Justice for Pedestrians
We Understand the Unique Needs of Pedestrian Crash Victims and their Families.
When you are struck on foot by a driver, the deck is stacked against you. Your unprotected body bears the brunt of the vehicle’s greater speed and mass, while the driver may not even notice the impact. Traumatized, you are at a loss to explain the crash, while the driver calmly composes their narrative. Police too often share the driver’s “windshield perspective” that the pedestrian was at fault, as do the insurance adjusters, judges, and ultimately the jurors upon whom your right to compensation depends. Under the complicated and broken “no-fault” system, you may be denied appropriate medical treatment and face collections letters from the doctors the no-fault insurer wrongly refuses to pay.
At Vaccaro Law we understand the unique position of pedestrian crash victims. We do everything possible to ensure our clients have the widest choice of quality surgical, medical and physical therapy care, at the sole cost of the driver’s insurer. Numerous families of pedestrians killed by motorists have turned to us for representation, including the Families for Safe Streets leading the fight against traffic fatalities. Our firm has sued the NYPD to force improvements pedestrian crash investigations, and has helped draft and win legislation to impose criminal penalties on sober reckless drivers who injure or kill pedestrians. We also serve as pro bono counsel to more than a dozen community organizations fighting to defend and extend New York City’s Open Streets program which limits motor vehicle traffic on selected streets to create car-free recreational spaces.
Call for a free consultation, or read more below about why pedestrians struck by motor vehicles choose our firm.
Our Clients’ Objectives Come First.
At Vaccaro Law, we measure success by the client‘s objective — whether a client wants a fair but discreet settlement to fund immediate medical needs, or a full-scale investigation and public vindication of the victim’s blamelessness. Each client has a direct, transparent relationship with their lawyer that imparts personal, efficient, effective representation. Our client’s wishes, informed by our advice and experience, are the last word. Other firms may say similar things, but we mean it — and we do it.
Winning the Medical Coverage You Need.
The immediate concern of every crash victim is getting timely, high-quality medical treatment. But under New York’s and New Jersey’s no-fault laws, a crash victim must rely on an auto insurer or face having to pay for their own treatment — even if they have personal health insurance. The no-fault insurance that crash victims are required to use instead of their own private or employment-based health insurance is full of pitfalls and traps, and you may be forced to pay your personal injury settlement or award to an insurer at the end of your case unless you handle it properly.
At Vaccaro Law, we guide clients through the no-fault system, helping them win maximum medical, disability and other no-fault benefits — in addition to the cash recovery on their personal injury claim. Before choosing a lawyer, a cyclist should ask: how many times has the lawyer arbitrated a no-fault claim? We do so often for our clients, recovering thousands of dollars of no-fault medical benefits, without charging a fee.
Winning the Lost Earnings You Deserve.
Many of our clients are self-employed, work freelance, or have other non-conventional employment. Whether you are a full-time dog-walker or a tenure-track assistant professor, we know how to document your lost income and explain your derailed career path to maximize your recovery.