Rochester, New York, Fatal Pedestrian Accident Injury Lawyers

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as A Best Lawyer of America and An American Institute of Trial Lawyers Litigator of The Year, is Committed to Defending the Rights of Rochester Residents Who Need Accountability After Losing a Loved One in an Avoidable Pedestrian Traffic Accident.

Pedestrian traffic accidents are becoming increasingly common. While a recent federal review of these collision statistics suggests that road fatalities are rising across the country, pedestrians appear to be at the greatest risk: in one recent year, researchers found that drivers struck and killed an estimated 7,485 people on foot. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, pedestrian deaths have reached a 40-year-high due largely to the proliferation of inadequate infrastructure, unsafe roads, and reckless driving.

Unfortunately, New York—home to some of the most walkable cities in the country—has among the highest pedestrian accident rates in America. Rochester, which has an unusually low vehicle ownership rate for a mid-sized city, faces its own special challenges. The Inner Loop, for instance, is notoriously difficult to navigate by either foot or bicycle; an overview of local accident data indicates a corresponding concentration of pedestrian-related traffic accidents in the area.

However, as common as pedestrian accidents may be, every fatal collision is far more than a statistical aberration, with each individual death representing a life lost, a family broken, and a legacy shattered. The unexpected loss of a husband, wife, or child could move a family not just to grief but to the brink of financial ruin.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. understands that no amount of money can compensate for a loved one’s premature passing. When we represent families in mourning, we advocate our clients’ best interests, fighting not only for fair compensation but justice. Since 2005, our experienced team of attorneys has secured more than $175 million in damages—money that our clients have used to afford funerals, reinforce their family’s finances, and invest in charitable trusts. Please send Jed Dietrich, Esq., a message online or call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. at (585) 939-3939 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that:

1. One out of every six traffic fatalities in a single recent year involved a pedestrian;
2. More than 7,000 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle accidents; and
3. Pedestrians who survive serious traffic accidents are still at elevated risk for injury, with approximately 104,000 non-fatal emergency room visits recorded in the same year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also identified the following as risk factors for fatal pedestrian accidents:

1. Alcohol: Alcohol consumption contributes to nearly 50% of all fatal pedestrian crashes.

2. Speed: Higher vehicle speeds are associated with a greater risk of injury and death.

3. Location: Most pedestrian traffic deaths occur in urban areas, away from marked crosswalks. Additionally, pedestrian accidents typically occur at night.

Unlike many other states, New York only allows the deceased pedestrian’s personal representative—the executor of their estate—to file a wrongful death lawsuit. However, unless the executor is a close relative of the decedent, they may not receive any compensation, even from a successful filing. Instead, the settlement or award will be treated as the victim’s personal property, added to their estate, and disbursed to their family members, heirs, and other beneficiaries.

If you are the accident victim’s executor or do not know who the executor is, contact the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. to discuss your immediate legal options. We offer free and confidential consultations and are available around the clock.

Filing a wrongful death lawsuit could help your family:

1. Minimize Your Economic Loss: Unexpected deaths are not only emotionally trying—they can be financially insurmountable, too. A successful wrongful death lawsuit could provide your loved ones with the funds needed to eradicate remnant medical debt, fund the funeral, or establish a charitable trust.

2. Hold the Negligent Motorist Accountable: Even if your local prosecutor has filed criminal charges against the at-fault motorist, a conviction may not be accompanied by reasonable or fair restitution. However, a civil judgment could not only establish the wrongdoer’s liability but order them to provide compensation for your family’s losses.

The type and extent of compensation may vary in accordance with the cause and circumstances of the victim’s death. The damages typically available in a wrongful death lawsuit include but are not limited to:

1. Funeral fees;
2. Burial costs;
3. The deceased’s health care expenses;
4. Loss of income;
5. Loss of future income;
6. Loss of companionship;
7. Loss of inheritance; and
8. The emotional pain and suffering endured by the deceased.

Under certain limited circumstances, the court could also award the decedent’s estate punitive damages, a special type of compensation designed to punish a wrongdoer for especially negligent behavior or egregious misconduct.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. believes that no family should have to pay the price for a negligent motorist’s mistake. If a reckless driver took your loved one’s life, you deserve aggressive, experienced legal counsel. Please send the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. a message online or call us today at (585) 939-3939 to schedule your free initial appointment.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at (585) 939-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Rochester, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!