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6 Questions to Ask Your Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

6 Questions to Ask Your Pedestrian Accident LawyerIf you were hit by a car while walking, hiring a Long Island pedestrian accident lawyer may be one of the most important decisions you make. A skilled attorney can protect your rights, guide you through the legal process, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Before hiring anyone, it’s a good idea to prepare a list of key questions to ask a pedestrian accident lawyer so you can feel confident in your choice. The right lawyer should have experience with cases like yours and be able to explain how they plan to help. They should also be upfront about how they charge for their services and what role you will play in the case. By asking the right questions at the start, you can avoid confusion later and make sure you have an advocate who will put your needs first.
Edward Friedman
REVIEWED BY Edward Friedman September 11, 2025
In This Article
Reading time: 5 minutes
  1. What Experience Does Your Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Have?
  2. What Legal Strategies Will Your Lawyer Use to Overcome Obstacles You Might Face?
  3. How Does Your Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Charge for Their Services?
  4. What Will Your Role Be in the Pedestrian Accident Case?
  5. How Long Will Your Pedestrian Accident Case Take?
  6. Asking the Right Questions Will Lead You to the Right Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

What Experience Does Your Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Have?

The right attorney for your case has handled pedestrian accident cases before. General personal injury experience is not enough: you want to know that your legal representative has managed and successfully resolved cases that are substantially similar to yours. Ask your lawyer if they can discuss past case results. They will not be able to give you identifying information about their clients, but they should be able to describe the general circumstances of the case and how much the client ultimately received. If they are unable to do this, you may wish to consider choosing another lawyer.

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What Legal Strategies Will Your Lawyer Use to Overcome Obstacles You Might Face?

Every pedestrian accident case is unique. A good lawyer will come up with a personalized legal strategy for every single case they take on rather than trying to apply the same “cookie-cutter” strategy to all situations. You will want to question your attorney about:
  • How they plan to investigate your case
  • What they might do if the insurance company resists paying an appropriate amount
  • Under what circumstances they might take your case to trial
You want to hire a lawyer who is confident about what goes into resolving a pedestrian accident case. At the same time, it is important to avoid a representative who makes unreasonable promises or guarantees you a particular result by a particular date. In addition, you should be aware that pedestrian accident cases often present different types of challenges than other kinds of personal injury cases. For example, pedestrians might suffer more serious injuries than car occupants, making the process of assessing their case’s worth and pursuing compensation more complex. You could ask your lawyer if they foresee any potential challenges and, if so, how they would work to overcome those challenges to secure your financial recovery.

How Does Your Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Charge for Their Services?

To avoid misunderstandings about how and when your lawyer will get paid, make sure you understand their fee structure—which should be easily found in their written contract (also known as a “Retainer Agreement”) —before you sign on. Typically, in New York, the fee structure for a personal injury case is:
  • A contingency fee, where you pay nothing up front and pay your attorney a flat, previously agreed-upon percentage of your final payout once your case is complete
 You will want to review the contract carefully, make sure you understand when and how you have to pay your attorney, and ask clarifying questions as necessary.

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What Will Your Role Be in the Pedestrian Accident Case?

It might take a long time to resolve a pedestrian accident case, depending on how complex your case is and how much the insurance company cooperates, among other factors. As your case progresses, you will want to know:
  • How often your lawyer will contact you with case updates
  • If and when your attorney will need anything from you, such as documentation or other information
  • If you will ever have to meet with the insurance company or others involved in the case
  • When and how often you will be called on to make important decisions about your case’s future
Personal injury lawyers do not typically require much from clients on a day-to-day basis: it is your legal representative’s job to handle tasks like paperwork, phone calls, and even negotiating with the insurance company. However, your attorney should be able to commit to updating you regularly and advising you on legal decisions without pushing you in any particular direction. If your lawyer does not promptly respond to your communications or seems set on pursuing their own path regardless of your opinion, we believe this is a strong indication that you ought to hire someone else.

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How Long Will Your Pedestrian Accident Case Take?

Every case is unique and has its own set of strengths and challenges. However, most cases follow the same general steps, including some or all of the following stages:
  • Investigating the case and collecting evidence
  • Contacting the liable party’s insurance company and demanding payment
  • Negotiating (or attempting to negotiate) an appropriate settlement
  • Filing a lawsuit and preparing to represent you at trial
  • Presenting your case in a courtroom in front of a judge and jury
You want to know when your attorney will begin each of these steps and what happens if they have to skip certain steps (e.g., if the insurer refuses to cooperate at all and your lawyer decides to file a lawsuit right away). Again, you should avoid retaining a lawyer who is too specific with their promises: no reliable attorney can guarantee a specific amount of dollars by a particular date. By asking about your case’s possible timeline, you are not seeking a set schedule; rather, you give your personal injury attorney the chance to demonstrate their depth of knowledge regarding the pedestrian accident claims process and how to navigate the legal system.

Asking the Right Questions Will Lead You to the Right Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

If you were hit by a car as a pedestrian, it is important to act fast to protect your health and your rights. Friedman & Simon, L.L.P. has over 30 years of successful experience helping our clients. The sooner you call us, the sooner our pedestrian accident lawyers can start answering your most pressing questions. Contact us today to get started.

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