell you which clock governs your case or whether it has run. A lawyer can, and the answer often turns on who owned the vehicle that hit you.

Pedestrian Crashes We Handle Across New York City

New York City streets were safer in 2025 than in any year since record-keeping began in 1910, and they still take lives. The city recorded 111 pedestrian deaths in 2025, down 9% from 122 the year before, according to the city’s year-end traffic fatality report. Through June 29, 2026, 46 pedestrians had been killed, the lowest first-half count on record apart from the pandemic year of 2020.

State law requires every driver to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian, and that duty does not switch off because someone stepped outside a crosswalk. We handle claims arising from:

  • Crosswalk and intersection collisions, including left-turning drivers who fail to yield
  • Bus and transit vehicle crashes, which can bring a public entity and a shorter deadline into the case
  • Hit-and-run collisions, where uninsured motorist coverage may be the route to recovery
  • Delivery vans, box trucks, and commercial vehicles
  • Backing, driveway, and parking lot collisions
  • Crashes that kill, which a family may pursue as a wrongful death claim

Each of these turns on the same first question: what does the evidence show about how the driver approached the person on foot. Video, signal timing, vehicle data, and witness accounts answer it, and most of that evidence has a short shelf life.

What Happens After You Call The Pryor Law Firm

Kenneth Pryor reviews the case himself, and the first work is evidence rather than paperwork. Video from nearby businesses is often overwritten within days, and signal timing and vehicle data have to be requested before they cycle out. A pedestrian claim generally moves through these steps:

  • Free consultation. You tell us what happened, and we identify which insurance and which deadlines apply to your situation.
  • Evidence preservation. We send preservation letters, pull surveillance footage, obtain the police file, and find witnesses while memories are fresh.
  • No-fault filing. We put the vehicle’s insurer on notice inside the 30-day window, which keeps your medical bills with the right payer.
  • Medical documentation. We track your treatment to keep the record aligned with the injury, which is what the serious injury threshold turns on.
  • Negotiation or suit. We present the claim to the insurer, and we file suit when the offer does not reflect the case.

You don’t handle any of that alone. Our team handles the legal steps while you focus on your recovery. We provide support, guidance, and aggressive representation to protect your best interests. There is never an attorney fee until we recover for you.

Speak With a New York City Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Contact The Pryor Law Firm to schedule a free consultation. Bring whatever you have, including the police report number, photographs, the name of the hospital, and anything a witness gave you. We will walk you through the no-fault steps, explain the deadlines in your situation, and tell you what happens next. If you are unable to come to our office, we can meet you at your home or hospital.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does no-fault insurance cover a pedestrian who does not own a car?

Yes. A pedestrian injured through the use or operation of an insured motor vehicle is a covered person under New York’s no-fault law. The vehicle’s insurer pays medical expenses and part of lost earnings without regard to fault, up to the $50,000 basic economic loss limit. Lost earnings are reimbursed at 80% of what you would have earned, capped at $2,000 per month for up to three years.

Can I still recover if I was crossing outside a crosswalk?

Possibly, and the answer changed in 2026. In a motor vehicle injury action subject to New York’s no-fault article, a claimant whose share of the fault is greater than the driver’s, or greater than the defendants’ combined share, now recovers nothing. Below that line, compensation is reduced in proportion to the claimant’s share rather than eliminated. Where the line falls is a question of fact, which is why an early investigation matters.

What if the driver left the scene?

A hit-and-run does not necessarily end the claim. Uninsured motorist coverage and other policies may apply, and a police report filed promptly is often what allows a lawyer to reach them later. Do not wait to learn whether the driver is identified, because the no-fault and lawsuit deadlines keep running either way.

Pedestrian Accidents
New York changed its motor vehicle fault rule on May 26, 2026. In a claim subject to the state’s no-fault article, a pedestrian whose share of the fault is greater than the driver’s now recovers nothing, so how fault gets assigned in the first weeks matters more than it ever has.

Trial-Tested Advocates for Pedestrians Struck on New York City Streets

The Pryor Law Firm represents people hit by cars, trucks, buses, and other vehicles while walking in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and on Long Island. Kenneth A. Pryor has spent more than 25 years trying injury cases in New York courts, and he handles pedestrian claims himself rather than routing them to staff. A pedestrian claim is not a smaller version of a New York City car accident case. It runs on separate insurance rules, separate deadlines, and, since May 2026, a separate rule for measuring fault. A case can depend on details including a walk signal, a turning driver, a blocked crosswalk, a bus camera, or the first account recorded in the police report. Prompt legal guidance can help preserve those details and clarify the insurance and fault rules that may apply.

Why Injured Pedestrians Trust The Pryor Law Firm

Pedestrian cases turn on evidence, such as skid marks, traffic camera footage, witness accounts, that disappear within days, so the firm you call first affects the outcome. Here’s what sets The Pryor Law Firm apart for injured New Yorkers:

  • A trial lawyer on the file. You work directly with Kenneth Pryor, not a case manager, and the case is prepared as though a jury will decide it.
  • More than $45 million recovered in verdicts and settlements.
  • A former prosecutor’s read of the evidence. Kenneth Pryor served in the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, and he knows how a police file is built and where it goes wrong.
  • Recognition from outside the firm. New York Magazine has recognized the firm as a Leading Personal Injury Firm in New York, and AVVO has named it a Top Personal Injury Firm with a 10.0 rating.
  • Offices where these crashes happen. Garden City, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, all by appointment.
  • No fee unless we win. There is never a fee until we recover for you.

You can read the firm’s verdicts and settlements before you call. Reviewing those results can help you gauge experience, but every pedestrian case turns on its own facts, injuries, and insurance posture. The sooner Kenneth Pryor can examine the police report, traffic camera footage, and witness statements in your case, the stronger your position under New York’s new fault rules.

What Changed for Pedestrian Claims in 2026

Two rules that shape nearly every pedestrian claim in New York changed on May 26, 2026, and they apply to actions commenced on or after that date. New York had long allowed an injured person to recover a reduced share of compensation no matter how much fault was assigned to them.

Under the rule that now measures a claimant’s share of fault, in a personal injury action subject to the state’s no-fault article, a claimant whose culpable conduct is greater than the defendant’s, or greater than the defendants’ combined conduct, recovers nothing. A pedestrian found 50% responsible is not barred. A pedestrian found 51% responsible is barred from recovering damages.

The definition of a qualifying injury also narrowed. The threshold that governs pain and suffering claims still bars a claim for non-economic loss against another covered person unless the injury is a serious injury. The category covering a non-permanent injury that kept someone from usual daily activities for 90 of the first 180 days was deleted. What remains is:

  • Death
  • Dismemberment
  • Significant disfigurement
  • A fracture
  • The loss of a fetus
  • Permanent loss of use, permanent consequential limitation of use, and significant limitation of use

Both changes push the same work earlier: the fault picture and the medical proof have to be built in the first weeks, not at the first deposition.

The Deadlines That Decide Pedestrian Claims

A pedestrian struck by an insured vehicle in New York is a covered person under the no-fault law, which means the vehicle’s insurer is the first payer for medical bills, not your health plan. That coverage carries short deadlines, and the lawsuit carries a different one. Three clocks run at the same time:

  • 30 days for no-fault notice. Written notice goes to the vehicle’s no-fault insurer as soon as reasonably practicable and no more than 30 days after the crash, though a late notice can be excused with written proof of clear and reasonable justification.
  • Three years for the lawsuit. New York’s general limitations statute gives three years from the date of injury to commence a negligence action, subject to exceptions.
  • 90 days when a public vehicle is involved. A claim against a public corporation, such as a city or a transit authority, generally requires a notice of claim within 90 days after the claim arises. The deadline for filing the lawsuit is shortened too, and it is not the same for every public entity, so it has to be confirmed against the statute that governs that particular defendant.

No web page can tell you which clock governs your case or whether it has run. A lawyer can, and the answer often turns on who owned the vehicle that hit you.

Pedestrian Crashes We Handle Across New York City

New York City streets were safer in 2025 than in any year since record-keeping began in 1910, and they still take lives. The city recorded 111 pedestrian deaths in 2025, down 9% from 122 the year before, according to the city’s year-end traffic fatality report. Through June 29, 2026, 46 pedestrians had been killed, the lowest first-half count on record apart from the pandemic year of 2020.

State law requires every driver to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian, and that duty does not switch off because someone stepped outside a crosswalk. We handle claims arising from:

  • Crosswalk and intersection collisions, including left-turning drivers who fail to yield
  • Bus and transit vehicle crashes, which can bring a public entity and a shorter deadline into the case
  • Hit-and-run collisions, where uninsured motorist coverage may be the route to recovery
  • Delivery vans, box trucks, and commercial vehicles
  • Backing, driveway, and parking lot collisions
  • Crashes that kill, which a family may pursue as a wrongful death claim

Each of these turns on the same first question: what does the evidence show about how the driver approached the person on foot. Video, signal timing, vehicle data, and witness accounts answer it, and most of that evidence has a short shelf life.

What Happens After You Call The Pryor Law Firm

Kenneth Pryor reviews the case himself, and the first work is evidence rather than paperwork. Video from nearby businesses is often overwritten within days, and signal timing and vehicle data have to be requested before they cycle out. A pedestrian claim generally moves through these steps:

  • Free consultation. You tell us what happened, and we identify which insurance and which deadlines apply to your situation.
  • Evidence preservation. We send preservation letters, pull surveillance footage, obtain the police file, and find witnesses while memories are fresh.
  • No-fault filing. We put the vehicle’s insurer on notice inside the 30-day window, which keeps your medical bills with the right payer.
  • Medical documentation. We track your treatment to keep the record aligned with the injury, which is what the serious injury threshold turns on.
  • Negotiation or suit. We present the claim to the insurer, and we file suit when the offer does not reflect the case.

You don’t handle any of that alone. Our team handles the legal steps while you focus on your recovery. We provide support, guidance, and aggressive representation to protect your best interests. There is never an attorney fee until we recover for you.

Speak With a New York City Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Contact The Pryor Law Firm to schedule a free consultation. Bring whatever you have, including the police report number, photographs, the name of the hospital, and anything a witness gave you. We will walk you through the no-fault steps, explain the deadlines in your situation, and tell you what happens next. If you are unable to come to our office, we can meet you at your home or hospital.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does no-fault insurance cover a pedestrian who does not own a car?

Yes. A pedestrian injured through the use or operation of an insured motor vehicle is a covered person under New York’s no-fault law. The vehicle’s insurer pays medical expenses and part of lost earnings without regard to fault, up to the $50,000 basic economic loss limit. Lost earnings are reimbursed at 80% of what you would have earned, capped at $2,000 per month for up to three years.

Can I still recover if I was crossing outside a crosswalk?

Possibly, and the answer changed in 2026. In a motor vehicle injury action subject to New York’s no-fault article, a claimant whose share of the fault is greater than the driver’s, or greater than the defendants’ combined share, now recovers nothing. Below that line, compensation is reduced in proportion to the claimant’s share rather than eliminated. Where the line falls is a question of fact, which is why an early investigation matters.

What if the driver left the scene?

A hit-and-run does not necessarily end the claim. Uninsured motorist coverage and other policies may apply, and a police report filed promptly is often what allows a lawyer to reach them later. Do not wait to learn whether the driver is identified, because the no-fault and lawsuit deadlines keep running either way.